Liquid droplet discharge head, liquid droplet discharge apparatus, and image forming apparatus

A liquid droplet discharge apparatus comprising:

• a liquid droplet discharge head comprising
• a nozzle substrate that has a nozzle hole for discharging a liquid droplet;
• a liquid chamber substrate that includes a liquid chamber that is in communication with the nozzle hole and a liquid introduction path for introducing liquid into the liquid chamber;
• an oscillation plate that forms a part of the liquid chamber;
• an electromechanical conversion element that is arranged on the oscillation plate at a location corresponding to the liquid chamber, the electromechanical conversion element being deformed by a voltage applied from an exterior to cause the oscillation plate to deform and the liquid chamber to generate pressure so that the liquid within the liquid chamber is discharged from the nozzle hole;
• a common liquid chamber that is in communication with the liquid chamber via the liquid introduction path and is configured to supply the liquid to the liquid chamber;
• a common liquid chamber forming substrate that includes a single metal plate integrated with a resin substrate to form the common liquid chamber;
• and
• a tank that stores the liquid to be supplied to the common liquid chamber of the liquid droplet discharge head,
• wherein
• a liquid supply substrate is arranged between the common liquid chamber substrate and the liquid chamber substrate,
• the liquid supply substrate includes an ink supply port that is in communication with the common liquid chamber, and a concave portion corresponding to an opening formed where the oscillation plate is located,
• the liquid supply substrate is arranged on the oscillation plate, and in such state, a piezoelectric element is accommodated between the concave portion and the oscillation plate, and
• the face of the metal plate on the opposite side of the resin substrate is
• bonded to the face of the liquid supply substrate opposite the face at which the concave portion is formed.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a liquid droplet discharge head comprising
• a nozzle substrate that has a nozzle hole for discharging a liquid droplet;
• a liquid chamber substrate that includes a liquid chamber that is in communication with the nozzle hole and a liquid introduction path for introducing liquid into the liquid chamber;
• an oscillation plate that forms a part of the liquid chamber;
• an electromechanical conversion element that is arranged on the oscillation plate at a location corresponding to the liquid chamber, the electromechanical conversion element being deformed by a voltage applied from an exterior to cause the oscillation plate to deform and the liquid chamber to generate pressure so that the liquid within the liquid chamber is discharged from the nozzle hole;
• a common liquid chamber that is in communication with the liquid chamber via the liquid introduction path and is configured to supply the liquid to the liquid chamber;
• and
• a common liquid chamber forming substrate that includes a single metal plate integrated with a resin substrate to form the common liquid chamber,
• wherein
• a liquid supply substrate is arranged between the common liquid chamber substrate and the liquid chamber substrate,
• the liquid supply substrate includes an ink supply port that is in communication with the common liquid chamber, and a concave portion corresponding to an opening formed where the oscillation plate is located,
• the liquid supply substrate is arranged on the oscillation plate, and in such state, a piezoelectric element is accommodated between the concave portion and the oscillation plate, and
• the face of the metal plate on the opposite side of the resin substrate is bonded to the face of the liquid supply substrate opposite the face at which the concave portion is formed.