Liquid-jet head unit and liquid-jet apparatus

• US 20060221116A1
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyata, Yoshinao
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/20
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/145 Arrangement thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are a liquid-jet apparatus, and the liquid-jet head unit including: a liquid-jet head in which nozzle orifices for ejecting ink droplets are arranged in parallel lines; and a head case fixed to the liquid-jet head. A linear expansion coefficient in a reference direction, which is a direction in which the nozzle orifices of the head case are arranged in parallel lines, is set less than a linear expansion coefficient thereof in a direction orthogonal to the reference direction.

Claims

1. A liquid-jet head unit, comprising:

an liquid-jet head in which nozzle orifices for ejecting ink droplets are arranged in parallel lines to each other; and

a head case fixed to the liquid-jet head,

wherein a linear expansion coefficient of the head case in a reference direction, which is a direction in which the nozzle orifices of the head case are arranged in parallel lines, is set less than a linear expansion coefficient thereof in a direction orthogonal to the reference direction.

2. The liquid-jet head unit according to claim 1, wherein the reference direction of the head case is a longitudinal direction of the liquid-jet head.

3. The liquid-jet head unit according to claim 1, wherein the head case is formed of a liquid crystal polymer.

4. The liquid-jet head unit according to claim 1,

wherein the liquid-jet head includes a passage-forming substrate formed of a single crystal silicon substrate, and pressure generating chambers communicating with the respective nozzle orifices are respectively formed in divisions on the passage-forming substrate, and

wherein the head case is fixed to the passage-forming substrate.

5. The liquid-jet head unit according to claim 4, wherein the head case is fixed to the passage-forming substrate with a protective plate interposed therebetween, the protective plate being connected to the passage-forming substrate and formed of a material having a linear expansion coefficient substantially equal to that of the passage-forming substrate.

6. The liquid-jet head unit according to claim 1, wherein the head case is molded in order that the reference direction can be an injection flow direction.

7. A liquid-jet apparatus, comprising the liquid-jet head in claim 1.

8. A liquid-jet apparatus, comprising the liquid-jet head in claim 2.

9. A liquid-jet apparatus, comprising the liquid-jet head in claim 3.

10. A liquid-jet apparatus, comprising the liquid-jet head in claim 4.

11. A liquid-jet apparatus, comprising the liquid-jet head in claim 5.

12. A liquid-jet apparatus, comprising the liquid-jet head in claim 6.