# US 10,479,087 B2 · Liquid ejection head, liquid ejection apparatus, and liquid ejection head manufacture method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,087 B2 - Document ID: US10479087B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/598,677 - Filed: 2017-05-18 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-27 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Zentaro Tamenaga; Shuzo Iwanaga; Shingo Okushima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479087B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/1632: {machining} - B41J 2/14024: {Assembling head parts} - B41J 2/14072: {Electrical connections, e.g. details on electrodes, connecting the chip to the outside...} - B41J 2/162: {Manufacturing of the nozzle plates} - B41J 2/16508: {connected with the printer frame} - B41J 2/1652: {by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head} - B41J 2/16532: {by applying vacuum only} - B41J 2/16585: {for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads} - B41J 2002/14459: {Matrix arrangement of the pressure chambers} - B41J 2202/12: with ink circulating through the whole print head - B41J 2202/20: Modules - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract In order that the interior of a cap member, in a case where the cap member abuts to a cover member, is allowed to have improved airtightness so that the cap member can sufficiently function, a sealing member is used to seal between the cover member and first and second flow path members for retaining the cover member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid ejection head, comprising: a plurality of element substrates each configured to include an ejection opening face on which an ejection opening is formed and an element for ejecting ink through the ejection opening; a plurality of first retention members configured to retain the element substrates; a second retention member configured to retain the plurality of first retention members; a cover member configured to be provided on an upper side of the first retention members so as to extend along a first direction along which the plurality of first retention members are arranged, the cover member including a face on which a cap member covering the ejection opening face is abutted; and a sealing member disposed in a space surrounded by the plurality of first retention members, the second retention member, and the cover member, wherein the sealing member contacts with opposed portions of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other in the first direction to seal between the opposed portions of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other, the opposed portions of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other opposing one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of first retention members are a plurality of first flow path members including therein liquid flow paths, respectively, and the second retention member is a second flow path member including therein a liquid flow path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein: the cover member includes an opening portion to expose the ejection opening faces of the plurality of element substrates; and the sealing member seals between the first retention members that are adjacent to each other at a part positioned near the opening portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein: the first retention members and the second retention member are joined by an adhesive agent, and the sealing member has an elastic modulus after curing that is lower than that of the adhesive agent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein: the sealing member cures at a normal temperature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein: the element substrate includes a pressure room including therein the element, and liquid in the pressure room is circulated between the pressure room and the outer side of the pressure room. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein: in a region in which the sealing member is provided, the first retention members that are adjacent to each other have therebetween an interval that is wider at an outer side of the liquid ejection head than at the element substrate side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein the sealing member seals between end portions, in a second direction crossing the first direction, of the first retention members adjacent to each other in the first direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein an end portion, in the first direction, of the element substrate is in a position projected from the first retention member in the first direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein the element substrate has a side extending in a direction diagonally crossing the first direction in a plan view, and the element substrates adjacent to each other in the first direction are arranged so that the sides of the element substrates adjacent to each other are close to each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein the liquid ejection head is a line-type head. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The liquid ejection head of claim 11, wherein the element substrates are arranged on a straight line. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein the sealing member seals the space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of support members disposed between the element substrates and the first retention members to support the element substrates. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein: the opposed portions are positioned on surfaces of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other, the surfaces being different from surfaces of the first retention members on which the element substrates are retained. ### Claim 16 A liquid ejection apparatus, comprising: a liquid ejection head; and a cap member, wherein the liquid ejection head comprises: a plurality of element substrates each configured to include an ejection opening face on which an ejection opening is formed and an element for ejecting ink through the ejection opening; a plurality of first retention members configured to retain the element substrates; a second retention member configured to retain the plurality of first retention members; a cover member configured to be provided on an upper side of the first retention members so as to extend along a first direction along which the plurality of first retention members are arranged, the cover member including a face on which the cap member covering the ejection opening face is abutted; and a sealing member disposed in a space surrounded by the plurality of first retention members, the second retention member, and the cover member, wherein the sealing member contacts with opposed portions of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other in the first direction to seal between the opposed portions of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other, the opposed portions of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other opposing one another. ### Claim 17 A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head, the liquid ejection head comprising a plurality of element substrates each configured to include an ejection opening face on which an ejection opening is formed and an element for ejecting ink through the ejection opening, a plurality of first retention members configured to retain the element substrates, a second retention member configured to retain the plurality of first retention members, a cover member configured to be provided on an upper side of the first retention members so as to extend along a first direction along which the plurality of first retention members are arranged, the cover member including a face on which a cap member covering the ejection opening face is abutted, and a sealing member disposed in a space surrounded by the plurality of first retention members, the second retention member, and the cover member, wherein the sealing member contacts with opposed portions of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other in the first direction to seal between the opposed portions of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other, the opposed portions of the first retention members that are adjacent to each other opposing one another, the method comprising: a step of retaining the element substrates on the first retention members; a step of retaining the first retention members on the second retention member; a step of sealing between the first retention members adjacent to each other by the sealing member; and a step of attaching the cover member on an upper side of the first retention members after the step of sealing.