Method of manufacturing substrate, method of manufacturing liquid ejection head, liquid ejection head and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The liquid ejection head includes: pressure chambers connected to ejection ports which eject liquid; actuators which apply pressure to liquid inside the pressure chambers; and a spacer which ensures spaces around the actuators. The spacer has a non-side face which is one of a top face and a bottom face of the spacer. The spacer has side faces which intersect with the non-side face. The spacer is formed with conducting parts. The conducting parts each have first electrodes and second electrodes. The first electrodes are exposed at the side faces of the spacer and connected to the actuators. The second electrodes are exposed at the non-side face of the spacer and connected to external wires for applying drive signals to the actuators.

1 . A liquid ejection head, comprising:
 pressure chambers connected to ejection ports which eject liquid;   actuators which apply pressure to liquid inside the pressure chambers; and   a spacer which ensures spaces around the actuators, the spacer having a non-side face which is one of a top face and a bottom face of the spacer, the spacer having side faces which intersect with the non-side face, the spacer being formed with conducting parts, the conducting parts each having first electrodes and second electrodes, the first electrodes being exposed at the side faces of the spacer and connected to the actuators, the second electrodes being exposed at the non-side face of the spacer and connected to external wires for applying drive signals to the actuators.   
   
   
       2 . The liquid ejection head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spacer has recess parts on the side faces, and the recess parts each have first openings on the side faces and second openings on the non-side face; and   the conducting parts are arranged in the recess parts of the spacer, the first electrodes are exposed through the first openings, and the second electrodes are exposed through the second openings.   
   
   
       3 . The liquid ejection head as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the recess parts have no openings on another non-side face which is another of the top face and the bottom face of the spacer. 
   
   
       4 . The liquid ejection head as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first openings of the recess parts are rectangular, the second openings of the recess parts are semicircular, and the recess parts are semi-cylindrical. 
   
   
       5 . The liquid ejection head as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first openings of the recess parts are rectangular, the second openings of the recess parts have a shape of a portion of a circle having a diameter greater than a breadth of the first openings, and the recess parts have a shape of a portion of a cylinder. 
   
   
       6 . The liquid ejection head as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first member has opening parts, and the side faces are inner faces defining the opening parts. 
   
   
       7 . The liquid ejection head as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the opening parts have a shape corresponding to a shape of piezoelectric actuators, and the first electrodes are connected with electrodes of the piezoelectric actuators. 
   
   
       8 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 the liquid ejection head as defined in  claim 1 ,   wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium by moving the liquid ejection head relatively to the recording medium, and ejecting ink from the liquid ejection head toward the recording medium.