Patent Description:
As liquid discharge apparatuses that discharge a liquid, there are known inkjet image forming apparatuses that discharge an ink onto a sheet such as paper to form an image.

Inkjet image forming apparatuses include a liquid discharge head having a nozzle to discharge the ink. When a sheet is conveyed to a position facing the liquid discharge head, the ink is discharged through the nozzle to form an image on the sheet. When the sheet comes into contact with the nozzle, the nozzle may be damaged, which may avoid stable ink discharge. Therefore, some inkjet image forming apparatuses include a nozzle protector that protects the nozzle (see <CIT>, for example).

For example, the nozzle protector is bonded to a peripheral portion of a nozzle plate having the nozzle, a frame, or the like, and when the conveyed sheet hits an edge face of the nozzle protector, the impact may cause the nozzle protector to separate. <CIT> discloses an inkjet head and manufacturing method and image forming device using the inkjet head. <CIT> discloses an ink-jet recording head.

It is an object of the embodiments of the present invention to suppress the separation of the nozzle protector.

The present invention is related to a liquid discharge head according to claim <NUM>.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the separation of the nozzle protector.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings for describing the embodiments, components such as members and elements having the same function or shape will be denoted by the same reference numeral as long as the components are distinguishable, and thus the description thereof will be omitted after the components are described once.

First, a configuration of an inkjet image forming apparatus, which is a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment, will be described with reference to <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a general arrangement of the inkjet image forming apparatus, and <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the inkjet image forming apparatus.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an image forming apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a sheet supplier <NUM> that supplies a sheet S for image formation, an image former <NUM> that forms an image on the sheet S, a conveyer <NUM> that conveys the sheet S to the image former <NUM>, a dryer <NUM> that dries the sheet S, and a sheet collector <NUM> that collects the sheet S having an image formed thereon. The image forming apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment further includes a controller <NUM> (see <FIG>) that controls the sheet supplier <NUM>, the image former <NUM>, the conveyer <NUM>, the dryer <NUM>, and the sheet collector <NUM>.

The sheet supplier <NUM> includes a supply roller <NUM> having the elongated sheet S wound in roll form and a tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> that adjusts the tension applied to the sheet S. The supply roller <NUM> is configured to rotate in the direction of an arrow illustrated in <FIG> so that, as the supply roller <NUM> rotates, the sheet S is delivered. The tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> includes a plurality of rollers that has the sheet S placed therebetween to apply the tension. A part of these rollers is moved to adjust the tension of the sheet S, and the sheet S is delivered from the supply roller <NUM> at a constant tension.

The image former <NUM> includes a head unit <NUM>, which includes a liquid discharge unit that ejects a liquid ink onto the sheet S, and a platen <NUM>, which includes a sheet support member that supports the conveyed sheet S. The head unit <NUM> includes a plurality of liquid discharge heads. The ink is ejected from each of the liquid discharge heads onto the sheet S based on the image data generated by the controller <NUM> so that the image is formed on the sheet S. Here, the ink includes a liquid containing a color material, a solvent, and crystalline resin particles dispersed in the solvent. The crystalline resin includes a resin that undergoes a phase change and melts from a crystalline state to a liquid when heated above a predetermined melting point. The platen <NUM> is positioned so as to face the head unit <NUM> and support the lower surface of the sheet S supplied from the sheet supplier <NUM>. The platen <NUM> is configured to be close to or away from the head unit <NUM> so that the distance between the head unit <NUM> and the sheet S may be kept constant.

The conveyer <NUM> includes a plurality of conveyance rollers <NUM>. Each of the conveyance rollers <NUM> rotates while the sheet S is placed between the conveyance rollers <NUM>, and thus the sheet S is conveyed to the image former <NUM>. The conveyer <NUM> may also include other conveyers such as a conveyance belt.

The dryer <NUM> includes a heating drum <NUM> that heats the sheet S to promote drying of the ink on the sheet S. The heating drum <NUM> includes a cylindrical member that rotates while the sheet S is wound around the outer circumference thereof and has a heating source such as a halogen heater located inside. In addition to a contact heater such as the heating drum <NUM>, a non-contact heater such as a warm air generation device that blows warm air to the sheet S may also be used as a heater that heats the sheet S.

The sheet collector <NUM> includes a collection roller <NUM> that winds and collects the sheet S and a tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> that adjusts the tension applied to the sheet S. The collection roller <NUM> is configured to rotate in the direction of an arrow illustrated in <FIG> so that, as the collection roller <NUM> rotates, the sheet S is wound and collected in roll form. The tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> includes a plurality of rollers, as in the tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> in the sheet supplier <NUM>. A part of these rollers is moved to adjust the tension of the sheet S, and the sheet S is wound by the collection roller <NUM> at a constant tension.

The controller <NUM> includes an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer (PC). The controller <NUM> generates image data to be formed on the sheet S and controls various operations of the sheet supplier <NUM>, the image former <NUM>, the conveyer <NUM>, the dryer <NUM>, and the sheet collector <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> controls the rotation speeds of the supply roller <NUM>, the collection roller <NUM>, and each of the conveyance rollers <NUM>, and the temperature of the heating source that heats the heating drum <NUM>.

Next, an example of the configuration of the liquid discharge head will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the liquid discharge head. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head illustrated in <FIG> in the lateral direction (the direction of an arrow Y in <FIG>).

As illustrated in <FIG>, a liquid discharge head <NUM> includes a plurality of head main bodies <NUM>, a base <NUM>, a cover <NUM>, a heat dissipation member <NUM>, a manifold <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM> (PCB), and a module case <NUM>.

The head main bodies <NUM> are held by the base <NUM> as a holder. To attach the head main body <NUM> to the base <NUM>, the head main body <NUM> is first inserted into an opening 22c (see <FIG>) included in the base <NUM>. Then, the head main body <NUM> is bonded to the cover <NUM> that is bonded to the base <NUM>. The cover <NUM> includes a hole 23a (see <FIG>) corresponding to each of the head main bodies <NUM> so that a peripheral portion of the head main body <NUM> is bonded to an edge of the hole 23a. Then, the head main body <NUM> is fastened and secured to the base <NUM> with a screw.

Specifically, a flange portion of a common channel member <NUM> (see <FIG>) is provided on the front side and the back side of the head main body <NUM> in the longitudinal direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of <FIG>), and the flange portion is fastened to the base <NUM> with a screw.

Accordingly, the common channel member <NUM> is held by the base <NUM>, and the head main body <NUM> is secured. The attachment structure of the head main body <NUM> and the base <NUM> is not limited thereto, and the head main body <NUM> may also be attached by bonding, swage, etc..

As illustrated in <FIG>, the head main body <NUM> includes a nozzle plate <NUM> having a nozzle <NUM>, a channel <NUM> including an individual chamber <NUM>, or the like, communicating with the nozzle <NUM>, a diaphragm <NUM> including a piezoelectric element <NUM>, a holding <NUM> laminated on the diaphragm <NUM>, the common channel member <NUM> stacked on the holding <NUM>, etc. The common channel member <NUM> serves as a frame (nozzle protector holder) to hold the nozzle protector (cover <NUM>). The individual chamber <NUM> is an example of a channel in the channel <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> includes, in addition to the individual chamber <NUM>, a supply-side individual channel <NUM> communicating with the individual chamber <NUM> and a collection-side individual channel <NUM> communicating with the individual chamber <NUM>. The holding <NUM> includes a supply-side intermediate individual channel <NUM> communicating with the supply-side individual channel <NUM> through an opening 33a of the diaphragm <NUM> and a collection-side intermediate individual channel <NUM> communicating with the collection-side individual channel <NUM> via an opening 33b of the diaphragm <NUM>.

The common channel member <NUM> (frame) includes a supply-side common channel <NUM> communicating with the supply-side intermediate individual channel <NUM> and a collection-side common channel <NUM> communicating with the collection-side intermediate individual channel <NUM>. The supply-side common channel <NUM> communicates with a supply port <NUM> through a channel <NUM> in the manifold <NUM>.

The collection-side common channel <NUM> communicates with a collection port <NUM> through another channel <NUM> in the manifold <NUM>.

The PCB <NUM> is coupled to the piezoelectric element <NUM> of the head main body <NUM> through a flexible wiring member <NUM>. The flexible wiring member <NUM> has a driver integrated circuit (IC) (drive circuit) <NUM> mounted thereon.

The base <NUM> preferably has a material having a low coefficient of linear expansion. Examples of the material having a low coefficient of linear expansion include <NUM> alloy, which is iron with nickel added, or Invar® materials. When the base <NUM> has such a material, an increase in the temperature of the base <NUM> due to the heat generated by the liquid discharge head <NUM> causes a small amount of expansion of the base <NUM>, which is unlikely to cause a misalignment of the nozzle, and the misalignment of the ink discharge position may be suppressed. When the nozzle plate <NUM> and the diaphragm <NUM> include a silicon single-crystal and have the coefficient of linear expansion substantially the same as that of the base <NUM>, the misalignment of the nozzle due to thermal expansion may be further reduced.

<FIG> is a plan view of an example of the configuration of the head unit.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the head unit <NUM> includes the two liquid discharge heads <NUM>. Each of the liquid discharge heads <NUM> is arranged such that the lateral direction thereof (the direction of the arrow Y) is in a sheet conveyance direction A and the longitudinal direction thereof (the direction of an arrow X) is in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction A. Here, the "longitudinal direction" of the liquid discharge head <NUM> means, as illustrated in <FIG>, the longitudinal direction (the direction of the arrow X) of the liquid discharge head <NUM> extending in one direction when the liquid discharge head <NUM> is viewed in a direction perpendicular to a nozzle surface 31a where the nozzle <NUM> (see <FIG>) is exposed. The "lateral direction" of the liquid discharge head <NUM> means the direction (the direction of the arrow Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head <NUM> when the liquid discharge head <NUM> is viewed in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 31a. The "longitudinal direction" and "lateral direction" of the liquid discharge head <NUM> described in the description below also have the same meanings.

The head unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes what is called a line head unit. When the sheet S is conveyed to a position facing the head unit <NUM>, the ink is ejected through the nozzle of each of the head main bodies <NUM> to form an image on the sheet S without moving the head unit <NUM> with respect to the conveyed sheet S.

In addition to the above-described line head unit, the head unit also includes what is called a serial head unit that ejects the ink while moving the liquid discharge head in the main scanning direction (sheet width direction).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a serial head unit <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the serial head unit <NUM> includes a carriage <NUM> including a liquid discharge head <NUM>, a guide member <NUM> (guide rod) that guides the carriage <NUM> in the main scanning direction, which is a sheet width direction B, and a drive device <NUM> that moves the carriage <NUM>.

The drive device <NUM> includes, for example, a motor <NUM>, which includes a drive source, and a timing belt <NUM> that extends between a drive pulley <NUM> and a driven pulley <NUM>. When the motor <NUM> is driven and the drive pulley <NUM> is rotated, the timing belt <NUM> moves circumferentially, and thus the carriage <NUM> moves in the main scanning direction along the guide member <NUM>. The rotation direction of the motor <NUM> is switched between one direction and the opposite direction so that the carriage <NUM> may move back and forth in the main scanning direction.

In the above-described serial head unit <NUM>, the liquid discharge head <NUM> ejects the ink in accordance with the image signal while the carriage <NUM> moves in the main scanning direction, and thus the image corresponding to one line is formed on the stopped sheet S. Then, while the sheet S moves by a predetermined amount in the direction of the arrow A in <FIG>, the back-and-forth movement of the carriage <NUM> and the ink discharge are repeatedly performed to sequentially form images on the sheet S.

In the above-described head unit (liquid discharge head), as illustrated in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> is provided around the head main body <NUM>, and therefore, even when the sheet is conveyed close to the nozzle surface of the head main body <NUM>, the contact of the sheet with the cover <NUM> may prevent the contact of the sheet with the nozzle surface. This may prevent damages to the nozzle and maintain stable ink discharge.

However, when the conveyed sheet hits an outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, the impact received by the cover <NUM> at that moment may cause the cover <NUM> to separate from the nozzle plate <NUM>, the base <NUM> (see <FIG>), or the like. In particular, when a fibrous conveyance object such as cloth is conveyed, the fuzzy fiber of the conveyance object gets stuck with the corner or burr of the cover <NUM>, which easily separate the cover <NUM>. When the cover <NUM> is separated, a foreign substance such as ink entering the head main body <NUM> through the separated area of the cover <NUM> may cause a failure or malfunction.

For example, when the ink enters inside through the separated area of the cover <NUM> and adheres to a current-carrying portion such as the flexible wiring member <NUM> (see <FIG>) inside the head main body <NUM>, a failure may occur due to current leakage. When the ink enters inside and adheres to the piezoelectric element <NUM> (see <FIG>) inside the head main body <NUM>, the subsequently solidified ink may avoid desirable driving of the piezoelectric element <NUM> and cause an ink discharge failure.

As described above, the separation of the cover <NUM> causes various disadvantages such as malfunction and failure. Therefore, the following measures are taken according to the present embodiment.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head according to a first embodiment. As the basic structure of the liquid discharge head according to the present embodiment is substantially the same as the liquid discharge head illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> above, the description will be omitted as appropriate for the already described part.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid discharge head <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the nozzle plate <NUM> having the nozzle <NUM> (see <FIG>), the cover <NUM> serving as a nozzle protector that protects the nozzle <NUM>, the channel <NUM> including a channel including the supply-side individual channel <NUM> (see <FIG>), the collection-side individual channel <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the like, the common channel member <NUM> serving as a frame, the base <NUM> serving as a holder that holds the common channel member <NUM>, and the like. In <FIG>, the base <NUM> also serves as a nozzle protector holder that holds the nozzle protector (cover <NUM>).

In <FIG>, the direction of an arrow Z indicates the liquid discharge direction in which the liquid (ink) is ejected through the nozzle of the nozzle plate <NUM>. Specifically, in <FIG>, the nozzle surface 31a, where the nozzle of the nozzle plate <NUM> is exposed, faces upward.

The cover <NUM> covers at least part of the nozzle surface 31a other than the nozzle. According to the present embodiment, the cover <NUM> covers the edge portion and its nearby portion of the nozzle surface 31a.

Here, when the center side (the right side in <FIG>) of the nozzle surface 31a is "inner side" and the opposite side (the left side in <FIG>) is "outer side", as illustrated in <FIG>, a portion on the outer side of the cover <NUM> is bonded to the base <NUM> through an adhesive <NUM>. The base <NUM> is provided around the nozzle plate <NUM>, the channel <NUM>, and the common channel member <NUM>, and the portion on the outer side of the cover <NUM> is bonded to an end surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> facing in the liquid discharge direction Z.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an upper portion of the base <NUM> includes a peripheral wall 22b arranged around the nozzle plate <NUM> and the channel <NUM>, and the base <NUM> serves as a nozzle protector holder that holds the cover <NUM> (nozzle protector).

The portion on the inner side of the cover <NUM> is bonded to the nozzle plate <NUM> and the channel <NUM> through an adhesive <NUM>. The channel <NUM> is bonded to the surface of the nozzle plate <NUM> (the lower surface of the nozzle plate <NUM> in <FIG>) on the opposite side of the nozzle surface 31a, part of the channel <NUM> protrudes to the outer side from the edge portion of the nozzle plate <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> is bonded to the outwardly protruding portion of the channel <NUM> and the edge portion periphery of the nozzle plate <NUM>.

As described above, the portions on both sides, the inner side and outer side, of the cover <NUM> are bonded to the respective members through the adhesives <NUM> and <NUM>, and the space between each member and the cover <NUM> is sealed by the adhesives <NUM> and <NUM> to prevent the ink and other foreign matter from entering inside through the space. The cover <NUM> is bonded to the respective members through the adhesives <NUM> and <NUM>, and therefore even when the conveyed sheet hits the cover <NUM>, the cover <NUM> basically does not separate or fall off.

However, when the sheet repeatedly hits the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> facing the outer side (the opposite side of the center side of the nozzle surface) or the fibrous sheet gets stuck with the edge (corner), burr formed on the edge of the outer edge face <NUM>, or the like, while the sheet is conveyed from the left side in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> may separate.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, a highly rigid resin member <NUM> is provided to cover the outwardly facing the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, in other words, the outer edge face <NUM> (side surface) of the cover <NUM> on the side bonded to the base <NUM>. Hereinafter, the side surface may be also simply referred to as the "edge face <NUM>" or "side surface" for convenience.

The resin member <NUM> is provided between the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> and the end surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> facing in the liquid discharge direction Z. As illustrated in <FIG>, the resin member <NUM> is provided over the entire outer edge face <NUM> (hatched area in <FIG>) of the cover <NUM>.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, as the highly rigid resin member <NUM> is provided over the entire outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, the resin member <NUM> may prevent the sheet from coming into contact with and getting stuck with the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. As the direct contact of the sheet with the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> may be prevented, the impact on the cover <NUM> may also be reduced. Accordingly, the separation of the cover <NUM> is unlikely to occur, and therefore the entry of a foreign matter such as ink through the separated area may be suppressed. As a result, the possibility of malfunction and failure is reduced, and the reliability is improved.

As illustrated in <FIG>, according to the present embodiment, the resin member <NUM> does not protrude in the liquid discharge direction Z beyond the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> and does not protrude to the outer side (the opposite side of the center side of the nozzle surface) from the end surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> facing in the liquid discharge direction Z. This may also prevent the sheet from getting stuck with the resin member <NUM>. The resin member <NUM> has an inclined surface 70a that is inclined toward the inner side (the center side of the nozzle surface or the side of the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>) so as to gradually protrude in the liquid discharge direction Z.

Therefore, when the sheet comes into contact with the resin member <NUM>, the sheet is guided along the inclined surface 70a. As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the sheet comes into contact with the resin member <NUM>, the sheet is guided without getting stuck, which may ensure stable and smooth sheet conveyance. As the resin member <NUM> has the inclined surface 70a, the impact when the sheet hits the resin member <NUM> (the inclined surface 70a) is also reduced. Thus, the effect of impact on the cover <NUM> may also be reduced, and the separation of the cover <NUM> may be further prevented.

According to the present embodiment, the base <NUM> also has an inclined surface 22a, as illustrated in <FIG>. The inclined surface 22a is provided on a portion (an upper portion in <FIG>) of the base <NUM> adjacent to the resin member <NUM> and is formed to be continuous with the inclined surface 70a of the resin member <NUM>. The inclined surface 22a of the base <NUM> is inclined toward the inner side so as to gradually protrude in the liquid discharge direction Z, in the same manner as the inclined surface 70a of the resin member <NUM>.

According to the present embodiment, the inclined surfaces 22a and 70a of the base <NUM> and the resin member <NUM> have different inclination angles θ1 and θ with respect to the liquid discharge direction Z. Specifically, the inclination angle θ1 of the inclined surface 70a of the resin member <NUM> is set to be larger than the inclination angle θ2 of the inclined surface 22a of the base <NUM>. Accordingly, when the sheet comes into contact with the inclined surface 22a of the base <NUM>, the sheet is smoothly guided from the inclined surface 22a of the base <NUM> to the inclined surface 70a of the resin member <NUM>, which enables stable and smooth sheet conveyance.

A height t (see <FIG>) of the resin member <NUM> in the liquid discharge direction Z is preferably on the same level as the upper surface of the cover <NUM> in <FIG>, but the height t may be lower than the upper surface of the cover <NUM> as long as the height t is higher than the lower surface of the cover <NUM>. That is, the resin member <NUM> may cover at least part of the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. Even when the resin member <NUM> covers part of the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, the contact of the sheet with the outer edge face <NUM> may be suppressed, and the possibility of separation of the cover <NUM> may be reduced.

The highly rigid resin member <NUM> preferably has a Young's modulus of <NUM> GPa or more in terms of adhesion and strength. Furthermore, the resin member <NUM> preferably has a Young's modulus of <NUM> GPa or more. The Young's modulus, also called the modulus of longitudinal elasticity, is the slope with respect to the stress during tensile test obtained using the following Equation (<NUM>). In Equation (<NUM>), σ represents tensile stress, E represents the Young's modulus (modulus of longitudinal elasticity), and ε represents strain. (Equation <NUM>) <MAT>.

According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the resin member <NUM> is provided over the entire outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, but when the contact area of the sheet with the outer edge face <NUM> is limited, the resin member <NUM> may also be provided at the contact area of the sheet (part of the outer edge face <NUM>). For example, the resin member <NUM> may be provided, in the entire outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, on a portion extending in the longitudinal direction (the direction of the arrow X in <FIG>) of the liquid discharge head <NUM> or a portion extending in the lateral direction (the direction of the arrow Y in <FIG>) of the liquid discharge head <NUM>.

In order to confirm the effect of the present embodiment, a comparative example illustrated in <FIG> was created, and an evaluation test for the comparative example and the present embodiment was conducted. The comparative example has the same configuration as that of the present embodiment except that the highly rigid resin member <NUM> and the inclined surface 22a of the base <NUM> are not included. In this test, the liquid discharge head according to the comparative example or the present embodiment was mounted on the image forming apparatus and the sheet was conveyed, and it was checked whether the cover <NUM> was separated.

As a result, in the comparative example, the cover <NUM> of some of the liquid discharge heads was separated and failed, and part of the cover <NUM> of the other liquid discharge heads was not failed but separated. Conversely, according to the present embodiment, the cover <NUM> was not separated at all. Thus, with the configuration according to the present embodiment, it was confirmed that the separation of the cover <NUM> was effectively suppressed.

Next, an embodiment different from the above-described embodiment (the first embodiment) will be described. In the description below, the parts different from the above embodiment will be primarily described, and the description of the other parts will be omitted as appropriate as the other parts have basically the same configuration.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head according to a second embodiment.

According to the second embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the base <NUM> (see <FIG>) is not included. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the cover <NUM> is bonded to the common channel member <NUM> (frame) instead of the base <NUM>. Specifically, the common channel member <NUM> according to the present embodiment functions as a nozzle protector holder that is bonded to the cover <NUM> to hold the cover <NUM> (nozzle protector).

As illustrated in <FIG>, a surface (upper surface in <FIG>) of the common channel member <NUM> is bonded to a surface (lower surface in <FIG>) of the channel <NUM> that is opposite to the surface (upper surface in <FIG>) of the channel <NUM> bonded to the nozzle plate <NUM>. A part of the common channel member <NUM> includes a peripheral wall 35b disposed exterior of the nozzle plate <NUM> and the channel <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is bonded to a surface <NUM> of the peripheral wall 35b facing in the liquid discharge direction Z through an adhesive <NUM>.

According to the embodiment (the first embodiment) illustrated in <FIG> above, an upper portion of the base <NUM> in <FIG> in particular corresponds to a peripheral wall 22b arranged around the nozzle plate <NUM> and the channel <NUM>, and the base <NUM> corresponds to the nozzle protector holder that holds the cover <NUM>.

As described above, the second embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that the base <NUM> is not included and the cover <NUM> is bonded to the peripheral wall 35b of the common channel member <NUM>, but even with this configuration, the cover <NUM> may separate when the sheet comes into contact with the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, as in the above-described embodiment, the highly rigid resin member <NUM> is provided to suppress the separation of the cover <NUM>. Specifically, according to the present embodiment, the resin member <NUM> is provided between the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> and the surface <NUM> of the peripheral wall 35b facing in the liquid discharge direction Z.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, too, the contact of the sheet with the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> may be prevented, and the separation of the cover <NUM> may be suppressed. The range where the resin member <NUM> is provided may be the entire outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> or part of the outer edge face <NUM>.

According to the present embodiment, too, the resin member <NUM> and the common channel member <NUM> (the peripheral wall 35b) have the inclined surface 70a and an inclined surface 35a, respectively. The inclined surfaces 70a and 35a are inclined toward the inner side so as to gradually protrude in the liquid discharge direction Z, and the inclination angle θ1 and an inclination angle θ3 with respect to the liquid discharge direction Z are set to have the same relation as that between the inclination angles θ1 and θ of the resin member <NUM> and the base <NUM> according to the above-described embodiment.

That is, the inclination angle θ1 of the inclined surface 70a of the resin member <NUM> is set to be larger than the inclination angle θ3 of the inclined surface 35a of the common channel member <NUM>. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, too, the sheet may be smoothly guided from the inclined surface 35a of the common channel member <NUM> to the inclined surface 70a of the resin member <NUM>, and a reduction of the impact due to the contact of the sheet and stable and smooth sheet conveyance may be achieved.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head according to a third embodiment.

According to the third embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the resin member <NUM> covering the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> includes the adhesive <NUM> that bonds the cover <NUM> and the base <NUM>. When the rigidity of the adhesive <NUM> is high (the Young's modulus is <NUM> GPa or more), the adhesive <NUM> may be spread to the outer side beyond the cover <NUM>, and the spread portion may include the resin member <NUM> covering the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. The amount of the adhesive <NUM> to spread may be adjusted by changing at least one of the following: the adhesive application position, the amount of applied adhesive, and the pressure applied to bond the cover <NUM>. The inclined surface 70a, which is the same as the one described above, may be formed in the resin member <NUM> by using methods such as forming the spread portion in a mold when the adhesive <NUM> is spread or cutting after the adhesive <NUM> is hardened.

The configuration according to the present embodiment is also applicable to the configuration without the base <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> as well as the configuration including the base <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

That is, part of the adhesive <NUM> bonding the common channel member <NUM> and the cover <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may include the resin member <NUM> covering the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head according to a fourth embodiment.

According to the fourth embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the resin member <NUM> covering the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> is integrally formed with the base <NUM>. When the base <NUM> is made of a resin material having high rigidity (Young's modulus of <NUM> GPa or more), part of the base <NUM> (at least part of the peripheral wall 22b illustrated in <FIG>) may cover the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. According to the present embodiment, too, as in each of the above embodiments, the contact of the sheet with the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM> may be suppressed, and thus the separation of the cover <NUM> is unlikely to occur.

That is, part of the common channel member <NUM> (the peripheral wall 35b) illustrated in <FIG> may include the resin member <NUM> covering the outer edge face <NUM> of the cover <NUM>.

The present embodiment has been described above, but the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be modified in design as appropriate without departing from the content of the present embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, the "liquid discharge head" includes a functional component that discharges or ejects the liquid through the nozzle. The discharged liquid is not limited in particular and may be any liquid as long as the liquid has a viscosity or surface tension that allows discharge from the head, but the viscosity is preferably <NUM> mPa·s or less under the normal temperature and pressure or due to heating or cooling. More specifically, the liquid includes a solution, suspension, emulsion, or the like, containing a solvent such as water or organic solvent, colorant such as dye or pigment, function-adding material such as polymerizable compound, resin, and surfactant, biocompatible material such as DNA, amino acid, protein, or calcium, and edible material such as natural colorant, and the liquid may be used for application such as inkjet ink, surface treatment liquid, component such as an electronic device or light emitting device, liquid for forming an electronic circuit resist pattern, material liquid for three-dimensional modeling, etc..

The liquid discharge head may include one head main body as well as a plurality of head main bodies as in the above-described embodiments.

An energy generation source that discharges the liquid may include the one using a piezoelectric actuator (laminated piezoelectric element and thin-film piezoelectric element), a thermal actuator using an electricity-heat conversion element such as a heating resistor, an electrostatic actuator including a diaphragm and a counter electrode, etc..

According to the present embodiment, the "liquid discharge unit" includes the integration of a liquid discharge head and a functional part or mechanism and includes an assembly of parts related to liquid discharge. For example, the "liquid discharge unit" includes the one combining the liquid discharge head and at least one of the configurations of the following: a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance mechanism, a main scanning movement mechanism, and a liquid circulation device.

Here, the integration includes, for example, securing the liquid discharge head and the functional part or mechanism by fastening, bonding, engagement, etc., or holding the liquid discharge head and the functional part or mechanism such that either one moves relative to the other one. The liquid discharge head and the functional part or mechanism may also be configured to be attachable to or detachable from each other.

For example, the liquid discharge head and the head tank may be integrated as a liquid discharge unit. Furthermore, the liquid discharge head and the head tank may be coupled to each other via a tube, or the like, to be integrated. Here, a unit including a filter may also be added between the head tank and the liquid discharge head of the liquid discharge unit.

The liquid discharge head and the carriage may be integrated as a liquid discharge unit.

The liquid discharge head is movably held by a guide member included in part of a scanning movement mechanism so that the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism may be integrated as a liquid discharge unit. The liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the main scanning movement mechanism may be integrated.

A cap member, which is a part of the maintenance mechanism, is secured to the carriage to which the liquid discharge head is attached, so that the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance mechanism may be integrated as a liquid discharge unit.

A tube is coupled to the liquid discharge head to which the head tank or channel component is attached so that the liquid discharge head and the supply mechanism may be integrated as a liquid discharge unit. The liquid in a liquid storage source is supplied to the liquid discharge head via the tube.

The main scanning movement mechanism also includes a guide member alone. The supply mechanism also includes a tube alone or a loader alone.

The "liquid discharge apparatus" includes an apparatus that includes a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and drives the liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid. The liquid discharge apparatus also includes an apparatus that discharges the liquid into air or liquid as well as an apparatus that may discharge the liquid to an object to which the liquid may adhere.

The "liquid discharge apparatus" may also include units regarding feeding, conveyance, and sheet ejection of an object to which the liquid may adhere and also a preprocessing apparatus, a post-processing apparatus, etc..

Examples of the "liquid discharge apparatus" include an image forming apparatus that discharges the ink to form an image on a sheet and a stereoscopic modeling apparatus (three-dimensional modeling apparatus) that discharges a modeling liquid onto a powder layer, which is obtained by forming powers in a layer form, so as to produce a stereoscopic model (three-dimensional model).

The "liquid discharge apparatus" is not limited to an apparatus to discharge liquid to visualize meaningful images, such as letters or figures. For example, the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus to form arbitrarily images, such as arbitrarily patterns, or fabricate three-dimensional images.

The above-described "object to which the liquid may adhere" refers to a discharge object to which the liquid may adhere at least temporarily, such as the object to which the liquid is firmly fixed after adherence or the object which the liquid permeates after adherence. Specific examples include media such as sheets such as paper, recording paper, recording sheets, film, and cloth, electronic components such as electronic s and piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powdered layers), organ models, and inspection cells, and any object to which the liquid adheres unless otherwise specified.

The material of the above-described "object to which the liquid may adhere" may be any material as long as the liquid may adhere even temporarily, such as paper, yarns, fibers, woven fabrics, leathers, metals, plastics, glass, wood, and ceramics.

The "sheet" may also be a continuous sheet (e.g., roll paper) formed to be elongated or a sheet (e.g., cut paper) previously cut into a predetermined size. The present embodiment is also applicable to apparatuses that discharge the liquid to discharge objects other than sheets.

The "liquid discharge apparatus" includes an apparatus in which the liquid discharge head and the object to which the liquid may adhere are moved relative to each other, but is not limited thereto. Specific examples include a serial apparatus (see <FIG>) that moves the liquid discharge head and a line apparatus (see <FIG>) that does not move the liquid discharge head.

Claim 1:
A liquid discharge head (<NUM>) comprising:
a nozzle plate (<NUM>) having:
a nozzle surface (31a); and
a nozzle (<NUM>) in the nozzle plate (<NUM>), a liquid being discharged from the nozzle (<NUM>) of a nozzle surface side in a liquid discharge direction;
a nozzle protector (<NUM>) covering at least a part of the nozzle surface (31a) of the nozzle plate (<NUM>) other than the nozzle (<NUM>);
a nozzle protector holder (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a peripheral wall (35b) bonded to a peripheral end portion of the nozzle protector (<NUM>);
characterised in that the liquid discharge head further comprising:
a resin member (<NUM>) different from the nozzle protector holder (<NUM>, <NUM>) and contacting a side edge face of the peripheral end portion of the nozzle protector (<NUM>) and an end surface (<NUM>) of the peripheral wall (35b) facing the nozzle protector (<NUM>), wherein the resin member (<NUM>) has a first inclined surface (70a) inclined toward the edge face of the peripheral end portion of the nozzle protector (<NUM>).