Multi-nozzle head for ink on-demand type ink jet printer

Claim 1

In a multi-nozzle head for an ink jet printer having a signal supply section for generating a displacement which corresponds to an information signal to be printed out, and an ink ejecting section for ejecting ink drops from a predetermined number of nozzles in response to the displacement, said ink ejecting section comprising: (a) a flat head base; and (b) said predetermined number of ink compressing chambers formed in said head base to supply ink to the nozzles respectively, said ink compressing chambers being arranged such that the ink compressing chambers are divided into a plurality of groups and said groups are respectively positioned on a plurality of imaginary lines which are individually inclined at predetermined angle with respect to an intended direction of ejection of ink drops from the nozzles; the ink ejecting section further comprising flat resilient vibration members each constituting part of a wall which closes any of the ink compressing chambers associated therewith, and vibrating in response to the displacement imparted from the signal supply section; the signal supply section comprising (c) elongate flat vibration units in a number which is equal to the number of the ink compressing chambers, and (d) a support member for supporting said vibration units at one portion of the vibration units such that the other end of each of the vibration units coincides with a position of any of the ink compressing chambers associated with said vibration unit; the support member supporting the vibration units such that the vibration units lie in a common plane and extend in two opposing directions; each of the vibration units comprising an electrostrictive vibrator displacable in response to the information signal to be printed out, a vibration plate integral with said electrostrictive vibrator and vibrating in response to the displacement, said electrostrictive vibrator and vibration plate being spaced from and extending parallel to the support member, and a vibration transmitting rod for transmitting the vibration to any of the ink compressing chambers associated with the vibration unit.