A droplet generator for a continuous stream ink jet printhead includes an elongate cavity for containing ink and nozzle orifices in fluid communication with the cavity for passing the ink from the cavity to form jets. The nozzle orifices extend along a length of the cavity. A mounting plate provides a wall of the cavity opposite the nozzle orifices. A plurality of actuators is disposed in the cavity to vibrate the ink in the cavity such that each jet breaks up into ink droplets at substantially a same predetermined distance from the wall. Each of the plurality of actuators is integrally connected to the mounting plate by a membrane.

A print head includes a capillary around an axis of symmetry for a liquid to be printed, the capillary adjoining at least one elastic element and having a nozzle opening which opens into a prechamber. The prechamber has an outlet opening aligned with the nozzle opening of the capillary in its axial orientation of the axis of symmetry and at least one inlet opening for a guide gas. The at least one elastic element forms a guide for the capillary in its axial orientation only. A feed for the liquid to be printed is provided in the capillary. A mechanical oscillation system is provided that includes the at least one elastic element and the capillary with the liquid contained therein. An actuator with a mechanical or magnetic force interaction with the oscillation system is further provided.

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head unit that ejects liquid, in which the head unit includes an integrated circuit and an ejector, the integrated circuit includes a drive signal input terminal that inputs a first drive signal, a first signal input terminal that inputs a first signal, a second signal input terminal that inputs a second signal, a first reference voltage signal input terminal that inputs a first reference voltage signal, a differential signal receiving circuit that converts a pair of first differential signals into a control signal and outputs the control signal, a drive signal selection circuit that outputs a second drive signal based on the control signal and the first drive signal, and a drive signal output terminal that outputs the second drive signal to the ejector, and the first signal input terminal and the first reference voltage signal input terminal are located adjacent to each other.

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head unit that ejects liquid, in which the head unit includes an integrated circuit and an ejector, the integrated circuit includes a drive signal input terminal that inputs a first drive signal, a first signal input terminal that inputs a first signal, a second signal input terminal that inputs a second signal, a first reference voltage signal input terminal that inputs a first reference voltage signal, a differential signal receiving circuit that converts a pair of first differential signals into a control signal and outputs the control signal, a drive signal selection circuit that outputs a second drive signal based on the control signal and the first drive signal, and a drive signal output terminal that outputs the second drive signal to the ejector, and the first signal input terminal and the first reference voltage signal input terminal are located adjacent to each other.

A method for driving a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a thickening state of liquid in a nozzle determined by a thickening determination section. When the thickening state is a first state, a second flushing signal by which liquid is ejected from a nozzle is supplied a first number of times to the driving element without applying a micro vibration signal by which liquid is not ejected from a nozzle. When the thickening state is a second state in which viscosity of the liquid is higher than viscosity of the liquid in the first state, the second flushing signal that is different from a first flushing signal is supplied the first number of times after applying the micro vibration signal, and a first flushing signal by which liquid is ejected from a nozzle is supplied a second number of times to the driving element after applying the second flushing signals.

A method for driving a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a thickening state of liquid in a nozzle determined by a thickening determination section. When the thickening state is a first state, a second flushing signal by which liquid is ejected from a nozzle is supplied a first number of times to the driving element without applying a micro vibration signal by which liquid is not ejected from a nozzle. When the thickening state is a second state in which viscosity of the liquid is higher than viscosity of the liquid in the first state, the second flushing signal that is different from a first flushing signal is supplied the first number of times after applying the micro vibration signal, and a first flushing signal by which liquid is ejected from a nozzle is supplied a second number of times to the driving element after applying the second flushing signals.

A liquid ejection head includes: a piezoelectric body; an vibration plate to be vibrated by a drive of the piezoelectric body; and a pressure chamber substrate including a pressure chamber which applies a pressure to a liquid by an vibration of the vibration plate; the pressure chamber substrate, the vibration plate, and the piezoelectric body are laminated in this order; and the vibration plate includes: a first layer containing silicon as a constituent element, a second layer which is disposed between the first layer and the piezoelectric body and which contains as a constituent element, a metal element selected from chromium, titanium, and aluminum, and a third layer which is disposed between the second layer and the piezoelectric body and which contains zirconium as a constituent element.

A liquid ejection head includes: a piezoelectric body; an vibration plate to be vibrated by a drive of the piezoelectric body; and a pressure chamber substrate including a pressure chamber which applies a pressure to a liquid by an vibration of the vibration plate; the pressure chamber substrate, the vibration plate, and the piezoelectric body are laminated in this order; and the vibration plate includes: a first layer containing silicon as a constituent element, a second layer which is disposed between the first layer and the piezoelectric body and which contains as a constituent element, a metal element selected from chromium, titanium, and aluminum, and a third layer which is disposed between the second layer and the piezoelectric body and which contains zirconium as a constituent element.

A droplet discharging head executes multi-path recording in which dot recording in one main scanning line is completed by n main scans when n is an integer of 2 or more. The droplet discharging head includes: a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge a liquid as droplets; a pressure chamber defining substrate defining a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzles; a piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer containing a perovskite-type composite oxide containing K, Na, and Nb as a main component; and a vibration plate forming a part of a wall surface of the pressure chamber and configured to vibrate by driving of the piezoelectric element. The number of paths n in the multi-path recording, a piezoelectric constant d.sub.31 [m/v] of the piezoelectric element, and a ratio x of a Na molar fraction to a total value of a K molar fraction and the Na molar fraction in the piezoelectric layer satisfy a relationship represented by a formula (1).

A droplet discharging head executes multi-path recording in which dot recording in one main scanning line is completed by n main scans when n is an integer of 2 or more. The droplet discharging head includes: a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge a liquid as droplets; a pressure chamber defining substrate defining a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzles; a piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer containing a perovskite-type composite oxide containing K, Na, and Nb as a main component; and a vibration plate forming a part of a wall surface of the pressure chamber and configured to vibrate by driving of the piezoelectric element. The number of paths n in the multi-path recording, a piezoelectric constant d.sub.31 [m/v] of the piezoelectric element, and a ratio x of a Na molar fraction to a total value of a K molar fraction and the Na molar fraction in the piezoelectric layer satisfy a relationship represented by a formula (1).