Patent Description:
There are a liquid discharge head including a nozzle plate on which a nozzle that discharges liquid is formed, and a substrate in which a liquid chamber communicating with the nozzle is formed, a liquid discharge module including the liquid discharge head, and a liquid discharge apparatus. The liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge module, and the liquid discharge apparatus are used in applications such as liquid application to an object and image formation on an object by liquid.

As the liquid discharge head described above, there is a liquid discharge head in which multiple relief grooves is provided in a peripheral edge of a channel substrate in order to prevent a disadvantage due to liquid leaking from a crack even in a case where the crack occurs in a channel forming substrate forming the liquid discharge head (See <CIT>, for example).

However, in the liquid discharge head described in <CIT>, a part of the recessed portion such as the clearance groove reaches the outer periphery of the channel substrate, and thus a number of corner portions increases in the outer periphery of the channel substrate. The corner portion may likely to cause a defect such as deformation, chipping, or cracking in the channel substrate. Thus, quality of the liquid discharge head may be degraded.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge module, and a liquid discharge apparatus without defect.

Hereinafter, a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge module, and a liquid discharge apparatus according embodiments of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments illustrate a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge module, and a liquid discharge apparatus for embodying the technical idea of the present embodiment, and it is not limited to the following embodiments. Unless specifically described, dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of components described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure only thereto, and are merely illustrative examples. The size and positional relationship of members illustrated in the drawings are sometimes magnified for clarity of description. In the following description, the same names and reference signs indicate the same or similar members, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

In each drawing, orthogonal coordinates having an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis are used as direction representations.

The X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are substantially orthogonal to each other. A Z direction along the Z axis indicates a thickness direction of a nozzle plate included in the liquid discharge head according to the embodiment. A side in a Z positive direction may be referred to as an upper side, and a side in a Z negative direction may be referred to as a lower side. These direction representations do not limit the direction of the embodiment. In the present specification and claims, a plan view refers to viewing an object in the thickness direction of the nozzle plate included in the liquid discharge head according to the embodiment, that is, in the Z direction.

An example of a liquid discharge module according to an embodiment will be described.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a liquid discharge module <NUM> according to the embodiment. The liquid discharge module <NUM> includes multiple liquid discharge heads <NUM>, a base member <NUM>, a cover member <NUM>, a heat dissipation member <NUM>, a manifold <NUM>, a printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM>, and a module case <NUM>. The liquid discharge module <NUM> corresponds to a liquid discharge module including multiple liquid discharge heads <NUM> including the liquid discharge head according to the embodiment.

The base member <NUM> holds the multiple liquid discharge heads <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> serves as a nozzle cover of the multiple liquid discharge heads <NUM>. The manifold <NUM> forms a channel for supplying liquid to the multiple liquid discharge heads <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> is coupled to a flexible wiring board <NUM>.

An example of a configuration of a liquid discharge head <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is an external perspective view illustrating an example of the liquid discharge head <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane III in <FIG>. <FIG> is a plan view of the liquid discharge head <NUM> as seen from a nozzle plate <NUM> side. <FIG> is an enlarged plan view of a region V in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid discharge head <NUM> includes a frame member <NUM> and a flexible wiring board <NUM> on which a drive circuit <NUM> is mounted. As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid discharge head <NUM> includes the nozzle plate <NUM>, a channel substrate <NUM>, a diaphragm member <NUM>, a damper member <NUM>, a damper member holding substrate <NUM>, and a common channel member <NUM>. A hole <NUM> in <FIG> is a through hole into which a screw member is inserted, and is used to secure the liquid discharge head <NUM> to the member.

The nozzle plate <NUM> is disposed in a lowermost position in the liquid discharge head <NUM>. The nozzle plate <NUM> is disposed so as to overlap with the channel substrate <NUM> in a plan view. The nozzle plate <NUM> may contain silicon.

The nozzle plate <NUM> includes multiple nozzles <NUM> for discharging liquid. The multiple nozzles <NUM> is formed in a two-dimensional matrix on the nozzle plate <NUM> in a plan view. The nozzle <NUM> is not limited to multiple nozzles, but may be one nozzle. Arrangement of the multiple nozzles <NUM> is not limited to the two-dimensional matrix, and can be appropriately changed according to intended use of the liquid discharge module <NUM>.

The channel substrate <NUM> is disposed above the nozzle plate <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, in the present example, the channel substrate <NUM> includes a channel <NUM>, a first recess <NUM>, and a first flat portion <NUM>. The channel <NUM> communicates with the nozzle <NUM>. In the example described in the present specification, the channel substrate <NUM> includes multiple channels <NUM>. The multiple channels <NUM> is arranged to form pairs with the multiple nozzles <NUM>, respectively.

In the present example, the channel substrate <NUM> may contain silicon. Since the channel substrate <NUM> contains silicon, sufficient rigidity of the channel substrate <NUM> can be ensured, and the channel <NUM> can be easily formed in the channel substrate <NUM>. A material of the channel substrate <NUM> is not limited to silicon, and may be a semiconductor other than silicon and a metal.

A channel region 21A in the channel substrate <NUM> indicated by a broken line in <FIG> represents a region in which the multiple channels <NUM> is arranged in a two-dimensional matrix corresponding to the multiple nozzles <NUM> above the nozzle plate <NUM>. The channel <NUM> forms a pair with each of the multiple nozzles <NUM>, and may be referred to as an individual chamber from the viewpoint of being a chamber in which the liquid discharged from the nozzle <NUM> is held. The channel <NUM> may be referred to as a pressure chamber or a pressurized chamber from the viewpoint of being a chamber in which a pressure is applied to the liquid present inside by a piezoelectric element <NUM> in order to discharge the liquid from the nozzle <NUM>.

The first recess <NUM> is a recess formed on a lower surface of the channel substrate <NUM>. The first recess <NUM> is disposed on an outer side of the channel <NUM> in a plan view. In other words, the first recess <NUM> is disposed between the channel <NUM> and an outer periphery of the channel substrate <NUM> in a plan view. In other words, the first recess <NUM> is disposed in a frame-shaped region located between the channel region 21A and the outer periphery of the channel substrate <NUM> in a plan view.

The first flat portion <NUM> is a flat portion on the lower surface of the channel substrate <NUM>. The first flat portion <NUM> is disposed between the channel <NUM> and the first recess <NUM> in a plan view.

The diaphragm member <NUM> is a member including a diaphragm <NUM> and one or more piezoelectric elements <NUM>. The diaphragm member <NUM> is joined to the channel substrate <NUM> on the side opposite to the nozzle plate <NUM> across the channel substrate <NUM>. One or more piezoelectric elements <NUM> are accommodated in one or more grooves included in the diaphragm member <NUM> in pairs. The diaphragm <NUM> is a deformable wall surface that defines the channel <NUM>. The piezoelectric element <NUM> is disposed in contact with the diaphragm <NUM> in a space formed by the diaphragm <NUM> and the groove included in the diaphragm member <NUM>. The piezoelectric element <NUM> is a pressure generator that deforms the diaphragm <NUM> according to an applied voltage to pressurize the liquid in the channel <NUM>.

The diaphragm member <NUM> can be formed of, for example, a silicon single crystal substrate having a plane orientation (<NUM>).

A thickness of the silicon single crystal substrate is, for example, approximately <NUM>. The diaphragm <NUM> is deposited on the silicon single crystal substrate.

The diaphragm <NUM> is fabricated as a silicon oxide film, a polysilicon film, an amorphous silicon film, or a silicon nitride film by laminating and depositing them so as to obtain desired rigidity by a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) method, for example. The number of laminated layers is preferably three or more and seven or less in consideration of process consistency, rigidity, and stress of an entire diaphragm <NUM>. In order to ensure adhesion to a common electrode, an uppermost layer of the diaphragm <NUM> may be a silicon oxide film formed by the LPCVD method. Then, for example, a layer of a common electrode <NUM> made of TiO2 and Pt may be deposited by a sputtering method to have thicknesses of <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

The piezoelectric element <NUM> includes an upper electrode, a lower electrode, and a piezoelectric layer. The upper electrode and the lower electrode contain SRO, platinum (Pt), and gold (Au). The piezoelectric layer contains lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which is a piezoelectric material. For example, PZT is deposited in multiple times by a spin coating method as the piezoelectric layer to be finally deposited with a thickness of <NUM>.

Next, the upper electrode and the lower electrode are deposited to <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, by a sputtering method. A method of depositing the piezoelectric element <NUM> is not limited to the spin coating method, and a sputtering method, an ion plating method, an air sol method, a sol-gel method, and an inkjet method can be used. The upper electrode, the lower electrode, and the piezoelectric layer are formed at positions corresponding to the channel <NUM> by a litho-etch method. In this manner, the piezoelectric element <NUM> can be formed.

The channel substrate <NUM> and the diaphragm member <NUM> are not limited to be separate members. For example, the channel substrate <NUM> and the diaphragm member <NUM> can be integrally formed of the same member using a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. That is, the SOI substrate obtained by depositing the silicon oxide film, the silicon layer, and the silicon oxide film in this order on the silicon substrate can be used, the silicon substrate can be made the channel substrate <NUM>, and the silicon oxide film, the silicon layer, and the silicon oxide film can be made the diaphragm <NUM>. In such a configuration, the layer structure of the silicon oxide film, the silicon layer, and the silicon oxide film in the SOI substrate forms the diaphragm member <NUM>. In this manner, the diaphragm member <NUM> may be formed of materials deposited on a surface of the channel substrate <NUM>.

The damper member <NUM> is disposed above the diaphragm member <NUM>. The damper member <NUM> dissipates vibration energy generated by drive of the piezoelectric element <NUM> to reduce impact or vibration amplitude. As a damper material of the damper member <NUM>, a metal thin film or an inorganic thin film resistant to organic solvents is preferably used. A thickness of the damper member <NUM> is preferably <NUM> or less.

The damper member holding substrate <NUM> is disposed above the damper member <NUM>. The damper member holding substrate <NUM> is a substrate having a space in which the damper member <NUM> can vibrate. The damper member holding substrate <NUM> includes a metal material, and a semiconductor material.

The common channel member <NUM> is disposed above the damper member holding substrate <NUM>. The common channel member <NUM> includes a common channel through which liquid to be supplied to the two or more channels <NUM> and liquid to be collected from the two or more channels <NUM> flow. For example, the common channel member <NUM> includes, as the common channel, multiple common supply branch channels communicating with the two or more channels <NUM>, multiple common collection branch channels communicating with the two or more channels <NUM>, one or more common supply channel mainstreams communicating with the multiple common supply branch channels, and one or more common collection channel mainstreams communicating with the multiple common collection branch channels.

A protective film (also referred to as a liquid contact film) for protecting an inner wall surface from liquid (for example, ink) flowing in the channel is formed on the inner wall surface of the common channel in the common channel member <NUM>. For example, heat treatment of the silicon substrate is performed on the inner wall surface of the common channel to form a silicon oxide film on a surface thereof. A tantalum silicon oxide film to protect the surface of the silicon substrate from the ink is formed on the silicon oxide film. Portions other than the inner wall surface of the common channel member <NUM> include a semiconductor and a metal material.

By using silicon as a base material of the diaphragm member <NUM>, the damper member holding substrate <NUM>, and the common channel member <NUM>, rigidity of these members can be increased, and processing of these members can be facilitated.

Here, a defect such as deformation, chipping, and cracking (hereinafter, simply referred to as a defect) might occur in the channel substrate included in the liquid discharge head due to application of an external force to the outer periphery. In particular, in a case where the nozzle plate and the channel substrate contain crystals such as silicon, the defect is likely to occur due to cleavage and cracking. When such defect extends inward from the outer periphery of the channel substrate in a plan view and arrives at the channel located on an inner side of the channel substrate, there is a case where quality abnormality occurs in the liquid discharge head and a desired function of the liquid discharge head is not obtained. Examples of the quality abnormality include leakage of the liquid in the channel through the defect, a change in volume of the channel from a desired volume according to the defect, and disconnection of wiring provided in the vicinity of the channel.

In the present example, the channel substrate <NUM> includes the first recess <NUM> disposed on the outer side of the channel <NUM> and the first flat portion <NUM> disposed between the channel <NUM> and the first recess <NUM> in a plan view. The first recess <NUM> and the first flat portion <NUM> prevent the defect occurring on the outer periphery of the channel substrate <NUM> from extending toward the inner side of the channel substrate <NUM> in a plan view, so that it is possible to reduce arrival of the defect to the channel <NUM> located on the inner side of the channel substrate <NUM>. As a result, in the present example, the quality abnormality of the liquid discharge head <NUM> due to the defect can be reduced, and the liquid discharge head <NUM> having an excellent quality can be provided.

In the present example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first recess <NUM> may be a hole penetrating the channel substrate <NUM> in a thickness direction of the channel substrate <NUM>. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the first recess <NUM> penetrates the channel substrate <NUM> in the thickness direction of the channel substrate <NUM> to arrive at the diaphragm <NUM>. By forming the first recess <NUM> as a through hole, an inner region and an outer region <NUM> across the first recess <NUM> can be divided in a plan view, so that it is possible to reduce the extension of the defect occurring on the outer periphery of the channel substrate <NUM> to an inner side of the first recess <NUM> as compared with a case where the first recess <NUM> is not a through hole but a blind hole. As a result, in the present example, it is possible to reduce the quality abnormality of the liquid discharge head <NUM> due to the defect and to provide the liquid discharge head <NUM> having the excellent quality. Since it is not necessary to define or adjust a depth of the through hole, this is easily formed as compared with the blind hole. Therefore, since the first recess <NUM> is the through hole, the first recess <NUM> can be easily formed.

The first recess <NUM> is not limited to the through hole, and may be a blind hole other than the through hole.

In the present example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first recess <NUM> may be formed on an entire periphery of the channel region 21A, that is, an entire periphery of the channel <NUM> in a plan view. In this case, the first recess <NUM> is a groove formed on the entire periphery of the channel <NUM>. The first flat portion <NUM> is a frame-shaped region located between the channel <NUM> and the first recess <NUM> in a plan view. With this configuration, regardless of a position on the outer periphery of the channel substrate <NUM> where the defect occurs, the first recess <NUM> and the first flat portion <NUM> can prevent the defect from extending toward the inner side of the channel substrate <NUM>. As a result, it is possible to reduce arrival of the defect occurring on the outer periphery of the channel substrate <NUM> to the channel <NUM> located on the inner side of the channel substrate <NUM> in a plan view, and it is possible to reduce deterioration in quality of the liquid discharge head <NUM> due to the defect. It is not necessary that the first recess <NUM> is formed on the entire periphery of the channel <NUM> in a plan view, and this may be formed in a part of the periphery of the channel <NUM>.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the configuration in which the shape of the first recess <NUM> formed on the entire periphery of the channel <NUM> is substantially rectangular in a plan view is exemplified, but there is no limitation, and the shape may be substantially circular, substantially triangular, and substantially polygonal.

Next, a liquid discharge head according to an embodiment will be described. The same names and reference signs as those in the previously described example represent the same or equivalent members or components, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The same applies to the following embodiments and examples.

The present embodiment is mainly different from the first example in that a first recess includes multiple recesses discretely formed at a first interval in a direction along an outer periphery of a channel substrate in a plan view.

<FIG> is a plan view of a liquid discharge head 1a according to the present embodiment as seen from a nozzle plate <NUM> side. <FIG> is an enlarged plan view of a region VIII in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid discharge head 1a includes a channel substrate 20a. In the present embodiment, the channel substrate 20a includes a first recess 22a. As illustrated in <FIG>, the first recess 22a includes multiple recesses <NUM> discretely arranged at a first interval <NUM> in a direction along an outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a in a plan view. The direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a is a longitudinal direction of the channel substrate 20a (for example, an X direction) or a transverse direction of the channel substrate 20a (for example, a Y direction). In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a is the Y direction.

The first recess 22a includes multiple recesses <NUM> formed on an entire periphery of the channel region 21A, that is, the channel <NUM>. In <FIG>, recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM> are part of the multiple recesses <NUM> included in the first recess 22a.

For example, when the first recess is formed not discretely but continuously in the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate, a thickness in a direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of a portion on an outer side of the first recess in the channel substrate is reduced, and strength of this portion might be reduced. Due to the reduction in strength of the portion, a defect is likely to occur in the channel substrate according to an external force or an impact.

In the present embodiment, since the first recess 22a includes the multiple discretely arranged recesses <NUM>, the strength of the portion on the outer side of the first recess 22a in the channel substrate 20a can be made higher than that in a case where the first recess is continuously formed. As a result, it is possible to reduce occurrence of the defect in the channel substrate 20a and to provide the liquid discharge head 1a having an excellent quality.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, a minimum length p1 of the first interval <NUM> may be shorter than a maximum width w1 of the first recess 22a in the direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a in a plan view. In a case where the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a is the longitudinal direction of the channel substrate 20a, the direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a is the transverse direction of the channel substrate 20a. In a case where the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a is the transverse direction of the channel substrate 20a, the direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a is the longitudinal direction of the channel substrate 20a. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a is the X direction.

By making the minimum length p1 shorter than the maximum width w1 in a plan view, the strength of the portion of the first interval <NUM> in the channel substrate 20a can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce the extension of the defect occurring on the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a to the inner side of the channel substrate 20a in a plan view, and to provide the liquid discharge head 1a having an excellent quality.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the length of the maximum depth d1 of the first recess 22a may be longer than the minimum length p1 of the first interval <NUM>. With this configuration, the strength of the portion of the first interval <NUM> in the channel substrate 20a can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce the extension of the defect occurring on the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20a to the inner side of the channel substrate 20a in a plan view, and to provide the liquid discharge head 1a having an excellent quality.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the configuration in which the shape of the first recess 22a formed on the entire periphery of the channel <NUM> is substantially rectangular in a plan view is exemplified, but there is no limitation, and the shape may be substantially circular, substantially triangular, and substantially polygonal.

Effects of the present embodiment other than those described in the description of the present embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

Next, a liquid discharge head according to a second example will be described. This example is mainly different from the above-described embodiment and example in that a channel substrate includes a second recess disposed between a channel and a first recess and a second flat portion disposed between the channel and the second recess in a plan view.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a liquid discharge head 1b according to the present example. <FIG> illustrates a cross section corresponding to a plane III in <FIG> of the liquid discharge head 1b. <FIG> is a plan view of the liquid discharge head 1b as seen from a nozzle plate <NUM> side. <FIG> is an enlarged plan view of a region XII in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid discharge head 1b includes a channel substrate 20b. In the present example, the channel substrate 20b includes a second recess <NUM> and a second flat portion 23b.

The second recess <NUM> is a recess formed on a lower surface of the channel substrate <NUM>. The second recess <NUM> is disposed between the channel <NUM> and the first recess <NUM> in a plan view. In other words, the second recess <NUM> is disposed in a frame-shaped region located between the channel region 21A and the first recess <NUM> in a plan view.

The second flat portion 23b is a flat portion on the lower surface of the channel substrate 20b. The second flat portion 23b is disposed between the channel <NUM> and the second recess <NUM> in a plan view.

In the present example, since the channel substrate 20b includes the second recess <NUM> and the second flat portion 23b, it is possible to prevent a defect occurring on an outer periphery of the channel substrate 20b from extending toward the inner side of the channel substrate 20b in a plan view. As a result, it is possible to reduce arrival of the defect to the channel <NUM> located on the inner side of the channel substrate 20b in a plan view. As a result, in the present example, it is possible to reduce the deterioration in quality of the liquid discharge head <NUM> due to the defect and to provide the liquid discharge head 1b having an excellent quality.

In the present example, the second recess <NUM> may be formed on an entire periphery of the channel <NUM> in a plan view. In this case, the second recess <NUM> is a groove formed on the entire periphery of the channel <NUM>. The second flat portion 23b is a frame-shaped region located between the channel <NUM> and the second recess <NUM> in a plan view. With this configuration, regardless of a position on the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20b where the defect occurs, the second recess <NUM> and the second flat portion 23b can prevent the defect from extending toward the inner side of the channel substrate 20b. As a result, it is possible to reduce arrival of the defect occurring on the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20b to the channel <NUM> located on the inner side of the channel substrate 20b in a plan view, and to reduce deterioration in quality of the liquid discharge head 1b due to the defect. It is not necessary that the second recess <NUM> is formed on the entire periphery of the channel <NUM> in a plan view, and this may be formed in a part of the periphery of the channel <NUM>.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the configuration in which the shape of the second recess <NUM> formed on the entire periphery of the channel <NUM> is substantially rectangular in a plan view is exemplified, but there is no limitation, and the shape may be substantially circular, substantially triangular, and substantially polygonal.

Next, a liquid discharge head according to a second embodiment will be described. This embodiment is mainly different from the above-described embodiment and examples in that a second recess includes multiple recesses formed at an interval in a direction along an outer periphery of a channel substrate in a plan view.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a liquid discharge head 1c according to the present embodiment. <FIG> illustrates a cross section corresponding to a plane III in <FIG> in the liquid discharge head 1c. <FIG> is a plan view of the liquid discharge head <NUM> as seen from a nozzle plate <NUM> side. <FIG> is an enlarged plan view of a region XVI in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid discharge head 1c includes a channel substrate 20c. In the present embodiment, the channel substrate 20c includes a first recess 22a and a second recess 26c. As illustrated in <FIG>, the second recess 26c includes multiple recesses <NUM> discretely arranged at a second interval <NUM> in a direction along an outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c in a plan view. The direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c is a longitudinal direction of the channel substrate 20c (for example, an X direction) or a transverse direction of the channel substrate 20c (for example, a Y direction). As illustrated in <FIG>, the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c is the Y direction.

The second recess 26c includes multiple recesses <NUM> formed on an entire periphery of the channel region 21A, that is, the channel <NUM>. In <FIG>, recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM> are a part of the multiple recesses <NUM> included in the second recess 26c.

For example, when the second recess is formed not discretely but continuously in the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate, a thickness in a direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of a portion between the first recess and the second recess in the channel substrate is reduced, and strength of this portion might be reduced. Due to the reduction in strength of the portion, a defect is likely to occur in the channel substrate according to an external force or an impact.

In the present embodiment, since the second recess 26c includes multiple discretely arranged recesses <NUM>, the strength of the portion between the first recess 22a and the second recess 26c in the channel substrate 20c can be made higher than that in a case where the second recess is continuously formed. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of the defect in the channel substrate 20c and to provide the liquid discharge head 1c having an excellent quality.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first recess 22a may include multiple recesses <NUM> formed at a first interval <NUM> in the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c in a plan view. The second recess 26c may be formed so as to face a portion in which the first interval <NUM> is provided in the first recess 22a in a plan view. A portion in which the second interval <NUM> is provided in the second recess 26c may be disposed so as to face the first recess 22a. With the above-described configuration, in the channel substrate 20c, the first recess 22a and the portion provided with the second interval <NUM> are arranged alternately or the second recess 26c and the portion provided with the first interval <NUM> are arranged alternately in a direction from an outer side to an inner side of the channel substrate 20c in a plan view. As a result, the strength of the channel substrate 20c can be increased as compared with a case where the first recess 22a and the second recess 26c are alternately arranged in the direction from the outer side toward the inner side of the channel substrate 20c and a case where the portion provided with the first interval <NUM> and the portion provided with the second interval <NUM> are alternately arranged in a plan view. It is possible to reduce occurrence of the defect in the channel substrate 20c and to provide the liquid discharge head 1c having an excellent quality.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, a minimum length p2 of the second interval <NUM> may be shorter than a maximum width w2 of the second recess 26c in the direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c in a plan view. In a case where the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c is the longitudinal direction of the channel substrate 20c, the direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c is the transverse direction of the channel substrate 20c. In a case where the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c is the transverse direction of the channel substrate 20c, the direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c is the longitudinal direction of the channel substrate 20c. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the direction orthogonal to the direction along the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c is the X direction.

By making the minimum length p2 shorter than the maximum width w2 in a plan view, the strength of the portion of the second interval <NUM> in the channel substrate 20c can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce the extension of the defect occurring on the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c to the inner side of the channel substrate 20c in a plan view, and to provide the liquid discharge head 1c having an excellent quality.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, a length of the maximum depth d2 of the second recess 26c may be longer than the minimum length p2 of the second interval <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the strength of the portion of the second interval <NUM> in the channel substrate 20c, reduce the extension of the defect occurring on the outer periphery of the channel substrate 20c to the inner side of the channel substrate 20c in a plan view, and to provide the liquid discharge head 1c having an excellent quality. In <FIG>, since the maximum depth d2 of the second recess 26c is the same as the maximum depth d1 of the first recess 22a, these reference signs are also used.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the configuration in which the shape of the second recess 26c formed on the entire periphery of the channel <NUM> is substantially rectangular in a plan view is exemplified, but there is no limitation, and the shape may be substantially circular, substantially triangular, and substantially polygonal.

Effects of the present embodiment other than those described in the description of the present embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first example.

Hereinafter, Examples and Comparative Examples will be described. The present embodiment is not limited to these examples at all. In Examples <NUM> to <NUM> described below, configurations of liquid discharge heads are different from each other. Examples <NUM> to <NUM> are Examples, and Example <NUM> is a Comparative Example.

The configuration of the liquid discharge head according to Example <NUM> is the same as the configuration of the liquid discharge head <NUM> according to the first example described above. The configuration of the liquid discharge head according to Example <NUM> is the same as the configuration of the liquid discharge head 1a according to the first embodiment described above. The configuration of the liquid discharge head according to Example <NUM> is the same as the configuration of the liquid discharge head 1c according to the second embodiment described above.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a liquid discharge head 1x according to Example <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a cross section corresponding to the plane III in <FIG> of the liquid discharge head 1x. <FIG> is a plan view of the liquid discharge head 1x as seen from a nozzle plate <NUM> side.

The liquid discharge head 1x is different from the liquid discharge heads according to Examples <NUM> to <NUM> in including a channel substrate 20x. The channel substrate 20x is different from the channel substrates according to Examples <NUM> to <NUM> in not including any of the first recess <NUM>, the first recess 22a, the first flat portion <NUM>, the second recess 26c, and the second flat portion 23b. In the liquid discharge head 1x, a component having substantially the same function as that of the components in the liquid discharge head <NUM>, the liquid discharge head 1a, and the liquid discharge head 1c is denoted by the same reference sign for the sake of convenience.

In Examples and Comparative Examples, it was evaluated whether a defect occurring on an outer periphery of the channel substrate arrived at the channel in a case where each of the liquid discharge heads in Examples <NUM> to <NUM> was assembled by an assembling process of the liquid discharge head including an abutting operation on the outer periphery of the channel substrate. An arrival status of the defect to the channel was evaluated by observation using an infrared (IR) microscope.

A result of the above-described evaluation is illustrated in Table <NUM>. Table <NUM> illustrates a quality abnormality occurrence rate and an N number in each of Examples <NUM> to <NUM>. The quality abnormality means an abnormality in quality in the liquid discharge head such as leakage of liquid in the channel due to the defect occurring in the channel substrate, a change in volume of the channel, and disconnection of wiring provided in the vicinity of the channel. The N number means the number of samples, and herein represents the number of evaluated liquid discharge heads.

As illustrated in Table <NUM>, the quality abnormality occurrence rate in each of Examples <NUM> to <NUM> was lower than the quality abnormality occurrence rate in Example <NUM>. In Example <NUM>, it is considered that the defect occurring by the external force or impact applied from the outer periphery of the channel substrate extended to the inner side of the substrate, thereby increasing the quality abnormality occurrence rate. In contrast, in Examples <NUM> to <NUM>, it is considered that the defect occurred by the external force or the impact applied from the outer periphery of the channel substrate is prevented from extending toward the channel by an action of the first recess <NUM>, and the first flat portion <NUM>, and this does not arrive at the channel, so that the occurrence of the quality abnormality is reduced.

From above, it has been found that Examples <NUM> to <NUM> are superior to Example <NUM> in terms of reducing the occurrence of quality abnormality and improving the quality of the liquid discharge head.

In Example <NUM>, there was no defect that arrives at the channel, but there was a sample an outer periphery of which was missing in a wide range. In contrast, in Examples <NUM> and <NUM>, there was no such a sample the outer periphery of which was missing in a wide range. In this respect, Example <NUM> and Example <NUM> were found to be more preferable than Example <NUM>.

Next, a liquid discharge apparatus according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. Hereinafter, an ink cartridge using ink and a liquid discharge apparatus will be described as an example.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an example of a liquid discharge apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment. <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of an example of the liquid discharge apparatus <NUM>. The liquid discharge apparatus <NUM> houses a carriage <NUM>, a liquid discharge head <NUM>, and a printing mechanism <NUM> in an apparatus main body. The carriage <NUM> is movable in a scanning direction. The liquid discharge head <NUM> is mounted on the carriage <NUM>.

The liquid discharge head <NUM> of the present embodiment is a liquid discharge head 1a or a liquid discharge head 1c. The printing mechanism <NUM> includes an ink cartridge <NUM> for supplying ink to the liquid discharge head <NUM>. The apparatus main body includes, on a lower portion thereof, a paper feeding cassette <NUM> (or a paper feeding tray) on which a large number of sheets <NUM> can be stacked so as to be removable from a front side.

The liquid discharge apparatus <NUM> also includes a manual paper feeding tray <NUM> that is opened to manually feed the sheet <NUM>. The liquid discharge apparatus <NUM> takes in the sheet <NUM> fed from the paper feeding cassette <NUM> or the manual paper feeding tray <NUM>, records an image on the sheet <NUM> by the printing mechanism <NUM>, and then ejects the sheet <NUM> on which the image is recorded to a paper ejection tray <NUM> mounted on a rear side.

The printing mechanism <NUM> slidably holds a main guide rod <NUM>, a sub-guide rod <NUM>, and the carriage <NUM>, which are guide members laterally bridged by left and right side plates, in a main-scanning direction.

The carriage <NUM> mounts the liquid discharge heads <NUM> that discharge ink droplets of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) arranged in such a manner that multiple ink discharge ports (nozzles) is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the main-scanning direction. The liquid discharge heads <NUM> are mounted so that the liquid discharge heads <NUM> discharge the ink droplets downward. Each ink cartridge <NUM> to supply ink of each color to the liquid discharge head <NUM> is exchangeably mounted on the carriage <NUM>.

The ink cartridge <NUM> includes an atmosphere port communicating with the atmosphere on an upper side and a supply port for supplying ink to the liquid discharge head <NUM> on a lower side. The ink cartridge <NUM> includes a porous body filled with ink. The porous body maintains the ink supplied to the liquid discharge head <NUM> at a slight negative pressure by a capillary force thereof. In the present embodiment, the liquid discharge heads <NUM> of the respective colors are used; however, a single liquid discharge head including nozzles to discharge ink droplets of the respective colors may be used.

Here, the carriage <NUM> is slidably fitted to the main guide rod <NUM> on a rear side (downstream side in a sheet conveyance direction) and is slidably fitted to the sub-guide rod <NUM> on a front side (upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction). A timing belt <NUM> is stretched between a driving pulley <NUM> and a driven pulley <NUM> rotationally driven by the main scanning motor <NUM> to move and scan the carriage <NUM> in the main-scanning direction. The timing belt <NUM> is secured to the carriage <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> reciprocates by forward and reverse rotation of the main scanning motor <NUM>.

The liquid discharge apparatus <NUM> includes a paper feeding roller <NUM>, a friction pad <NUM>, a guide member <NUM>, a conveyance roller <NUM>, a conveyance roller <NUM>, a leading end roller <NUM>, and a print receiver <NUM>. The paper feeding roller <NUM> and the friction pad <NUM> separate to feed the sheets <NUM> set in the paper feeding cassette <NUM>. The guide member <NUM> guides the sheet <NUM>. The conveyance roller <NUM> reverses to convey the fed sheet <NUM>. The conveyance roller <NUM> is pressed against a peripheral surface of the conveyance roller <NUM>. The leading end roller <NUM> defines a feeding angle of the sheet <NUM> from the conveyance roller <NUM>. The conveyance roller <NUM> is rotationally driven by a sub scanning motor via a gear train.

The print receiver <NUM> as a sheet guide member is provided to guide the sheet <NUM> fed from the conveyance roller <NUM> below the liquid discharge head <NUM> in accordance with a movement range of the carriage <NUM> in the main-scanning direction. On the downstream side of the print receiver <NUM> in the sheet conveyance direction, a conveyance roller <NUM> and a spur <NUM> rotationally driven to feed the sheet <NUM> in the paper ejection direction are provided. A paper ejection roller <NUM> and a spur <NUM> for feeding the sheet <NUM> to the paper ejection tray <NUM>, and guide members 116A and 117A forming a paper ejection path are further provided.

When recording by the liquid discharge apparatus <NUM> configured as described above, the liquid discharge head <NUM> is driven in accordance with an image signal while the carriage <NUM> is moved, so that ink is discharged onto the stopping sheet <NUM> to record one row. Thereafter, the liquid discharge apparatus <NUM> conveys the sheet <NUM> by a predetermined amount, and then records a next row. When the liquid discharge apparatus <NUM> receives a signal indicating an end of recording or a signal indicating that a rear end of the sheet <NUM> has reached a recording area, this terminates a recording operation and ejects the sheet <NUM>.

A maintenance device <NUM> to recover the liquid discharge heads <NUM> from discharge failure is disposed at a position out of the recording area on a right end side in the moving direction of the carriage <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). The maintenance device <NUM> includes a cap, a suction unit, and a cleaner. While standing by for printing, the carriage <NUM> moves to the maintenance device <NUM> side and caps the liquid discharge head <NUM> with the cap to keep the discharge port in a wet state to prevent occurrence of discharge failure due to ink drying. By discharging the ink irrelevant to recording during recording, viscosity of ink in all the discharge ports is kept constant, and a stable discharge state is maintained.

In a case where the discharge failure occurs, the nozzle of the liquid discharge head <NUM> is sealed by the cap, and bubble is sucked out together with the ink from the discharge port by the suction unit through a tube. Ink and dust adhering to a discharge port surface are removed by the cleaner, so that it recovers from the discharge failure. The sucked ink is discharged to a waste ink container disposed on a lower portion of an apparatus body, and is absorbed into and retained in an ink absorber in the waste ink container.

In this manner, since the liquid discharge head <NUM> according to the embodiment is mounted on the liquid discharge apparatus <NUM>, stable ink discharge characteristics can be obtained and image quality can be improved.

Although a case where the liquid discharge head <NUM> is used in the liquid discharge apparatus <NUM> has been herein described, the liquid discharge head <NUM> may be applied to an apparatus that discharges droplets other than ink, for example, a liquid resist for patterning.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain an effect that a high-quality image can be stably obtained by the ink cartridge <NUM> including the liquid discharge head <NUM> and the liquid discharge apparatus <NUM>.

Next, a liquid discharge apparatus as a liquid discharge apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a plan view of an example of the liquid discharge apparatus according to the present embodiment.

<FIG> is a side view of an example of the liquid discharge apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The liquid discharge apparatus according to the present embodiment is a serial type apparatus. In this apparatus, a carriage <NUM> reciprocates in a main-scanning direction by a main scan moving unit <NUM>. The main scan moving unit <NUM> includes a guide <NUM>, a main scanning motor <NUM>, and a timing belt <NUM>. The guide <NUM> is bridged between a left side plate 491A and a right side plate 491B to movably hold the carriage <NUM>. The main scanning motor <NUM> reciprocally moves the carriage <NUM> in the main-scanning direction via the timing belt <NUM> bridged between a driving pulley <NUM> and a driven pulley <NUM>.

The carriage <NUM> is equipped with a liquid discharge device <NUM> formed by integrating a liquid discharge head <NUM> and a head tank <NUM>. The liquid discharge head <NUM> may be any one of, the liquid discharge head 1a, or the liquid discharge head 1c described above.

The liquid discharge head <NUM> of the liquid discharge device <NUM> discharges liquid of each color, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). In the liquid discharge head <NUM>, a nozzle row including multiple nozzles is disposed in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main-scanning direction. The liquid discharge head <NUM> is mounted on the liquid discharge device <NUM> in a direction in which the discharge direction of the droplets is downward.

The liquid stored in the liquid cartridges <NUM> is supplied to the head tank <NUM> by a supply unit <NUM> for supplying the liquid stored outside the liquid discharge head <NUM> to the liquid discharge head <NUM>.

The supply unit <NUM> includes a cartridge holder <NUM> serving as a filling part on which the liquid cartridge <NUM> is mounted, a tube <NUM>, a liquid feeder <NUM> including a liquid feed pump. The liquid cartridge <NUM> is detachably attached to the cartridge holder <NUM>. The liquid feeder <NUM> supplies liquid from the liquid cartridge <NUM> to the head tank <NUM> via the tube <NUM>.

The liquid discharge apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a conveyance unit <NUM> for conveying a sheet <NUM> as a recording medium. The conveyance unit <NUM> includes a conveyance belt <NUM> as a conveyance unit and a sub scanning motor <NUM> to drive the conveyance belt <NUM>.

The conveyance belt <NUM> attracts the sheet <NUM> and conveys the sheet <NUM> at a position facing the liquid discharge head <NUM>. The conveyance belt <NUM> is an endless belt. The conveyance belt <NUM> is bridged between a conveyance roller <NUM> and a tension roller <NUM>. The attraction of the sheet <NUM> by the conveyance belt <NUM> can be performed by electrostatic adsorption and air adsorption.

The conveyance roller <NUM> is driven and rotated by the sub scanning motor <NUM> via a timing belt <NUM> and a timing pulley <NUM>, so that the conveyance belt <NUM> circulates in the sub-scanning direction.

At one side in the main-scanning direction of the carriage <NUM>, a maintenance unit <NUM> to maintain and recover the liquid discharge head <NUM> in good condition is disposed on a lateral side of the conveyance belt <NUM>. The maintenance unit <NUM> includes, for example, a cap <NUM> for capping a nozzle surface (a surface on which the nozzles are formed) of the liquid discharge head <NUM>, and a wiper <NUM> for wiping the nozzle surface.

The main scan moving unit <NUM>, the supply unit <NUM>, the maintenance unit <NUM>, and the conveyance unit <NUM> are mounted on a housing that includes the left side plate 491A, the right side plate 491B, and a rear side plate 491C.

In the liquid discharge apparatus thus configured, the sheet <NUM> is conveyed on and attracted to the conveyance belt <NUM> and is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the circulation of the conveyance belt <NUM>.

The liquid discharge apparatus drives the liquid discharge head <NUM> in response to image signals while moving the carriage <NUM> in the main-scanning direction, thereby discharging liquid to the stopping sheet <NUM> to form an image on the sheet <NUM>.

In this manner, since the liquid discharge apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the liquid discharge head <NUM> according to the embodiment, this can stably form a high quality image.

Next, another embodiment of the liquid discharge device according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a front view of an example of the liquid discharge device according to the present embodiment. A liquid discharge device <NUM> includes a housing formed of the left side plate 491A, the right side plate 491B, and a rear side plate 491C, a main scan moving unit <NUM>, a carriage <NUM>, and a liquid discharge head <NUM> among members forming the liquid discharge apparatus described above. The liquid discharge device <NUM> may further include at least one of a maintenance unit <NUM> and a supply unit <NUM> on the right side plate 491B, for example.

Still another embodiment of the liquid discharge device according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a front view of another example of the liquid discharge device according to the present embodiment. The liquid discharge device <NUM> includes a liquid discharge head <NUM> to which a channel part <NUM> is attached, and a tube <NUM> connected to the channel part <NUM>. The channel part <NUM> is disposed inside a cover <NUM>. Instead of the channel part <NUM>, a head tank <NUM> may be included. A connector <NUM> electrically coupled to the liquid discharge head <NUM> is provided on an upper part of the channel part <NUM>.

The liquid discharge apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the liquid discharge head <NUM> or the liquid discharge device <NUM> and drives the liquid discharge head <NUM> to discharge the liquid. The liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus capable of discharging liquid to a material to which liquid can adhere or an apparatus to discharge liquid toward gas or into liquid. The liquid discharge apparatus may include devices to feed, convey, and eject the material to which liquid can adhere, a pretreatment apparatus, and a post-treatment apparatus.

The liquid discharge apparatus may be, for example, an image forming apparatus to discharge ink to form an image on a sheet, or a stereoscopic fabrication apparatus (three-dimensional fabrication apparatus) to discharge a fabrication liquid to a powder layer in which powder material is formed in layers to form a stereoscopic fabrication object (three-dimensional fabrication object).

The liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to one in which significant images such as letters and graphics are visualized by the discharged liquid. For example, the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus to form patterns not having meanings, or fabricate three-dimensional images.

The above-described term "material to which liquid can adhere" represents a material to which liquid can at least temporarily adhere, a material to which liquid adheres to be fixed, or a material to which liquid adheres to permeate. Specific examples include recording media such as paper sheet, recording paper, recording sheet of paper, film, and cloth, electronic components such as an electronic substrate and a piezoelectric element, and media such as a powder layer, an organ model, and a testing cell; any material to which liquid can adhere is included unless particularly limited.

Examples of the "material to which liquid can adhere" include any material to which liquid can adhere even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramic, construction materials such as wall paper or floor material, and cloth textile.

Examples of the "liquid" include ink, treatment liquid, DNA sample, resist, pattern material, binder, fabrication liquid, or solution and dispersion liquid including amino acid, protein, or calcium.

The "liquid discharge apparatus" according to the present embodiment may also include an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode and an electrochemical element that is also referred to as "an electrode manufacturing apparatus". The electrode manufacturing apparatus is described below.

<FIG> is a schematic view of an example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present embodiment. The electrode manufacturing apparatus is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode including a layer containing an electrode material by discharging a liquid composition using a head module including a liquid discharge head.

A discharge unit in the electrode manufacturing apparatus illustrated in <FIG> is the head module according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The liquid composition is discharged from the discharge head of the head module, and thus the liquid composition is applied onto the target object, and a liquid composition layer is formed. The target (hereinafter, may be referred to as "discharge target") is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, as long as the target is a target on which a layer containing an electrode material is to be formed. Examples of the target object include an electrode substrate (current collector), an active material layer, and a layer containing a solid electrode material. The target object may be an electrode mixture layer containing an active material on an electrode substrate (current collector). The discharging unit and the discharging process may be a unit and a process of forming a layer containing an electrode material by directly discharging a liquid composition as long as the layer containing an electrode material can be formed on a discharge target (target object). The discharging unit and the discharging process may be a unit and a process of forming a layer containing an electrode material by indirectly discharging a liquid composition.

Other configurations included in the apparatus for manufacturing an electrode mixture layer are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, as long as the effects of the present embodiment are not impaired. Other processes included in the method for producing an electrode mixture layer are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, as long as the effects of the present embodiment are not impaired. For example, the heating unit and the heating process are examples of the configuration and the process included in the manufacturing apparatus and the manufacturing method of the electrode mixture layer.

The heating unit included in the apparatus for manufacturing an electrode mixture layer is a unit that heats the liquid composition discharged by the discharging unit. The heating process included in the method for manufacturing an electrode mixture layer is a process of heating the liquid composition discharged in the discharging process. The liquid composition is heated to dry the liquid composition layer.

As an example of the electrode manufacturing apparatus, an electrode manufacturing apparatus for forming an electrode mixture layer containing an active material on an electrode substrate (current collector) is described below. As illustrated in <FIG>, the electrode manufacturing apparatus includes a discharge process unit <NUM> and a heating process unit <NUM>. The discharge process unit <NUM> performs a step of applying a liquid composition onto a printing base material <NUM> having a discharge target object to form a liquid composition layer. The heating process unit <NUM> performs a heating process of heating the liquid composition layer to obtain an electrode mixture layer.

The electrode manufacturing apparatus includes a conveyor <NUM> that conveys the printing base material <NUM>. The conveyor <NUM> conveys the printing base material <NUM> to the discharge process unit <NUM> and the heating process unit <NUM> in this order at a preset speed. A method for manufacturing the printing base material <NUM> having the discharge target such as an active material layer is not particularly limited, and a known method can be appropriately selected. The discharge process unit <NUM> includes a liquid discharge head 281a that performs an application process of applying the liquid composition onto the printing base material <NUM>, a storage container 281b that stores the liquid composition <NUM>, and a supply tube 281c that supplies the liquid composition <NUM> stored in the storage container 281b to the liquid discharge head 281a.

The discharge process unit <NUM> discharges the liquid composition <NUM> from the liquid discharge head 281a so that the liquid composition <NUM> is applied onto the printing base material <NUM> to form a liquid composition layer in a thin film shape. The storage container 281b may be formed together with the electrode manufacturing apparatus such as the apparatus for manufacturing the electrode mixture layer as a single body. The storage container 281b may be detachable from the electrode manufacturing apparatus such as the apparatus for manufacturing the electrode mixture layer. The storage container 281b may be a container formed together with the apparatus for manufacturing the electrode mixture layer. The storage container 281b may be a container additionally detachable from the apparatus for manufacturing the electrode mixture layer.

The storage container 281b and the supply tube 281c can be arbitrarily selected as long as the liquid composition <NUM> can be stably stored and supplied to the liquid discharge head 281a.

The heating process unit <NUM> performs a solvent removal process of heating and removing the solvent remaining in the liquid composition layer. Specifically, the solvent remaining in the liquid composition layer is heated and dried by the heating device <NUM> of the heating process unit <NUM>, and thus the solvent is removed from the liquid composition layer. Thus, the electrode mixture layer is formed. The solvent removal process in the heating process unit <NUM> may be performed under reduced pressure.

The heating device <NUM> is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.

For example, the heating device <NUM> may be a substrate heater, an infrared (IR) heater, a hot air heater, or the like.

The heating device <NUM> may be a combination of at least two of the substrate heater, the IR heater, and the hot air heater. A heating temperature and heating time can be appropriately selected according to a boiling point of the solvent contained in the liquid composition <NUM> or the thickness of a formed film.

The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is used to discharge the liquid composition onto a desired target place of the discharge target. The electrode mixture layer can be suitably used as, for example, a part of the configuration of an electrochemical element. The configuration of the electrochemical element other than the electrode mixture layer is not particularly limited, and a known configuration can be appropriately selected. For example, as a configuration other than the electrode mixture layer, the electrochemical element may include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, for example.

The liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to an apparatus in which the liquid discharge head moves relative to the material to which liquid can adhere. As a specific example, a serial type apparatus that moves the liquid discharge head or a line type apparatus that does not move the liquid discharge head are included.

Examples of the liquid discharge apparatus further include a treatment liquid applying apparatus to discharge a treatment liquid to a sheet to apply the treatment liquid to a sheet surface to reform the sheet surface, and an injection granulation apparatus in which a composition liquid including raw materials dispersed in a solution is injected through nozzles to granulate fine particles of the raw materials.

The term "liquid discharge device" represents a structure including the liquid discharge head and a functional part or mechanism combined thereto to form a single unit, an assembly of parts relating to liquid discharge. For example, the liquid discharge device includes a combination of the liquid discharge head with at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply unit, a maintenance unit, and a main scan moving unit.

Examples of the "single unit" include, for example, a combination in which the liquid discharge head and functional parts and mechanisms are secured to each other through fastening, bonding, or engaging, and a combination in which one of the liquid discharge head and the functional parts and mechanisms is movably held by another. The liquid discharge head may be detachably attached to the functional part(s) or mechanism(s) each other.

The liquid discharge device may be, for example, formed by the liquid discharge head and the head tank as a single unit, such as the liquid discharge device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Alternatively, the liquid discharge head and the head tank are coupled to each other with a tube to form a single unit. A unit including a filter may be added between the head tank of the liquid discharge head and the liquid discharge head.

The liquid discharge head and the carriage may form the liquid discharge device as a single unit.

In still another example, the liquid discharge device includes the liquid discharge head movably held by a guide member that forms a part of the main scan moving unit, so that the liquid discharge head and the main scan moving unit form a single unit. The liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the main scan moving unit may form the liquid discharge device as a single unit.

In still another example, the cap that forms a part of the maintenance unit may be secured to the carriage to which the liquid discharge head is attached so that the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance unit form a single unit as the liquid discharge device.

A tube may be coupled to the liquid discharge head to which either the head tank or the channel part is attached, so that the liquid discharge head and the supply unit form a single unit as the liquid discharge device.

The main scan moving unit may include a single guide member. The supply unit may include a single tube or a single loader.

The pressure generator used in the liquid discharge head is not limited. The pressure generator is not limited to a piezoelectric actuator (or that using a laminated piezoelectric element), and may be, for example, a thermal actuator that employs an electrothermal transducer element such as a thermal resistor, or an electrostatic actuator including a diaphragm and opposed electrodes.

The terms "image formation", "recording", "printing", "image printing", and "fabricating" used herein may be used synonymously with each other.

Although the preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, it is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope recited in claims.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge module, and a liquid discharge apparatus having excellent quality.

The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A liquid discharge head (<NUM>) comprising:
a nozzle plate (<NUM>) having multiple nozzles (<NUM>) from each of which a liquid is to be discharged, the multiple nozzles (<NUM>) arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate (<NUM>);
a channel substrate (<NUM>) on the nozzle plate (<NUM>) in a lamination direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, the channel substrate (<NUM>) including:
multiple channels (<NUM>) arrayed in the longitudinal direction in a channel region (21A) of the channel substrate (<NUM>), the multiple channels (<NUM>) respectively communicating with the multiple nozzles (<NUM>);
a first recess (<NUM>) outside the channel region (21A) in the longitudinal direction; and
a flat portion (<NUM>) between the channel region (21A) and the first recess (<NUM>) in the longitudinal direction,
characterised in that the first recess (<NUM>) includes multiple recesses discrete at a first interval (<NUM>) around the periphery of the channel region (21A) on the plane of the channel substrate (<NUM>).