Ink jet print head and method of production thereof

An ink jet print head comprising:

• a pressure chamber portion with pressure chambers;
• an orifice plate formed with nozzles in a one-to-one correspondence with the pressure chambers, each nozzle bringing a corresponding pressure chamber into fluid communication with atmosphere;
• a restrictor plate formed with ink channels in fluid communication with the pressure chambers;
• a diaphragm forming a side of the pressure chambers;
• piezoelectric elements each having a first end face and a second end face opposite from the first end face, the first end faces of the piezoelectric elements being attached to the diaphragm in a one-to-one correspondence with the pressure chambers, each piezoelectric element generating, through the diaphragm, a pressure fluctuation in a corresponding pressure chamber when applied with an electric signal;
• a piezoelectric element fixing plate fixedly attached to the second end faces of the piezoelectric elements and supporting the piezoelectric elements;
• a housing including:
• a common ink channel portion formed with a common ink channel in fluid communication with the channels in the restrictor plate;
• and
• internal side walls that adjoin the diaphragm at one side to define a space that is opens at an end opposite from the diaphragm, the piezoelectric element fixing plate and the piezoelectric elements being disposed at least partially in the space with a gap existing between the piezoelectric element fixing plate and the internal side walls that define the space;
• and
• a cover that covers the piezoelectric element fixing plate, the cover being connected to the housing and being provided with an internal space large enough to maintain a gap between the cover and the piezoelectric element fixing plate.