Patent ID: 7219428

Claim:
A method of producing an ink-jet printing head which includes a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers which respectively correspond to the plurality of nozzles, at least one common ink chamber from which ink is supplied to the plurality of pressure chambers, a piezoelectric actuator which includes a plurality of active portions respectively corresponding to the plurality of pressure chambers, the method comprising the steps of: a pre-unit forming step of forming a pre-unit in which the plurality of nozzles and the at least one common ink chamber are formed; a pressure-chamber forming step of forming the plurality of pressure chambers in a cavity plate through the thickness thereof; a piezoelectric-actuator forming step of forming the piezoelectric actuator by stacking a plurality of piezoelectric sheets each having a size substantially covering the plurality of pressure chambers, with at least one electrode being interposed between adjacent two of the plurality of piezoelectric sheets, so that portions of the plurality of piezoelectric sheets sandwiched by the electrodes function as the plurality of active portions; an integral-body forming step of forming an integral body including the plurality of pressure chambers by stacking and bonding the piezoelectric actuator and the cavity plate such that the plurality of active portions respectively correspond to the plurality of pressure chambers and such that one of opposite openings of each of the plurality of pressure chambers is closed by the piezoelectric actuator; an integral-body bonding step of bonding the integral body which includes the plurality of pressure chambers to the pre-unit, such that the plurality of pressure chambers respectively communicate with the plurality of nozzles and the at least one common ink chamber and such that the other of the opposite openings of each of the plurality of pressure chambers is closed by the pre-unit; a detect-portion forming step of forming at the piezoelectric actuator at least one detect portion which can be perceived from an outside of the piezoelectric actuator and which is used for positioning the piezoelectric actuator and the cavity plate relative to each other; and an opening forming step of forming in the cavity plate at least one opening through the thickness thereof each of which permits each of the at least one detect portion to be perceived, upon stacking the piezoelectric actuator and the cavity plate, as viewed from a cavity-plate side in a direction of stacking and each of which is aligned with each of the at least one detect portion of the piezoelectric actuator for positioning the piezoelectric actuator and the cavity plate relative to each other.