Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a piezoelectric body including piezoelectric layers stacked in a stacking direction, the piezoelectric body including a first end and a second end that are separated in a first direction orthogonal to the stacking direction of the piezoelectric layers; individual electrodes positioned in a first plane orthogonal to the stacking direction; a first common electrode formed in a second plane that is orthogonal to the stacking direction and of which position in the stacking direction is different from a position of a neutral plane of the piezoelectric body in the staking direction and a position of the first plane in the staking direction; and a trace positioned in a third plane of which position in the stacking direction is different from a position of the first plane, the position of the second plane, and the position of the neutral plane.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head, including: a piezoelectric body having a plurality of piezoelectric layers stacked on top of each other in a stacking direction; individual electrodes; and a first common electrode. Each of the individual electrodes has a first portion and a second portion arranged in the first direction at an interval, and a third portion coupling the first portion with the second portion. The first common electrode includes a first extending portion as well as first protrusions and second protrusions protruding from the first extending portion. Portions of the first extending portion overlapping in the stacking direction with the third portions are formed having through holes passing through the first common electrode in the stacking direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a channel unit having a discharge surface that is parallel to a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a pressure chamber; and a piezoelectric actuator stacked on the channel unit in a third direction perpendicular to the discharge surface. The piezoelectric actuator includes: a piezoelectric body having piezoelectric layers stacked in the third direction; a first electrode; and second and third electrodes separated from the first electrode in the third direction. The piezoelectric body has a first portion that is interposed in the third direction between the first and second electrodes and that at least partially overlaps in the third direction with the pressure chamber; a second portion that is interposed in the third direction between the first and third electrodes; and a third portion that is interposed in the third direction between the first and third electrodes.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head, including: a piezoelectric body having a plurality of piezoelectric layers stacked on top of each other in a stacking direction; individual electrodes; and a first common electrode. Each of the individual electrodes has a first portion and a second portion arranged in the first direction at an interval, and a third portion coupling the first portion with the second portion. The first common electrode includes a first extending portion as well as first protrusions and second protrusions protruding from the first extending portion. Portions of the first extending portion overlapping in the stacking direction with the third portions are formed having through holes passing through the first common electrode in the stacking direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric layer, a second piezoelectric layer, individual electrodes, a first conductor and an auxiliary electrode. The first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer are joined to each other at a surface of the first piezoelectric layer. The individual electrodes are disposed on the first piezoelectric layer. The first conductor is spaced apart from the individual electrodes in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the first piezoelectric layer. The first conductor includes electrode portions and a connecting portion. The electrode portions each overlap a first portion of a corresponding one of the individual electrodes. The connecting portion connects at least two of the electrode portions to each other. The auxiliary electrode is connected to the connecting portion, overlaps the connecting portion, and is spaced apart from the first conductor in the direction.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head including: a piezoelectric body, a common electrode, a bypass trace, and a plurality of individual electrodes. The piezoelectric body is provided with: a first through hole extending in a stacking direction between a conductive layer constructing the piezoelectric body and a first extending portion of the common electrode, and a second through hole extending in the stacking direction between the conductive layer and the first extending portion. The conductive layer and the first extending portion are electrically connected to each other by a conductive material arranged in the first and second through holes.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a channel unit having a discharge surface that is parallel to a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a pressure chamber; and a piezoelectric actuator stacked on the channel unit in a third direction perpendicular to the discharge surface. The piezoelectric actuator includes: a piezoelectric body having piezoelectric layers stacked in the third direction; a first electrode; and second and third electrodes separated from the first electrode in the third direction. The piezoelectric body has a first portion that is interposed in the third direction between the first and second electrodes and that at least partially overlaps in the third direction with the pressure chamber; a second portion that is interposed in the third direction between the first and third electrodes; and a third portion that is interposed in the third direction between the first and third electrodes.

Abstract: S1 is a sum of the areas of a plurality of individual electrodes formed on a first plane of a piezoelectric body of a liquid discharge head, S2 is an area of a first common electrode formed on a second plane, S3 is an area of a second common electrode formed on a third plane, D1 is a distance between a neutral plane and the first plane in a stacking direction, D2 is the distance between the neutral plane and the second plane in the stacking direction, and D3 is the distance between the neutral plane and the third plane in the stacking direction. Then, D1×S1+D2×S2>D3×S3 is satisfied. The liquid discharge head includes a plurality of conductor layers which are formed on the third plane, without contact with the second common electrode and without contact with each other.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head including a piezoelectric body having a plurality of individual electrodes and a first common electrode, and a plurality of conductor layers. The plurality of individual electrodes have first to fourth individual electrode arrays, and the first common electrode has first and second extending portions, a plurality of first projecting portions, and a plurality of second projecting portions. Each of the first projecting portions overlaps partially with one of the plurality of individual electrodes forming the second individual electrode array along the stacking direction, and each of the second projecting portions overlaps partially with one of the plurality of individual electrodes forming the third individual electrode array along the stacking direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric layer, a second piezoelectric layer, individual electrodes, a first conductor and an auxiliary electrode. The first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer are joined to each other at a surface of the first piezoelectric layer. The individual electrodes are disposed on the first piezoelectric layer. The first conductor is spaced apart from the individual electrodes in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the first piezoelectric layer. The first conductor includes electrode portions and a connecting portion. The electrode portions each overlap a first portion of a corresponding one of the individual electrodes. The connecting portion connects at least two of the electrode portions to each other. The auxiliary electrode is connected to the connecting portion, overlaps the connecting portion, and is spaced apart from the first conductor in the direction.

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric ceramics, including a perovskite compound of a non-stoichiometric composition represented by a composition formula (KxNa1-x)y(Nb1-zTaz)O3 (0<x?1, 0<y<1, 0?z?0.5); and a sintering aid which includes an oxide containing K, Co, and Ta.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is provided, comprising a channel structure; a piezoelectric actuator which has a plurality of individual electrodes, a common electrode, and a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the common electrode; and a driving device which drives the piezoelectric actuator. The driving device outputs an individual driving signal which causes a change of an electric potential of the individual electrode, to the individual electrode corresponding to the nozzle for discharging the liquid. Further, the driving device outputs a common driving signal which causes a change of an electric potential of the common electrode in synchronization with the change of the electric potential of the individual electrode into which the individual driving signal is inputted, to the common electrode.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus, which supplies a liquid or liquids stored in liquid cartridges of a plurality of types, includes a plurality of cartridge installing sections to which the liquid cartridges of the plurality of types are detachably installable, wherein a plurality of connection ports, which correspond to supply ports formed for the liquid cartridges of the plurality of types respectively, are formed at mutually different positions of the respective cartridge installing sections.

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric actuator, including: first and second piezoelectric layers; a driving electrode arranged between the first and second piezoelectric layers; a second electrode maintained at a predetermined first electrical potential; and a third electrode maintained at a second electrical potential. A neutral plane of the piezoelectric actuator is positioned at a side opposite to the second piezoelectric layer relative to a center plane of the first piezoelectric layer in a direction of stacking of the first and second piezoelectric layers. A first portion of the first piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between the driving electrode and the second electrode, and a second portion of the second piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between the driving electrode and the third electrode. The first and second portions are polarized parallel to the stacking direction such that they are polarized in mutually opposite directions.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is provided, comprising a channel structure; a piezoelectric actuator which has a plurality of individual electrodes, a common electrode, and a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the common electrode; and a driving device which drives the piezoelectric actuator. The driving device outputs an individual driving signal which causes a change of an electric potential of the individual electrode, to the individual electrode corresponding to the nozzle for discharging the liquid. Further, the driving device outputs a common driving signal which causes a change of an electric potential of the common electrode in synchronization with the change of the electric potential of the individual electrode into which the individual driving signal is inputted, to the common electrode.

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric actuator, including: first and second piezoelectric layers; a driving electrode arranged between the first and second piezoelectric layers; a second electrode maintained at a predetermined first electrical potential; and a third electrode maintained at a second electrical potential. A neutral plane of the piezoelectric actuator is positioned at a side opposite to the second piezoelectric layer relative to a center plane of the first piezoelectric layer in a direction of stacking of the first and second piezoelectric layers. A first portion of the first piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between the driving electrode and the second electrode, and a second portion of the second piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between the driving electrode and the third electrode. The first and second portions are polarized parallel to the stacking direction such that they are polarized in mutually opposite directions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport section including a first transport section configured to transport the recording medium in a first direction having a component of a downward direction in a vertical direction, a second transport section configured to transport the recording medium in a second direction having a component of an upward direction in the vertical direction, and a third transport section configured to connect the first transport section and the second transport section; a first head provided to face the first transport section and includes a plurality of first nozzles formed in different positions in the vertical direction; a second head provided to face the second transport section and includes a plurality of second nozzles formed in different positions in the vertical direction; and a control device configured to control the transport section, the first head, and the second head.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes: a first nozzle group; a second nozzle group; a first common ink chamber; and a second common ink chamber. With respect to a first direction, nozzles constituting the first nozzle group and nozzles constituting the second nozzle group are arranged alternately to complement each other, the first nozzle group includes a first nozzle and a second nozzle which deviates from the first nozzle with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second nozzle group includes a third nozzle arranged adjacent to the first nozzle with respect to the first direction and a fourth nozzle arranged adjacent to the second nozzle with respect to the first direction, and with respect to the second direction, the fourth nozzle deviates from the third nozzle in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second nozzle deviates from the first nozzle.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator is provided, including a piezoelectric layer arranged on one surface of a base member; a plurality of driving electrodes arranged on one surface of the piezoelectric layer; a plurality of leading electrodes led from the driving electrodes to apply a voltage to the driving electrodes; and a low dielectric layer arranged between the piezoelectric layer and the leading electrode, and having a dielectric constant lower than that of the piezoelectric layer. Surroundings of driving areas of the piezoelectric layer including areas facing the plurality of driving electrodes are joined to the base member. The plurality of leading electrodes extend to outside of the driving areas, respectively, some of the plurality of leading electrodes being led in a predetermined first direction, and others of the plurality of leading electrodes being led in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator is provided, including a piezoelectric layer which is joined to a joining member and which has a coefficient of linear expansion smaller than a coefficient of linear expansion of the joining member; a first electrode which is arranged on one surface of the piezoelectric layer; a second electrode which is arranged on a portion of the one surface of the piezoelectric layer different from the first electrode and which is in conduction with the first electrode; and a low dielectric layer which is formed between the piezoelectric layer and the second electrode and which has a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the piezoelectric layer.