Liquid discharge head, method for manufacturing liquid discharge head, head cartridge on which liquid discharge head is mounted, and liquid discharge apparatus

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head in which desired liquid is discharged by generation of a bubble created by acting thermal energy on liquid, a method for manufacturing such a liquid discharge head, a head cartridge on which such a liquid discharge head is mounted, and a liquid discharge apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a liquid discharge head having a movable member displaced by utilizing generation of a bubble, a method for manufacturing such a liquid discharge head, a head cartridge on which such a liquid discharge head is mounted, and a liquid discharge apparatus.

#Incidentally, a term (“recording” in the specification means that not only an image such as a character or a figure having a special meaning but also a meaningless image such as a pattern are formed on a recording medium.

#FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D are schematic views showing a liquid discharge head according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A is a side view looked at from a discharge port side, FIG. 1B is a sectional plan view, FIG. 1C is a sectional view taken along a liquid flow path and FIG. 1D is a sectional view of the head taken along a direction perpendicular to the liquid flow path;

#FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing dimensions of main parts of the liquid discharge head shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D;

#FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are views showing configuration of flow path walls of the liquid discharge head shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D in a condition that a top plate and an orifice plate are omitted, where FIG. 3A is a plan view, FIG. 3B is an enlarged plan view, FIG. 3C is a perspective view and FIG. 3D is an enlarged perspective view;

#The present invention will now be explained in connection with embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#(Construction of liquid discharge head)

#FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view, in partial section, showing a fundamental construction of a general liquid discharge head to which the present invention can be applied. The liquid discharge head includes an element substrate 1 on which heat generating members 2 for generating discharge energy are formed. A plurality of heat generating members 2 are formed on the element substrate 1 side by side, and aluminum wirings (not shown) for transmitting an electrical signal for selectively discharging liquid to the desired heat generating member 2 are provided on the element substrate. Further, on the element substrate 1, there are provided flow path walls 9 as side walls defining liquid flow paths 7 for directing the liquid above the respective heat generating members 2, and a liquid chamber wall 10 as a side wall defining a common liquid chamber 8 communicated with the liquid flow paths 7. Further, a movable member 6 for enhancing liquid discharging efficiency by directing pressure created by generation of a bubble at the heat generating member 2 is provided. The heat generating members 2, electrical wirings, flow path walls 9, liquid chamber wall 10 and movable member 6 are formed on the element substrate 1 made of silicon by means of a film forming technique.