US 8,944,565 B2 · Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus

Abstract

A liquid ejecting head includes a plurality of pressure generators each including a first electrode individually provided therefor, the first electrode being located on a face of the flow path plate so as to correspond to one of the pressure chambers, a piezoelectric layer provided on the first electrode, and a second electrode provided on the piezoelectric layer; a lead electrode electrically connected to the first electrode; and a conductive layer provided in a section where the first electrode is partially exposed, the section being located in a region where the second electrode is not provided and the piezoelectric layer is exposed, at least a part of the conductive layer being in contact with the first electrode. The lead electrode is connected to the first electrode via the conductive layer.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims2

Dependent claims

A liquid ejecting head comprising:

a flow path plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the flow path plate including a plurality of pressure generators;
each of the plurality of pressure generators comprises:
a pressure chamber that is provided in the flow path plate and that communicates with a nozzle that ejects a liquid;
a first electrode that is formed over the first surface of the flow path plate and the pressure chamber through a vibrating plate;
a piezoelectric layer that is formed on a first part of the first electrode so that a second part of the first electrode is uncovered by the piezoelectric layer;
a second electrode that is formed on a first part of the piezoelectric layer so that a second part of the piezoelectric layer and the second part of the first electrode are uncovered by the second electrode;
a through hole that is formed in the second part of the piezoelectric layer;
a conductive layer that is provided at the through hole so as to electrically connect to the first electrode;
and
a lead electrode that is formed on the conductive layer and a portion of the second part of the piezoelectric layer so as to electrically connect to the first electrode through the conductive layer,
wherein the conductive layer is formed on the first part of the first electrode, a side wall of the through hole, and a top surface of the second part of the piezoelectric layer in a vicinity of the through hole,
wherein the lead electrode is formed starting from a position between an edge of the second electrode on the second part of the piezoelectric layer and an edge of the conductive layer next to the second electrode, continuing on the conductive layer including the through hole and on the second part of the first electrode, and extending toward outside the pressure chamber in a plan view,
wherein the second electrode is a common electrode for the plurality of pressure generators, and
wherein an opening is formed between the plurality of pressure generators, by removing the second electrode and the piezoelectric layer.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,823 words

Summary1,059 words

#This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-084920 filed Apr. 6, 2011 which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

#1. Technical Field

#The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus that eject a liquid through a nozzle, and more particularly to an ink jet recording head, an ink jet recording head unit, and an ink jet recording apparatus that dispense ink as an example of the liquid.

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a recording head according to a first embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the recording head according to the first embodiment.

Detailed description3,625 words

#Hereafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in details.

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an ink jet recording head exemplifying a liquid recording head according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a flow path plate of the ink jet recording head; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III in FIG. 2.

#As shown in FIG. 1, the flow path plate 10 constituting a part of the ink jet recording head I includes a plurality of pressure chambers 12 defined by partition walls 11 so as to be aligned on the flow path plate 10. The direction in which the pressure chambers 12 are aligned will be referred to as alignment direction or first direction. The flow path plate 10 also includes an ink supply path 13 and a communication path 14 formed at an end portion of each of the pressure chambers 12 in a direction intersecting with the alignment direction (hereinafter, second direction), and defined by the partition walls 11 so as to communicate with each of the pressure chambers 12. A communication channel 15 is provided on an outer side of the communication paths 14, so as to communicate with each of them.

Facts

Application

13/439,173Filed 4 Apr 2012

Priority

JP 2011-0849206 Apr 2011

Published

US 2012/0256988 A111 Oct 2012

Granted

3 Feb 2015

Term ends

4 May 2032

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 30 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

B41J 2/14201
Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads: structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements
B41J 2/14233
Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements: of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm
B41J 2002/14241
Of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm: having a cover around the piezoelectric thin film element
B41J 2002/14491
Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads: electrical connection

Timeline

6 Apr 2011Priority claimedJP 2011-084920
4 Apr 2012Application filedUS 13/439,173
4 Apr 2012Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
11 Oct 2012PublishedUS 2012/0256988 A1
3 Feb 2015GrantedUS 8,944,565 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
4 May 2032Term endsEstimated, includes 30 days of adjustment

Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus

Life of this patent

Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims2

Description4,823 words

Drawings

Description4,823 words

Classification5 codes