Abstract: A liquid ejection head, including: a plurality of ejection ports from which a liquid is ejected; a plurality of pressure chambers which communicate with the plurality of ejection ports and are constituted by piezoelectric portions that eject a liquid from the ejection ports by shrink-deforming; and a control unit configured to drive the piezoelectric portions so that the pressure chambers shrink-deform, wherein the control unit controls driving timing of the piezoelectric portions such that, after any of the plurality of pressure chambers is made to shrink-deform, a pressure chamber disposed not to adjoin the shrink-deformed pressure chamber is made to shrink-deform.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head including plural liquid discharge portions each including a discharge port for discharging liquid, plural discharge ports forming a discharge port array; a common liquid supply flow path extending adjacent to the discharge port array on one side of the discharge port array; and a common liquid collection flow path extending adjacent to the discharge port array on the other side of the discharge port array. Each liquid discharge portion includes a pressure chamber having the discharge port, and a piezoelectric element facing the discharge port. The pressure chamber includes an inlet and an outlet end portion respectively connected to the common liquid supply and collection flow paths, and has an elongated shape connecting the inlet and outlet end portions. A plurality of inlet and outlet end portions are respectively arranged along the common liquid supply flow path and the common liquid collection flow path.

Abstract: Provided is an element substrate including an orifice for ejecting liquid, a diaphragm for causing the liquid to be ejected through the orifice, a piezoelectric element for deforming the diaphragm, a pressure chamber for applying a pressure due to deformation of the diaphragm to the liquid, and a flow reducing portion communicating with the pressure chamber and having a width that is smaller than that of the pressure chamber. A connecting portion is formed for communication between the pressure chamber and the flow reducing portion. The connecting portion and the pressure chamber communicate with each other without level difference in the width direction, and the connecting portion has a depth that is smaller than a depth of the pressure chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an element substrate, including: forming first and second resists on a predetermined surface of a substrate so that part of the predetermined surface is exposed; etching the substrate with the first and second resists being used as a mask to form a first recess in the substrate; removing the second resist to expose a portion of the substrate that is different from the first recess; etching the substrate with the first resist being used as a mask to deepen the first recess and to form a second recess communicating with the first recess in the substrate; and covering openings of the first and second recesses with an orifice forming member to form a pressure chamber by the first recess and an orifice forming member and to form a flow reducing portion by the second recess and the orifice forming member.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquid ejection head having a piezoelectric body provided with an ejection orifice for ejecting liquid and a pressure chamber communicating therewith for retaining the liquid, wherein an electrode is formed on an inner wall surface of the pressure chamber to deform the pressure chamber by piezoelectric action caused by applying voltage to the electrode to eject the liquid, comprising providing the piezoelectric body in which a surface thereof having the ejection orifice has an arithmetic mean roughness of 0.1-1 ?m, forming a dry film resist pattern on the surface of the piezoelectric body so as to expose the ejection orifice and a linear region connected thereto, and forming a metal thin film pattern being connected to the electrode on the inner wall surface and continuously extending from the inner wall surface to the linear region by using the dry film resist pattern as a mask.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection head, including: multiple ejection orifices for ejecting liquid; multiple pressure chambers that communicate with the respective ejection orifices, and are arranged in a first direction and a second direction that intersect each other, the multiple pressure chambers including first electrodes formed on inner walls of the multiple pressure chambers; a piezoelectric block including the multiple pressure chambers and multiple air chambers, the multiple air chambers being arranged in the first direction and the second direction alternately with the multiple pressure chambers, the inner walls of the respective pressure chambers being deformable by application of voltage between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to cause liquid to flow out of open ends of the respective pressure chambers; an orifice plate in which the multiple ejection orifices are arranged; and a plate-like member that is interposed between the piezoelectric block.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head, including: a plurality of ejection ports from which a liquid is ejected; a plurality of pressure chambers which communicate with the plurality of ejection ports and are constituted by piezoelectric portions that eject a liquid from the ejection ports by shrink-deforming; and a control unit configured to drive the piezoelectric portions so that the pressure chambers shrink-deform, wherein the control unit controls driving timing of the piezoelectric portions such that, after any of the plurality of pressure chambers is made to shrink-deform, a pressure chamber disposed not to adjoin the shrink-deformed pressure chamber is made to shrink-deform.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting device is manufactured by bonding a wiring substrate to a liquid ejection head by means of an adhesive film. The liquid ejection head has a pressure chamber for ejecting liquid and an air chamber disposed adjacent to the pressure chamber with a wall of a piezoelectric body interposed therebetween. A pair of electrodes is provided, one on the wall surface of the pressure chamber and the other on the wall surface of the air chamber so as to sandwich the piezoelectric body wall. The wiring substrate has a connection terminal which is to be electrically connected at least to the electrode on the pressure chamber side at the time of bonding. The liquid ejection head has an opening for introducing liquid into the pressure chamber, while the wiring substrate has a through hole to be aligned with the opening at the time of bonding.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head has a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with respective ejection ports and a plurality of hollow spaces arranged around the pressure chambers in a piezoelectric block which is produced by laminating a plurality of piezoelectric plates made of a piezoelectric material. Each of the plurality of piezoelectric plates has a plurality of first grooves on a first surface and a plurality of second grooves on a second surface opposite to the first surface. The plurality of piezoelectric plates are laminated so as to put the first surfaces or the second surfaces of adjacent piezoelectric plates into contact with each other such that the pressure chambers are formed as the first grooves of the paired first surfaces are placed vis-a-vis and the hollow spaces are formed as the second grooves of the paired second surfaces are placed vis-à-vis.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a piezoelectric block body having a plurality of pressure chambers arranged two-dimensionally to face respective ejection ports, a plurality of air chambers arranged adjacently relative to the plurality of pressure chambers, and a plurality of flow channels arranged along the pressure chambers. The pressure chambers are deformed by expansion and contraction of piezoelectric members disposed between the pressure chambers and the air chambers so as to drive the liquid stored therein to flow toward the ejection ports. A connection flow channel is provided at the ejection port side of the piezoelectric block body so as to make each of the pressure chambers communicate with at least one of the flow channels for partial recirculation of the ink.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes multiple tubular pressure chambers and a stacked body having first substrates and second substrates stacked alternately, in which the first substrates each have multiple first grooves and multiple second grooves formed therein, and the second substrates each has multiple third grooves formed therein, in which, in the multiple first grooves of each of the first substrates, inner surface electrodes are formed, in which counter electrodes are formed in a face of each of the second substrates, and in which a width W1 of each of the inner surface electrodes, a width W2 of each of the counter electrodes, and a width WP of each of the multiple first grooves satisfy a relation of WP<W2<W1.

Abstract: There is provided an inkjet apparatus capable of adjusting pressure in an inkjet head to a predetermined slightly negative pressure without limitations on the installation location of a pressure adjustment unit and without stopping the flow of liquid. The inkjet apparatus includes an inkjet head for discharging ink droplets and an ink tank for retaining liquid to the inkjet head. The inkjet apparatus further includes a liquid feeding unit communicating with the inkjet head and configured to feed the liquid in the ink tank to the inkjet head by reducing the pressure in the inkjet head, an open-close valve configured to open or close a flow channel connecting the inkjet head and the liquid feeding unit, and a pressure adjustment unit configured to open or close the open-close valve according to a pressure difference between inside and outside of the flow channel to adjust the pressure in the inkjet head.

Abstract: A continuous liquid ejection head collects droplets which are not used for printing (unused droplets) without affecting the flight of droplets which are used for printing (used droplets). An ejection nozzle and a collection nozzle collect an unused droplet by causing a liquid surface to project out from the aperture of the collection nozzle so as to be positioned in the trajectory along which droplets ejected from the ejection nozzle fly, causing the unused droplet to collide and unite with the liquid surface projected from the collection nozzle, and causing the liquid surface to retreat.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection head, including: multiple ejection orifices for ejecting liquid; multiple pressure chambers that communicate with the respective ejection orifices, and are arranged in a first direction and a second direction that intersect each other, the multiple pressure chambers including first electrodes formed on inner walls of the multiple pressure chambers; a piezoelectric block including the multiple pressure chambers and multiple air chambers, the multiple air chambers being arranged in the first direction and the second direction alternately with the multiple pressure chambers, the inner walls of the respective pressure chambers being deformable by application of voltage between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to cause liquid to flow out of open ends of the respective pressure chambers; an orifice plate in which the multiple ejection orifices are arranged; and a plate-like member that is interposed between the piezoelectric block.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes multiple tubular pressure chambers and a stacked body having first substrates and second substrates stacked alternately, in which the first substrates each have multiple first grooves and multiple second grooves formed therein, and the second substrates each has multiple third grooves formed therein, in which, in the multiple first grooves of each of the first substrates, inner surface electrodes are formed, in which counter electrodes are formed in a face of each of the second substrates, and in which a width W1 of each of the inner surface electrodes, a width W2 of each of the counter electrodes, and a width WP of each of the multiple first grooves satisfy a relation of WP<W2<W1.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head has a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with respective ejection ports and a plurality of hollow spaces arranged around the pressure chambers in a piezoelectric block which is produced by laminating a plurality of piezoelectric plates made of a piezoelectric material. Each of the plurality of piezoelectric plates has a plurality of first grooves on a first surface and a plurality of second grooves on a second surface opposite to the first surface. The plurality of piezoelectric plates are laminated so as to put the first surfaces or the second surfaces of adjacent piezoelectric plates into contact with each other such that the pressure chambers are formed as the first grooves of the paired first surfaces are placed vis-a-vis and the hollow spaces are formed as the second grooves of the paired second surfaces are placed vis-à-vis.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquid ejection head having a piezoelectric body provided with an ejection orifice for ejecting liquid and a pressure chamber communicating therewith for retaining the liquid, wherein an electrode is formed on an inner wall surface of the pressure chamber to deform the pressure chamber by piezoelectric action caused by applying voltage to the electrode to eject the liquid, comprising providing the piezoelectric body in which a surface thereof having the ejection orifice has an arithmetic mean roughness of 0.1-1 ?m, forming a dry film resist pattern on the surface of the piezoelectric body so as to expose the ejection orifice and a linear region connected thereto, and forming a metal thin film pattern being connected to the electrode on the inner wall surface and continuously extending from the inner wall surface to the linear region by using the dry film resist pattern as a mask.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a cell unit comprising a fuel cell, a fuel tank unit for storing a fuel to be supplied to the cell unit, and a fuel feed unit for supplying the fuel from the fuel tank unit to the cell unit in a thin housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The fuel tank unit, the fuel feed unit, and the cell unit are located in a specific order in one direction between two opposite ends of the housing. The fuel tank unit includes a valve, which supplies fuel to the fuel feed unit and opens to supply the fuel to the fuel feed unit only when the fuel tank unit is mounted. The fuel feed unit connects sides of the fuel tank unit and the cell unit that face each other and reduces a pressure of a gaseous fuel supplied from the fuel tank unit.

Abstract: There is provided an inkjet apparatus capable of adjusting pressure in an inkjet head to a predetermined slightly negative pressure without limitations on the installation location of a pressure adjustment unit and without stopping the flow of liquid. The inkjet apparatus includes an inkjet head for discharging ink droplets and an ink tank for retaining liquid to the inkjet head. The inkjet apparatus further includes a liquid feeding unit communicating with the inkjet head and configured to feed the liquid in the ink tank to the inkjet head by reducing the pressure in the inkjet head, an open-close valve configured to open or close a flow channel connecting the inkjet head and the liquid feeding unit, and a pressure adjustment unit configured to open or close the open-close valve according to a pressure difference between inside and outside of the flow channel to adjust the pressure in the inkjet head.

Abstract: Provided is a continuous liquid ejection head that collects droplets which are not used for printing (unused droplets) without affecting the flight of droplets which are used for printing (used droplets). An ejection nozzle (101) and a collection nozzle (102) collect an unused droplet by causing a liquid surface to project out from the aperture of the collection nozzle (102) so as to be positioned along the trajectory through which droplets ejected from the ejection nozzle (101) fly, causing the unused droplet to collide and unite with the liquid surface projected from the collection nozzle (102), and causing the liquid surface to retreat.