Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of diaphragms, a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a controller. Each of the plurality of diaphragms is deflected between a first state and a second state. The controller is configured to control voltage application to each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. When a diaphragm is in the first state, the controller applies a first voltage so that the diaphragm is substantially flat; and when the diaphragm is in the second state, the controller applies a second voltage. The controller is configured to control the voltage such that a pressure chamber ejects an ink droplet from the corresponding nozzle in response to the deflection of the diaphragm reverting from the second state to the first state.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of diaphragms, a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a controller. Each of the plurality of diaphragms is deflected between a first state and a second state. The controller is configured to control voltage application to each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. When a diaphragm is in the first state, the controller applies a first voltage so that the diaphragm is substantially flat; and when the diaphragm is in the second state, the controller applies a second voltage. The controller is configured to control the voltage such that a pressure chamber ejects an ink droplet from the corresponding nozzle in response to the deflection of the diaphragm reverting from the second state to the first state.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a liquid discharge apparatus including a piezoelectric actuator configured to apply pressure to liquid in pressure chambers formed in a channel forming substrate. The producing method includes: forming a stacked body of an ink separation layer, piezoelectric layers, a first electrode, and second electrodes on a base member having a part to be the channel formation substrate; forming a liquid repellent layer which covers the piezoelectric layers and the second electrodes from a side opposite to the ink separation layer; and forming the pressure chambers on the base member. The liquid repellent layer is formed to have residual stress generated in the liquid repellent layer in a state that the pressure chambers are formed, the residual stress having intensity which is smaller than intensity to bend parts of the piezoelectric actuator overlapping with the pressure chambers toward the pressure chambers by 200 nm.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a liquid discharge apparatus including a piezoelectric actuator configured to apply pressure to liquid in pressure chambers formed in a channel forming substrate. The producing method includes: forming a stacked body of an ink separation layer, piezoelectric layers, a first electrode, and second electrodes on a base member having a part to be the channel formation substrate; forming a liquid repellent layer which covers the piezoelectric layers and the second electrodes from a side opposite to the ink separation layer; and forming the pressure chambers on the base member. The liquid repellent layer is formed to have residual stress generated in the liquid repellent layer in a state that the pressure chambers are formed, the residual stress having intensity which is smaller than intensity to bend parts of the piezoelectric actuator overlapping with the pressure chambers toward the pressure chambers by 200 nm.

Abstract: First and second piezoelectric layers are stacked from a side closer to an opening of a liquid channel formed in a channel member in this order, and are sandwiched between electrodes with respect to a stacking direction. A driving-signal generating section generates an ejection driving signal for ejecting droplets from an ejection port and a non-ejection driving signal for vibrating a meniscus formed in the ejection port without ejecting droplets from the ejection port. A voltage applying section applies, based on image data, a voltage corresponding to the ejection driving signal to one of the first and second piezoelectric layers, and applies a voltage corresponding to the non-ejection driving signal to another one of the first and second piezoelectric layers during a period in which the voltage corresponding to the ejection driving signal is not applied to the one of the first and second piezoelectric layers.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a passage unit, a piezoelectric actuator, a drive signal generator, a driver, a voltage value changing unit, and an interval setting unit. The piezoelectric actuator applies energy to liquid in the passage unit. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal to be supplied to the piezoelectric actuator, based on a reference voltage value. The driver supplies the drive signal generated by the drive signal generator to the piezoelectric actuator. The voltage value changing unit changes the reference voltage value to a larger voltage value every time an accumulated time during which a voltage is applied between electrodes of the piezoelectric actuator satisfies a predetermined condition. The interval setting unit determines a new time interval to a next change of the reference voltage so that the new time interval is shorter than before, every time the reference voltage value is changed.

Abstract: A method of making an electronic droplet discharge head includes positioning a channel forming member and an actuator unit. The channel forming member includes a liquid chamber which communicates with a discharge port. The liquid chamber has an opening to a surface of the channel forming member. The actuator unit includes an electrode and applies discharge energy to liquid contained in the liquid chamber. The positioning method includes acquiring a position of a centroid of the liquid chamber in the surface direction based on an image of the opening; acquiring a position of a centroid of the electrode based on an image of the electrode; and positioning the channel forming member and the actuator unit based on the position of the centroids so that the liquid chamber and the electrode have a positional relationship to the surface direction.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a passage unit, a piezoelectric actuator, a drive signal generator, a driver, a voltage value changing unit, and an interval setting unit. The piezoelectric actuator applies energy to liquid in the passage unit. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal to be supplied to the piezoelectric actuator, based on a reference voltage value. The driver supplies the drive signal generated by the drive signal generator to the piezoelectric actuator. The voltage value changing unit changes the reference voltage value to a larger voltage value every time an accumulated time during which a voltage is applied between electrodes of the piezoelectric actuator satisfies a predetermined condition. The interval setting unit determines a new time interval to a next change of the reference voltage so that the new time interval is shorter than before, every time the reference voltage value is changed.

Abstract: A first piezoelectric layer is formed with independent electrodes separated from one another and arranged at positions corresponding to openings of pressure chambers. The first layer has independent active portions at positions where the independent electrodes are located. The independent active portions can displace selectively. A second piezoelectric layer is formed with individual electrodes connected by connection electrodes and arranged at positions corresponding to the openings. The second layer has individual active portions at positions where the individual electrodes are located. The individual active portions cannot displace selectively. Each opening has a shape that is longer in one direction than in another direction intersecting the one direction. Each individual electrode has a shape that is longer in the one direction than in the another direction.

Abstract: First and second piezoelectric layers are stacked from a side closer to an opening of a liquid channel formed in a channel member in this order, and are sandwiched between electrodes with respect to a stacking direction. A driving-signal generating section generates an ejection driving signal for ejecting droplets from an ejection port and a non-ejection driving signal for vibrating a meniscus formed in the ejection port without ejecting droplets from the ejection port. A voltage applying section applies, based on image data, a voltage corresponding to the ejection driving signal to one of the first and second piezoelectric layers, and applies a voltage corresponding to the non-ejection driving signal to another one of the first and second piezoelectric layers during a period in which the voltage corresponding to the ejection driving signal is not applied to the one of the first and second piezoelectric layers.

Abstract: A first piezoelectric layer is formed with independent electrodes separated from one another and arranged at positions corresponding to openings of pressure chambers. The first layer has independent active portions at positions where the independent electrodes are located. The independent active portions can displace selectively. A second piezoelectric layer is formed with individual electrodes connected by connection electrodes and arranged at positions corresponding to the openings. The second layer has individual active portions at positions where the individual electrodes are located. The individual active portions cannot displace selectively. Each opening has a shape that is longer in one direction than in another direction intersecting the one direction. Each individual electrode has a shape that is longer in the one direction than in the another direction.

Abstract: A positioning method is provided for positioning a channel forming member including a liquid chamber being opened to a surface thereof and an actuator unit including an electrode disposed on a surface thereof. The positioning is performed with respect to a surface direction so that the electrode faces the liquid chamber in a facing direction orthogonal to the surface direction. The positioning method includes taking an image of an opening of the liquid chamber; acquiring a position of a centroid of the liquid chamber in the surface direction based on the image of the opening; taking an image of the electrode; acquiring a position of a centroid of the electrode in the surface direction based on the image of the electrode; and positioning the channel forming member and the actuator unit based on the positions of the centroids of the liquid chamber and the electrodes.