Droplet ejection head, method of manufacturing droplet ejection head, and droplet ejection apparatus

A method of manufacturing a droplet ejection head that is attachable to and removable from a droplet ejection apparatus and that comprises:

• a nozzle plate having multiple nozzle holes to eject droplets;
• an individual-channel substrate in which multiple individual-liquid-chambers to supply liquid to the nozzle holes are formed, the individual-channel substrate including pressure generating units that apply pressure to liquid in the individual-liquid-chambers;
• a common-channel substrate to supply liquid to the individual-channel substrate;
• a base plate made of metal and including a first positioning part to be engaged with a part of the droplet ejection apparatus at a given position to perform positioning with respect to the droplet ejection apparatus in a direction along an opening surface of the nozzle plate at which the nozzle holes are opened;
• a housing made of resin and including a second positioning part to perform positioning with respect to the droplet ejection apparatus in a direction intersecting with the opening surface and a sealing member extending from a surface of the housing in the direction intersecting with the opening surface;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners,
• the method comprising:
• manufacturing a first head structure by optically aligning and joining the nozzle plate and the individual-channel substrate;
• manufacturing a second head structure by aligning, using an opening provided in the common-channel substrate and the base plate, and joining the common-channel substrate and the base plate;
• optically aligning and joining the first head structure and the second head structure;
• and
• extending the plurality of fasteners through the base plate of the second head structure joined to the first head structure into the sealing member to join the base plate and the housing.

A droplet ejection apparatus comprising an attachable and removable droplet ejection head, wherein the droplet ejection head comprises:

• a nozzle plate having multiple nozzle holes to eject droplets;
• an individual-channel substrate in which multiple individual-liquid-chambers to supply liquid to the nozzle holes are formed, the individual-channel substrate including pressure generating units that apply pressure to liquid in the individual-liquid-chambers;
• a common-channel substrate to supply liquid to the individual-channel substrate;
• a base plate made of metal and including a first positioning part to be engaged with a part of the droplet ejection apparatus at a given position to perform positioning with respect to the droplet ejection apparatus in a direction along an opening surface of the nozzle plate at which the nozzle holes are opened;
• a housing made of resin and including a second positioning part to perform positioning with respect to the droplet ejection apparatus in a direction intersecting with the opening surface and a sealing member extending from a surface of the housing in the direction intersecting with the opening surface;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners extending through the base plate and into the sealing member to join the base plate and the housing.