Liquid dispensing head
According to an embodiment, a liquid dispensing head includes a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of pressure chambers respectively communicating with the nozzles. A vibration plate is on a side of the pressure chambers opposite the nozzle plate. A supply-side flow path for liquid to be dispensed from the nozzle is on an inlet side of the plurality of pressure chambers. A discharge-side flow path for the liquid is on an outlet side of the pressure chambers. Piezoelectric elements are positioned to vibrate the vibration plate to change a volume of the pressure chambers for ejecting (dispensing) the liquid from the plurality of nozzles. The supply-side flow path is set to have a flow path resistance that is the same as a flow path resistance of the discharge-side flow-path.
1 . A liquid dispensing head, comprising:
a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles;
a plurality of pressure chambers respectively communicating with the plurality of nozzles;
a vibration plate disposed on a side of the plurality of pressure chambers opposite the nozzle plate;
a supply-side flow path on an inlet side of the plurality of pressure chambers;
a discharge-side flow path on an outlet side of the pressure chambers; and
a plurality of piezoelectric elements positioned to vibrate the vibration plate to change a volume of the plurality of pressure chambers for ejecting a liquid from the plurality of nozzles, wherein
the supply-side flow path has a flow path resistance that is the same as a flow path resistance of the discharge-side flow-path.
2 . The liquid dispensing head according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a circulation system configured to circulate the liquid on a circulation flow path including the supply-side flow path, the plurality of pressure chambers, and the discharge-side flow path.
3 . The liquid dispensing head according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a flow path substrate including wall members forming the supply-side flow path and the discharge-side flow path, wherein
the supply-side flow path includes supply-side individual flow paths connecting to the pressure chambers and a supply-side common chamber connecting to the plurality of supply-side individual flow paths,
the discharge-side flow path includes discharge-side individual flow paths connecting to the pressure chambers and a discharge-side common chamber connecting to the plurality of discharge-side individual flow paths, and
the supply-side individual flow paths and the discharge-side individual flow paths are symmetrical.
4 . The liquid dispensing head according to claim 3 , wherein
the supply-side individual flow path includes a supply-side pressure flow path and a supply-side narrowed flow path,
the discharge-side individual flow path includes a discharge-side pressure flow path and a discharge-side narrowed flow path, and
the supply-side individual flow path, the pressure chamber, and the discharge-side individual flow path are disposed in order along a first direction.
5 . The liquid dispensing head according to claim 4 , wherein
the supply-side pressure flow path and the discharge-side pressure flow path have a same length in the first direction and a same cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the first direction, and
the supply-side narrowed flow path and the discharge-side narrowed flow path have a same length in the first direction and a same cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the first direction.
6 . The liquid dispensing head according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a circulation system configured to circulate the liquid on a circulation flow path including the supply-side flow path, the plurality of pressure chambers, and the discharge-side flow path, wherein
the circulation system is configured to control a flow rate of the liquid on the circulation flow path to be in a range of 1/10 to ½ of a maximum flow rate of the liquid from the plurality of nozzles.
7 . The liquid dispensing head according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a flow path substrate including wall members forming the supply-side flow path and the discharge-side flow path, wherein
the supply-side flow path includes supply-side individual flow paths connecting to the pressure chambers and a supply-side common chamber connecting to the plurality of supply-side individual flow paths,
the discharge-side flow path includes discharge-side individual flow paths connecting to the pressure chambers and a discharge-side common chamber connecting to the plurality of discharge-side individual flow paths, and
the supply-side individual flow paths and the discharge-side individual flow paths are symmetrical.
8 . The liquid dispensing head according to claim 7 , wherein
the supply-side individual flow path includes a supply-side pressure flow path and a supply-side narrowed flow path,
the discharge-side individual flow path includes a discharge-side pressure flow path and a discharge-side narrowed flow path, and
the supply-side individual flow path, the pressure chamber, and the discharge-side individual flow path are disposed in order along a first direction.
9 . The liquid dispensing head according to claim 8 , wherein
the supply-side pressure flow path and the discharge-side pressure flow path have a same length in the first direction and a same cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the first direction, and
the supply-side narrowed flow path and the discharge-side narrowed flow path have a same length in the first direction and a same cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the first direction.
10 . A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising:
a liquid ejection head including:
a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles;
a plurality of pressure chambers respectively communicating with the plurality of nozzles;
a vibration plate disposed on a side of the plurality of pressure chambers opposite the nozzle plate;
a supply-side flow path on an inlet side of the plurality of pressure chambers;
a discharge-side flow path on an outlet side of the pressure chambers; and
a plurality of piezoelectric elements positioned to vibrate the vibration plate to change a volume of the plurality of pressure chambers for ejecting a liquid from the plurality of nozzles, wherein
the supply-side flow path has a flow path resistance that is the same as a flow path resistance of the discharge-side flow-path.
11 . The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a circulation system configured to circulate the liquid on a circulation flow path including the supply-side flow path, the plurality of pressure chambers, and the discharge-side flow path.
12 . The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 , the liquid ejection head further comprising:
a flow path substrate including wall members forming the supply-side flow path and the discharge-side flow path, wherein
the supply-side flow path includes supply-side individual flow paths connecting to the pressure chambers and a supply-side common chamber connecting to the plurality of supply-side individual flow paths,
the discharge-side flow path includes discharge-side individual flow paths connecting to the pressure chambers and a discharge-side common chamber connecting to the plurality of discharge-side individual flow paths, and
the supply-side individual flow paths and the discharge-side individual flow paths are symmetrical.
13 . The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the supply-side individual flow path includes a supply-side pressure flow path and a supply-side narrowed flow path,
the discharge-side individual flow path includes a discharge-side pressure flow path and a discharge-side narrowed flow path, and
the supply-side individual flow path, the pressure chamber, and the discharge-side individual flow path are disposed in order along a first direction.
14 . The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein
the supply-side pressure flow path and the discharge-side pressure flow path have a same length in the first direction and a same cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the first direction, and
the supply-side narrowed flow path and the discharge-side narrowed flow path have a same length in the first direction and a same cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the first direction.
15 . The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a circulation system configured to circulate the liquid on a circulation flow path including the supply-side flow path, the plurality of pressure chambers, and the discharge-side flow path, wherein
the circulation system is configured to control a flow rate of the liquid on the circulation flow path to be in a range of 1/10 to ½ of a maximum flow rate of the liquid from the plurality of nozzles.
16 . The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a sheet conveyor configured to convey at sheet past the liquid ejection head.
17 . An inkjet system, comprising:
a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles;
a plurality of pressure chambers respectively communicating with the plurality of nozzles;
a vibration plate disposed on a side of the plurality of pressure chambers opposite the nozzle plate;
a supply-side flow path on an inlet side of the plurality of pressure chambers;
a discharge-side flow path on an outlet side of the pressure chambers;
a plurality of piezoelectric elements positioned to vibrate the vibration plate to change a volume of the plurality of pressure chambers for ejecting a liquid from the plurality of nozzles; and
a circulation system configured to circulate the liquid on a circulation flow path including the supply-side flow path, the plurality of pressure chambers, and the discharge-side flow path, wherein
the supply-side flow path and the discharge-side flow-path are symmetrical with respect to a position of the plurality of nozzles.
18 . The inkjet system according to claim 17 , wherein
the supply-side flow path includes supply-side individual flow paths connecting to the pressure chambers and a supply-side common chamber connecting to the plurality of supply-side individual flow paths, and
the discharge-side flow path includes discharge-side individual flow paths connecting to the pressure chambers and a discharge-side common chamber connecting to the plurality of discharge-side individual flow paths.
19 . The inkjet system according to claim 18 , wherein
the supply-side individual flow path includes a supply-side pressure flow path and a supply-side narrowed flow path, and
the discharge-side individual flow path includes a discharge-side pressure flow path and a discharge-side narrowed flow path.
20 . The inkjet system according to claim 17 , wherein the supply-side flow path has a flow path resistance that is the same as a flow path resistance of the discharge-side flow-path.