LIQUID EJECTION HEAD AND LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS

• US 20170232737A1
• Filed: 01/19/2017
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Komamiya, Yumi, Aoki, Takatsuna, Okushima, Shingo, Moriguchi, Takuto
• Granted Patent: US 10,214,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1404 Geometrical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14145 Structure of the manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14153 Structures including a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/18 Ink recirculation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/12 with ink circulating through the whole print head
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/20 Modules

Abstract

In a liquid ejection head, it is possible to suppress generation of a temperature distribution of liquid in a direction in which ejection openings are arranged in a print element board. Specifically, a liquid ejection head, which is provided with an ejection opening row in which a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting a liquid are arranged, includes a pressure chamber that communicates with the ejection openings and includes a pressure generation element, a passage which is provided with an opening and extends along the ejection opening row to supply the liquid flowing into the passage through the opening to the pressure chamber, a heater provided around the opening, and a temperature sensor provided in a region along the ejection opening row.

Claims

1. A liquid ejection head provided with an ejection opening row in which a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting a liquid are arranged, the liquid ejection head comprising:

a pressure chamber that communicates with the ejection opening and includes a pressure generation element inside the pressure chamber, the pressure generation element generating a pressure used for ejecting the liquid;

an opening for supplying the liquid to the pressure chamber;

a passage extending along the ejection opening row to supply the liquid flowing in from the opening to the pressure chamber;

a heater provided around the opening; and

a temperature sensor provided in a region along the ejection opening row.

2. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, herein

the opening includes a first opening and a second opening communicating with the first opening through the passage, and

the heater and the temperature sensor are provided around the first opening and between the first opening and the second opening.

3. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of openings are provided, and the heater and the temperature sensor are provided around each of the plurality of openings and between the plurality of openings.

4. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, further comprising

second opening for discharging a liquid in the passage,

wherein the heater and the temperature sensor are provided around the first opening and between the first opening and the second opening.

5. The liquid ejection head according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of openings are provided, and the heater and the temperature sensor are provided around each of the plurality of openings and between the plurality of openings.

6. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the heater and the temperature sensor are provided in respective regions adjacent to both end portions of the ejection opening row.

7. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the heater and the temperature sensor are provided in a region adjacent to one of end portions of the ejection opening row.

8. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein a liquid inside the pressure chamber is circulated between the pressure chamber and an outside of the pressure chamber.

9. A liquid ejection apparatus that ejects a liquid using a liquid ejection head provided with an ejection opening row in which a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting the liquid are arranged,

wherein the liquid ejection head includes a pressure chamber that communicates with the ejection openings and includes a pressure generation element inside the pressure chamber, an opening, a passage extending along the ejection opening row to supply the liquid flowing in from the opening to the pressure chamber, a heater provided around the opening, and a temperature sensor provided in a region along the ejection opening row,

the liquid ejection apparatus includes control unit configured to control a temperature of the liquid ejection head, and

the control unit controls driving of the heater based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

10. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit drives the heater to heat the liquid when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold temperature.

11. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the liquid ejection head has a plurality of temperature sensors around the heater, and

the control unit drives the heater to heat the liquid when a temperature calculated from the plurality of temperature sensors around the heater is less than or equal to the threshold temperature.

12. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the liquid ejection head includes the ejection opening row for each of a plurality of ink colors, and

the control unit controls driving of the heater based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor for each of the plurality of ink colors.

13. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising

circulation unit configured to circulate a liquid in the pressure chamber between the pressure chamber and an outside of the pressure chamber.

14. A liquid ejection head comprising:

an ejection opening row in which a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting a liquid are arranged;

a plurality of elements provided at positions opposing the plurality of ejection openings, respectively, to generate energy used to eject the liquid;

a plurality of pressure chambers including the plurality of elements therein;

an opening row in which a plurality of openings communicating with the plurality of pressure chambers are arranged along the ejection opening row;

a heater row in which a plurality of heaters are arranged along the opening row; and

a temperature sensor row in which a plurality of temperature sensors are arranged along the opening row.

15. The liquid ejection head according to claim 14, further comprising:

an ejection opening formation member in which the ejection opening row is provided; and

a substrate joined to the ejection opening formation member,

wherein the plurality of elements, the heater row, and the temperature sensor row are provided on a side of one surface of the substrate, and the opening row is provided on a side of a rear surface with respect to the one surface.

16. The liquid ejection head according to claim 15, wherein a cover plate in which the opening row is formed is arranged on the side of the rear surface of the substrate.

17. The liquid ejection head according to claim 14, wherein liquids inside the pressure chambers are circulated between the pressure chambers and an outside of the pressure chambers.