CN101119850A - Single-use droplet ejection module - Google Patents
Single-use droplet ejection module Download PDFInfo
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- CN101119850A CN101119850A CN200580048178.2A CN200580048178A CN101119850A CN 101119850 A CN101119850 A CN 101119850A CN 200580048178 A CN200580048178 A CN 200580048178A CN 101119850 A CN101119850 A CN 101119850A
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Abstract
A printhead module includes a printhead body (102), a nozzle plate (110) and one or more piezoelectric actuators (120). The printhead body includes one or more pumping chambers (104), where each pumping chamber includes a receiving end to receive a printing liquid from a printing liquid supply and an ejecting end for ejecting the printing liquid from the pumping chamber. The nozzle plate includes one or more nozzles (112) formed through the nozzle plate. Each nozzle can be in fluid communication with a pumping chamber and receive printing liquid from the ejecting from the nozzle. The one or more piezoelectric actuators are connected to the nozzle plate. A piezoelectric actuator is positioned over each pumping chamber and includes a piezoelectric material configured to deflect and pressurized the pumping chamber, so as to eject printing liquid from a corresponding nozzle in fluid communicaiton with the ejecting end of the pumping chamber.
Description
Technical field
The present invention relates to have the print head assembly of one or more nozzle.
Background technology
Ink-jet printer generally includes the black road from black source to inkjet component, and this inkjet component comprises the nozzle of ink droplet via its ejection.By utilizing actuator to give the China ink pressurization of Mo Luzhong, can control ink droplet jet, this actuator can be for example piezoelectric deflector, thermal bubble jet generator or electrostatic deflection element.Typical printhead has delegation's nozzle and corresponding black road array and corresponding actuator, and the ink droplet jet of each nozzle can be by independent control.In so-called " drop-on-demand " printhead, when printhead and print media relatively move, activate each actuator and spray ink droplet with specific pixel location optionally at image.In high performance priniheads, nozzle has the diameter of 50 microns or littler (for example, 25 microns), with the interval of a per inch 100-300 nozzle separately and approximate 1 to 70 skin liter (p1) or the littler amount of dripping be provided usually.Drop ejection frequency is generally 10kHz or bigger.
Printhead can comprise semiconductor printhead body and piezo-activator, and for example, Hoisington etc. are at the printhead described in the U.S. Patent No. 5265315.Print head body can be made by silicon, and this silicon of etching is to limit black chamber.Nozzle can be limited by the single nozzles plate that is connected with silicon body.Piezo-activator has one deck can change geometry or crooked piezoelectric in response to the voltage that is applied.The bending of piezoelectric layer is to the pressurization of the China ink in the pumping chamber that is provided with along Mo Lu.
Printing precision is subjected to the influence of many factors, and these factors comprise between the interior a plurality of nozzles of printhead and the size of the ink droplet that sprays between a plurality of printheads in the printer and the uniformity of speed.The uniformity of ink drop size and drop velocity is subjected to influence of various factors again, for example, and the uniformity of the pressure pulse that pollution in the dimensional uniformity of Mo Lu, acoustic interference effects, the black stream and actuator generate.In black stream, use one or more filter, can reduce pollutant or chip in the China ink stream.
Summary of the invention
A kind of print head assembly with one or more nozzle is described.Generally, in one aspect, the invention is characterized in a kind of droplet (droplet) ejection assemblies.This use droplet ejection module comprises liquid supply assembly, housing and droplet ejection body.Liquid supply assembly comprises self-supporting liquid container (self-contained liquidreservoir) and liquid outlet.Housing is configured to forever be connected with liquid supply assembly, and comprises the fluid passage that is configured to also this liquid is delivered to from the liquid outlet reception liquid of liquid supply assembly droplet ejection body.Droplet ejection body forever is connected with housing, and comprises one or more liquid inlet and one or more nozzle that is configured to the selectivity droplet ejection that is configured to receive from housing liquid.
Embodiments of the invention can comprise one or more following feature.Liquid supply assembly also comprises and is used to prevent the seal of liquid via liquid outlet trickle container.Housing can be connected with liquid supply assembly in primary importance, in primary importance, seal prevents the outlet of liquid trickle and enters fluid passage, and housing can be connected with liquid supply assembly in the second place, in the second place, seal does not prevent the outlet of liquid trickle and enters fluid passage.Housing can be configured to be connected with liquid supply assembly in first and second positions via the connection (snap-fitconnection) that is clasped.
Liquid supply assembly also comprises the feed flow housing, and vacuum chamber can be formed in this feed flow housing, and this feed flow housing comprises the aperture that is used for providing vacuum to this vacuum chamber.Liquid container can be the flexible container that is suitable for accommodating liquid, and here, this flexible container is arranged in the vacuum chamber of feed flow housing.
Generally, on the other hand, the invention is characterized in a kind of use droplet ejection module that comprises housing, is installed in droplet ejection body, flexible circuit and liquid supply assembly in this housing.Droplet ejection body has the nozzle face of the nozzle that comprises that at least one is used for atomizing of liquids and has the back side (back face) of at least one fluid passage.Flexible circuit is installed on the nozzle face of housing and droplet ejection body.Flexible circuit is electrically connected with droplet ejection body to be provided for controlling the driving signal that sprays from the liquid of at least one nozzle.Flexible circuit can be connected with processor or integrated circuit directly or indirectly, drives signal and derives from this processor or integrated circuit.Liquid supply assembly is installed on the housing and is communicated with (fluid communication) with the backside fluid of droplet ejection body.Liquid supply assembly comprises self-supporting liquid container and outlet, the liquid path of the fluid passage in this outlet provides from liquid supply assembly to the back side that is formed on print head body.
Embodiment can comprise following one or more.Droplet ejection body also comprises and is formed on on-chip one or more pumping chamber, and here, each pumping chamber all comprises and is configured to receive the receiving terminal of liquid and be used for from the ejection end of pumping chamber's atomizing of liquids from liquid activity.Nozzle plate can be connected with substrate and comprise and pass one or more nozzle that nozzle plate forms, here, nozzle be communicated with each pumping chamber's fluid and from the ejection end reception liquid of pumping chamber to spray from nozzle.One or more piezo-activator can be connected with nozzle plate, here, piezo-activator is positioned in each pumping chamber and comprises piezoelectric, and this piezoelectric is configured to deflection pumping chamber and pressurizes with the corresponding nozzle atomizing of liquids from being communicated with the ejection end fluid of this pumping chamber to pumping chamber.
Liquid supply assembly can comprise the feed flow housing, be formed on to have vacuum chamber in the feed flow housing in aperture of vacuum and the bag that is suitable for accommodating liquid to vacuum chamber are provided, and this bag is arranged in the vacuum chamber that liquid is supplied with housing.
Carry out the present invention and can realize following one or more advantage.Provide a kind of and can adopt the print head assembly with lesser amt nozzle effectively, it is used for a small amount of printed liquid ideally.Self-supporting printing fluid container can easily fill with a small amount of printing fluid, be connected and be used for printing with the printhead housing.A kind ofly expect that the embodiment of little printing fluid amount is the printing fluid test operation.Self-supporting printing fluid container is filled with test printing liquid and is installed on the printhead housing to carry out test operation.Whole assembly is processed behind test operation, avoids having to washing print head assembly between test.Carry out buckle and connect (snap connection) with in the installation component that print head assembly is packed into, thus realize simultaneously being electrically connected with being connected of vacuum source.
The details of one or more embodiment is set forth in the following drawings and explanation.Further feature and advantage can be apparent from this explanation and accompanying drawing and claims.
Description of drawings
Describe these and other aspect in detail now with reference to the following drawings.
The use droplet ejection module of (self contained liquid supply assembly) that Figure 1A-E represents to have self-supporting liquid supply assembly.
Fig. 1 F-H represents to be included in the enlarged drawing of the part of the sealing mechanism in the use droplet ejection module shown in Fig. 1 C and the D.
Fig. 2 A-D represents to have another embodiment of the use droplet ejection module of self-supporting liquid supply assembly.
Fig. 3 A-B represents to comprise the droplet ejection body of 10 nozzles.
Fig. 4 A-B represents to comprise alternative droplet ejection body of 10 nozzles.
Fig. 5 A-C represents the flexible circuit that is connected with housing with droplet ejection body.
Fig. 6 A represents the use droplet ejection module that is connected with outside flexible circuit.
Fig. 6 B represents a plurality of use droplet ejection module of being connected with installation component.
Fig. 7 A-E represents to have a kind of available embodiment of the use droplet ejection module of self-supporting liquid supply assembly.
In institute's drawings attached, same reference numeral all refers to similar elements.
The specific embodiment
Shown use droplet ejection module comprises pressurization pumping chamber, optionally to spray liquid from nozzle.Typical liquid is China ink, and for illustrative purpose, following adopting by reference China ink illustrates use droplet ejection module as the print head assembly of printing fluid.Yet it should be understood that also and can adopt other liquid, for example, the liquid metal that uses during electroluminescent material that uses when making LCD or circuit board are made.
Print head assembly generally comprises the print head body with a plurality of nozzles, and described a plurality of nozzles are communicated with to allow continuous printing with outside black source fluid.In some applications, wish to use less China ink amount to operate print head assembly effectively and carry out for example black detecting operation.Be configured to accommodate have the lesser amt nozzle for example the print head assembly of the print head body of one to ten nozzle be applicable to this operation, and comprise the black feeding assembly that is designed for less printing liquid measure.In one embodiment, the black feeding assembly that can not recharge can be connected with print head body, for example, disposable (single-use) printing fluid supply box, thus avoid when detecting different printing fluid, need washing this China ink feeding assembly.
Figure 1A represents to have the print head assembly 100 of the black feeding assembly 102 that is connected with printhead housing 104.Print head body 106 is connected with printhead housing 104.China ink feeding assembly 102 comprises the self-supporting ink container that is configured to accommodate for example detection usefulness small volume of ink.
Figure 1B is the cross-sectional perspective view of print head assembly 100 shown in Figure 1A of getting of 1B-1B along the line.Fig. 1 C is the cross-sectional perspective view of the print head assembly 100 got of 1C-1C along the line, and expression is in the print head assembly 100 of detent position.Fig. 1 D is the same cross-sectional perspective view of print head assembly 100, but expression is in the print head assembly 100 of release position.Fig. 1 E is the amplification view of a part that comprises the printhead housing 104 of print head body 106.
With reference to Figure 1B, black feeding assembly 102 comprises the self-supporting container 108 that is used to accommodate small volume of ink especially.In the embodiment shown, self-supporting container 108 is to be similar to the flexible container of bag and should to be called the China ink bag, but also can adopt the self-supporting container of other form.Self-supporting container can be to be full of China ink and sealed container, and China ink remains in this container until being used.Without any being connected with container so that the outside black source in continuous black source to be provided; On the contrary, employed China ink is exactly the China ink that is housed in the self-supporting container.Be connected to printhead housing 104 at black feeding assembly 102 and go forward, make China ink bag 108 be full of China ink.Seal 110 for example O shape ring generates sealing between black feeding assembly 102 and printhead housing 104.
With reference to Fig. 1 C and 1D, illustrated embodiment comprises two connections (double snap-fitconnection) that are clasped, and connects whereby especially, and black feeding assembly 102 can be that detent position (Fig. 1 C) is connected with printhead housing 104 at position A at first.At detent position, China ink bag 108 is not communicated with print head body 106 fluids.Before the beginning printing, black feeding assembly 102 inflow location B are release position (Fig. 1 D).In the release position, China ink bag 108 is communicated with print head body 106 fluids via the China inks inlet 124 that is formed in the printhead housing 104.
For black feeding assembly 102 being connected on the printhead housing 104 at detent position A, the user makes the male connector 115 that stretches out from this China ink feeding assembly 102 aim at the corresponding female connector 117 in being formed on printhead housing 104, and apply enough power so that this male connector 115 and female connector 117 mesh at position A, but this power is not even as big as meshing female connector 117 at position B.The user should receive when black feeding assembly 102 cooperates with printhead housing 104 that enough tactile feedback are to determine when in-position A.
For with respect to printhead housing 104 black feeding assembly 102 being moved into release position B, the user applies extra power so that male connector 115 meshes at position B and female connector 117.Male connector 115 has enough flexibility with crooked under pressure, thereby is clasped at position A disengaging female connector 117 and at position B.Inclined plane shown in female connector 117 is configured to have is with auxiliary this motion, and this inclined plane impels the male connector 115 of similar inclination to skid off engagement with this female connector 117 when being subjected to downward force.Two a kind of embodiment that are clasped and connect have more than been described.Also can adopt other structure of two connections that are clasped and allow other type of detent position and release position to be connected.
The structure of the China ink inlet 124 by further specifying more detailed expression in Fig. 1 E can be understood the stream that is formed between black feeding assembly 102 and the print head body 106 better.The finger (finger) 132 of utilizing groove 134 to separate is positioned at the end of China ink inlet 124.When there was China ink in the end of China ink inlet 124, flow through groove 134 and entering of this China ink was formed in the black road 126 in the middle of the China ink inlet 124.
With reference to Fig. 1 C, 1D and 1F-H, black feeding assembly 102 comprises the discharge head (outlet head) 118 that also has finger 136, and this finger 136 is stretched out and separated via stream 138 from center hub (central hub) 139 is radial.Fig. 1 F represents the bottom view of discharge head 118; Stream 138 provides from the fluid path of China ink bag 108.Fig. 1 G represents discharge head 118, seal 110 and the China ink inlet 124 when print head assembly is in detent position shown in Fig. 1 C.In this position, seal contacts and shutoff stream 138 with the bottom surface of discharge head 118; The China ink finger 136 of can not flowing through.Spring 114 in the discharge head 118 imposes on the downward force of seal 110 pressurizations.Fig. 1 H represents discharge head 118, seal 110 and the China ink inlet 124 when print head assembly is in release position shown in Fig. 1 D.In this position, the bottom of discharge head 118 contacts with China ink inlet 124, the spring 114 (Fig. 1 D) that this China ink inlet 124 can compress in the discharge head 118.Seal 110 is oriented to cross the terminal of China ink inlet 124 and do not contact with the bottom of discharge head 118; No longer sealed 110 shutoff of stream 138.Thereby China ink can flow via the stream between the finger 136 that is formed on discharge head 118 138 from China ink bag 108, and flows into the black road 126 that is formed in this China ink inlet 124 via the groove 134 that is formed in the China ink inlet 124.
Fig. 1 E represents a kind of embodiment of print head body 106, and this print head body 106 has opening 142 along the one side to receive China ink.Enter the fluid path that makes the chamber 144 that fluid is communicated with opening 142 via black road 126 and allow China ink to flow into print head body 106, to spray this China ink from the nozzles that are included in this print head body 106 from China ink bag 108.
China ink feeding assembly 102 comprises the vacuum chamber 128 that is used to accommodate China ink bag 108.Utilize the valve 130 that is connected with vacuum source, keep vacuum in the vacuum chamber 128.Keep vacuum chamber 128 interior vacuum and just apply negative pressure for China ink bag 108 with respect to nozzle atmosphere outside pressure, this can produce pressure so that China ink does not spill from nozzle at the meniscus place of spray orifice.At this moment, the pressure at meniscus place makes air do not returned and introduces pumping chamber.
In one embodiment, black feeding assembly 102 forever is connected with printhead housing 104, in case the China ink that is contained in the China ink bag 108 uses up, just abandons print head assembly 100.Go forward in that black feeding assembly 102 is connected to printhead housing 104, irritate China ink for China ink bag 108 via discharge head 118.Thus, print head assembly 100 provides the self-supporting disposable test that only uses small volume of test liquid unit.Because print head assembly 100 only uses once, need between test, not wash print head assembly so can test.
With reference to Fig. 2 A-D, second embodiment of expression print head assembly 200, it adopts the print head body with lesser amt nozzle.With reference to Fig. 2 A, print head assembly 200 comprises the black feeding assembly 202 that is connected with printhead housing 204 especially.Print head body 206 is connected with printhead housing 204.
Fig. 2 B is the cross-sectional perspective view of print head assembly 200 shown in Fig. 2 A of getting of 2B-2B along the line.Fig. 2 C is the cross-sectional perspective view of the print head assembly 200 got of 2C-2C along the line.China ink feeding assembly 202 comprises the self-supporting container 208 that is used to accommodate small volume of ink.In the embodiment shown, self-supporting container 208 is a kind ofly to be similar to the flexible container of bag and should to be called China ink bag, but also can adopt the self-supporting container of other form.Before or after black feeding assembly 202 is installed on the printhead housing 204, make China ink bag 208 fill China ink.China ink injects this China ink bag 208 via the aperture 209 that is positioned at China ink bag 208 tops.In one embodiment, the sealing of aperture 209 usefulness self-sealing materials, this self-sealing material is pierced through and adopts the syringe holder China ink to inject China ink bag 208 by needle-like piece.One example of self-sealing material is moldable elastomer, for example, from Wilmington, the ALCRYN that the Advanced Polymer Alloys of Delaware obtains.In case China ink bag 208 is filled with, needle-like piece just withdraws from and these material self sealss, thus seal orifice 209 once more.
Preferably, before black feeding assembly 202 is installed on the printhead housing 204, fill China ink bag 208.Especially with reference to Fig. 2 D, when black feeding assembly 202 is installed on the printhead housing 204, the China ink inlet 215 that is included in this printhead housing 204 pierces through the next door (septum) 217 that is used to seal China ink bag 208 bottoms, thereby allows China ink from China ink bag 208 toward print head bodies 206.In the embodiment shown, print head body 206 comprises and being formed on the back side to receive the black road 228 of China ink that then, this China ink is drawn towards the nozzle on the another side that is formed on print head body 206.
Especially with reference to Fig. 2 B, black feeding assembly 202 connects 218 and is connected with printhead housing 204 via being clasped.Optionally, adopt two connection (not shown)s that are clasped, be similar to above described with reference to Figure 1A-E.That is to say that first buckle can be installed to black feeding assembly 202 on the printhead housing 204 and not pierce through next door 217,, is in detent position that is.Second buckle can enter the mouth China ink and 215 push away next door 217, generates from China ink bag 216 streams to print head body 206,, is in the release position that is.
China ink feeding assembly 202 comprises the vacuum chamber 220 that is used to accommodate China ink bag 208.Utilize the valve 230 that is connected with vacuum source, keep vacuum in the vacuum chamber 220.Keep vacuum chamber 220 interior vacuum and just apply negative pressure for China ink bag 208 with respect to the nozzle atmosphere outside, this can produce pressure so that China ink does not spill from nozzle at the meniscus place of spray orifice.At this moment, the pressure at meniscus place makes air do not returned and introduces pumping chamber.
As above described with reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 1A-H, black feeding assembly 202 can forever be connected with printhead housing 204, in case the China ink that is contained in the China ink bag 208 uses up, just abandons print head assembly 200.Thus, print head assembly 200 provides and only uses for example self-supporting disposable unit of test liquid of small amount of liquid.Because print head assembly 200 only uses once, need between test, not wash print head assembly so can test.Optionally, can recharge China ink bag 208 for the printing of carrying out subsequently via aperture 209, however because China ink bag 208 is not easy to clean, so this do not recommend, unless recharge identical China ink.
In a kind of alternative embodiment, cancellation aperture 209.Next door 217 is formed by self-sealing material, and China ink injected in the China ink bag 208 via this next door 217 before black feeding assembly 202 is installed on the printhead housing 204.Optionally, China ink can inject in the China ink bag 208 before next door 217 is installed; In case China ink bag 208 is filled with, and next door 217 just is installed to seal this China ink bag 208, should be installed on the printhead housing 204 by the China ink bag then.
Above-mentioned print head assembly 100 and 200 can adopt any suitable print head body.Fig. 3 A and 3B have represented a kind of embodiment that comprises the print head body 300 of 10 nozzles.Print head body 300 by substrate 301 for example silicon chip form.Nozzle 312 is formed on (Fig. 3 B) on the nozzle face, and PZT (piezoelectric transducer) is formed on (Fig. 3 A) on the back side.China ink inlet 302 leads to the pumping chamber (not shown) corresponding with each nozzle 312.Contact-actuating (drive contact) 304 can be used for receiving the signal for each nozzle 312.This signal produces voltage via drive electrode 306, and described drive electrode 306 produces different voltages on the piezoelectric 308 that is positioned under the drive electrode.Piezoelectric 308 deflections are positioned at the pumping chamber below this piezoelectric 308 and make ink droplet from corresponding nozzle 312 ejections thereby directly press to.Flexible circuit is connected optionally to control the startup of nozzle 312 with drive electrode 306.In one embodiment, flexible circuit directly or indirectly is connected with processor or integrated circuit (for example, via external flexible circuits), and the driving signal of control nozzle 312 derives from this processor or integrated circuit.
Referring again to Fig. 1 E, shown in print head body 106 in the printhead housing 104 comprise the China ink inlet that forms along a side of this print head body 106, be similar to the print head body 300 shown in Fig. 3 A-B.Fig. 1 E represents a kind of embodiment of the black road from printhead housing 104 to print head body, and this print head body has side China ink inlet as print head body 300.
Shown exemplary printhead body 300 comprises 10 nozzles, yet also can comprise more or less nozzle.In one embodiment, print head body 300 comprises single-nozzle.Print head body 300 can be used in that on October 8th, 2004 submitted to and name is called the technology described in the U.S. Patent application No.10/962378 of " printhead with film " and/or submit to and name is called the technology described in the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/621507 of " for etched sacrificial substrates " and makes on October 21st, 2004, and the full contents that are incorporated herein two applications for your guidance.
Another embodiment of print head body 400 is illustrated among Fig. 4 A and the 4B.In this embodiment, contact-actuating 420 and drive electrode 422 are formed on the nozzle face.Print head body 402 with 10 nozzles is formed by substrate 401, nozzle plate 410 and piezoelectric layer 416.Ten nozzles 412 are formed in the nozzle plate 410.Ground electrode layer 417 is formed on the end face of nozzle plate 410, and contact-actuating 420 and drive electrode 422 are formed on the segmentation piezoelectric layer 416.The back gauge of print head body 402 is shown among Fig. 4 B and comprises two black roads 428.Ten pumping chamber's fluids in the substrate 401 of China ink road 428 below being formed on the piezoelectric section are communicated with; Each pumping chamber's delivered ink is to corresponding nozzle 412.Illustrated embodiment comprises the snake shape heater 427 on the back side 426 that is formed on print head body 402, and it can be used to warm the ink to the expection operating temperature.
Shown exemplary printhead body 402 comprises 10 nozzles, yet this print head body 402 also can forming by more or less nozzle.In one embodiment, print head body 402 comprises single-nozzle.
Print head assembly also comprises and is used for the contact face (contact face) that is electrically connected with signal source, and be configured to be installed in and be ejected on the matrix with the printing fluid that will be contained in it in the PRN device, this signal source is provided for the optionally signal of starting nozzle.The structure of contact face is different according to the structure of print head body.
For example, Fig. 3 A and 3B represent to have on the back side (promptly relative with nozzle face face) print head body 300 of contact-actuating 304.With reference to Fig. 5 A-C, print head body 300 with have lead-in wire 502 flexible circuit 500 and be connected, this goes between and 502 is electrically connected with contact-actuating 304 on print head body 300 back sides.Every the lead-in wire 502 provide signal to contact-actuating 304 optionally to start corresponding nozzle 312.Lead-in wire 502 is electrically connected with contact 504 on the contact face 506 that is formed on flexible circuit 500.
In another embodiment, print head assembly is configured to utilize the box installation component to install, described in the annex A that is called " fluid deposition device " in name, be introduced into this specification at this.
In one embodiment, print head assembly is formed at installation component and finishes in the single Connection Step and the electrical connection of print head assembly and being connected from vacuum source to vacuum port.For example, if print head assembly is positioned at installation component, then utilize the one-time positioning step, the contact that is positioned on the contact face of this print head assembly is electrically connected (for example being used to send signal with starting nozzle) with external flexible circuits and/or external equipment, and vacuum port and vacuum source for example meniscus vacuum bar 606 be connected.External flexible circuits is connected with processor or integrated circuit, and the driving signal of nozzle derives from this processor or integrated circuit.
With reference to another embodiment of the contact face of Figure 1A and 4A-B explanation print head assembly,, print head body uses this contact face when being positioned at the contact-actuating on the one side with nozzle when being configured to have.Especially with reference to Fig. 4 A, print head body 402 comprises with nozzle 412 and being positioned at the contact-actuating 420 on the one side.With reference to Figure 1A, the flexible circuit 160 with contact face 162 be connected with the one side of printhead housing 104 and around the bottom surface of this printhead housing 104 to contact with contact-actuating 420 on the nozzle face that is formed on print head body 402.Flexible circuit 160 comprises that otch or opening are to expose nozzle 412.
Be similar to above-mentioned flexible circuit 500 ground and form flexible circuit 160, wherein, this flexible circuit 160 comprises that the lead-in wire that is connected to contact-actuating 420 is to be provided for optionally starting the signal of corresponding nozzle 412.Flexible circuit 160 comprises that the contact face 164 with contact 166 is to be electrically connected with the external circuit that drives signal is provided to nozzle.For example, referring again to Fig. 6 A, the external flexible circuits 600 with connector 602 is connected with the contact face 162 of flexible circuit 160.Print head assembly 100 can be installed in the installation component 604 shown in Fig. 6 B and with external flexible circuits 600 and be connected.
With reference to Fig. 7 A-E, a kind of alternative embodiment of expression print head assembly 700.This embodiment is similar to print head assembly shown in Figure 1 substantially.In the print head assembly shown in Fig. 7 A-E 700, China ink inlet 724 and Mo Dao 726 are included in the Mo Zhu 702, and this China ink post 702 is formed with printhead housing 704 and separates.Hole 706 is formed in the bottom of the printhead housing 704 that is configured to receive black post 702.
Be similar to reference to the 100 described black roads of the print head assembly shown in Figure 1A-H from self-supporting container (China ink bag) 708 black roads to print head body 706.That is to say that Mo Zhu 702 comprises finger 732 and groove 734.China ink feeding assembly 703 comprises the discharge head 718 that also has finger 736, and this finger 736 is stretched out and separated via stream 738 from center hub 739 is radial.Stream 738 provides from the black road of China ink bag 708.At detent position, seal 710 contacts and shutoff stream 738 with the bottom surface of discharge head 718; The China ink finger 736 of can not flowing through.Finger 714 in the discharge head 718 applies the downward force that is used for to seal 710 pressurizations.
In the release position, the bottom of discharge head 718 contacts with China ink inlet 724, the spring 714 that this China ink inlet 724 can compress in the discharge head 718.Seal 710 is oriented to cross the terminal of China ink inlet 724 and do not contact with the bottom of discharge head 718; No longer sealed 710 shutoff of stream 738.Thereby China ink can flow via the stream between the finger 736 that is formed on discharge head 718 738 from China ink bag 708, and flows into the black road 726 that is formed in this China ink inlet 724 via the groove 734 that is formed in the China ink inlet 724.
With reference to Fig. 7 C and 7D, Mo Zhu 702 can be connected with flexible circuit 730 with print head body 706 especially.Flow through black road 726 and enter this print head body 706 of China ink via the hole that forms corresponding to the pumping chamber in the print head body 706, as shown.In the embodiment shown, the part of flexible circuit 730 is between the end face of black base for post portion 705 and print head body 706.Flexible circuit 730 provides for the actuator in the print head body 706 and drives signal to activate nozzle.The second portion 740 of flexible circuit is positioned on the end face of black base for post portion 705.In one embodiment, heating element heater 742 and thermistor (not shown) are included on the bottom surface of second portion 740 of the flexible circuit that contacts with black base for post portion 705.Optionally, electrostatic releaser also can be included on the second portion 740 of flexible circuit.The main part 744 of flexible circuit 730 is connected with the outer surface of printhead housing 704 shown in Fig. 7 E.With reference to the described similar fashion of other embodiment, flexible circuit 730 is connected with external flexible circuits according to as above, and this external flexible circuits provides driving Signal Processing device or integrated circuit to be connected directly or indirectly with to the nozzle in the print head body 706.
As mentioned, China ink only is an example of printing fluid.It should be understood that to claim that China ink only is for illustrative purpose for printing fluid, and utilize adjective " China ink " to represent that the parts in the above-mentioned print head assembly also are schematic.That is to say, claim passage or feeding assembly, also can adopt and more generally call for example " printing fluid inlet " or " printing liquid supply assembly " for " China ink inlet " or " black feeding assembly " is for illustrative purpose.In addition, as mentioned, for illustrative purpose, use droplet ejection module is called as print head assembly, yet its purposes is wider than printing in itself and is can be used for spraying any kind droplet that uses for various purposes.
In whole specification and claims, term for example the use of " preceding " and " back " and " top " and " end " only for illustrative purpose, with various assemblies and other element of distinguishing print head assembly described here.The use at " preceding " and " back " and " top " and " end " does not hint the specific orientation of print head assembly.
Although more than describe some embodiment in detail, other distortion also is possible.Other embodiment drops in the scope of following claims.
The application requires to enjoy and submitted on December 17th, 2004, name be called " single-use droplet ejection module " and sequence number be submit in unsettled U.S. Provisional Application and on July 13rd, 2005 of No.60/637254, name is called " single-use droplet ejection module " and sequence number is the unsettled U.S. Provisional Application No. of No.60/699134, is incorporated herein two full contents of applying for for your guidance.The application relates to by Andreas Bibl and Melvin L.Biggs and submitting to simultaneously and name is called the U. S. application of " print head assembly ".
Claims (26)
1. use droplet ejection module comprises:
Liquid supply assembly comprises self-supporting liquid container and liquid outlet;
Housing is configured to forever be connected with described liquid supply assembly, and comprises and be configured to receive liquid and described liquid is delivered to the fluid passage of droplet ejection body from the described liquid outlet of described liquid supply assembly; And
Droplet ejection body, be connected with described housing, and comprise being configured to one or more liquid inlet of receiving described liquid and be connected from described housing that described droplet ejection body comprises and is configured to optionally from one or more actuator of described one or more nozzle ejection droplet and is used to receive one or more signal of telecommunication to drive one or more electric contact of described one or more actuator with one or more fluid nozzle.
2. use droplet ejection module according to claim 1, wherein, described liquid supply assembly also comprises:
Seal is used to prevent that described liquid from flowing out described liquid container via described liquid outlet.
3. use droplet ejection module according to claim 1, wherein:
Described housing can be connected with described liquid supply assembly in primary importance, and in described primary importance, described seal prevents that described liquid from flowing out described liquid outlet and entering described fluid passage;
Described housing can be connected with described liquid supply assembly in the second place, and in the described second place, described seal does not prevent that described liquid from flowing out described liquid outlet and entering described fluid passage.
4. use droplet ejection module according to claim 3, wherein:
In case described housing is connected with described liquid supply assembly in described primary importance, described housing can not separate with described liquid supply assembly with regard to only moving into the described second place.
5. use droplet ejection module according to claim 3, wherein:
Described housing is configured to be connected described first and second positions and be connected with described liquid supply assembly via two being clasped.
6. use droplet ejection module according to claim 5, wherein, described housing also comprises elongated tip spare, described elongated tip spare is configured to pierce through described seal when described housing when the described second place is connected with described liquid supply assembly.
7. use droplet ejection module according to claim 5, wherein, described housing also comprises spring-actuated mechanism, and described spring-actuated mechanism is configured to keep described sealing and remove described sealing when described housing when the described second place is connected with described liquid supply assembly when described primary importance is connected with described liquid supply assembly when described shell.
8. use droplet ejection module according to claim 1, wherein, described liquid supply assembly also comprises:
The feed flow housing; And
But evacuated chamber is formed in the described feed flow housing and is connected with the aperture that makes fluid leave described chamber.
9. use droplet ejection module according to claim 8, wherein, but described liquid container comprises and is suitable for the described evacuated chamber of accommodating the flexible container of described liquid and being arranged in described feed flow housing.
10. use droplet ejection module according to claim 8 wherein, also comprises:
Flexible circuit, spray intrinsic described one or more electric contact with described liquid and be electrically connected being provided for controlling the driving signal that uses droplet ejection from described one or more nozzle, described flexible circuit comprises and is configured to the contact face that is electrically connected with the external circuit that described driving signal is provided.
11. use droplet ejection module according to claim 10, wherein, but the described aperture that is connected with described evacuated chamber and the described contact face of described flexible circuit are formed at during the single of installation component is connected, and described aperture is communicated with the vacuum source fluid and described contact face is electrically connected with external circuit.
12. use droplet ejection module according to claim 1, wherein, described liquid container comprises the flexible container that is suitable for accommodating liquid.
13. use droplet ejection module according to claim 1, wherein, described liquid supply assembly also comprises the aperture that is connected and is configured to receive described liquid with described liquid container fluid.
14. use droplet ejection module according to claim 13, wherein, described aperture is self-packing.
15. use droplet ejection module according to claim 1 wherein, is connected in case form fluid between described housing and described liquid supply assembly, described housing and described liquid supply assembly are exactly inseparable.
16. a liquid supply assembly that is used for use droplet ejection module comprises:
The feed flow housing; And
But evacuated chamber is formed in the described feed flow housing and is connected with the aperture that makes fluid leave described chamber;
Self-supporting liquid container is positioned at described indoor;
Liquid outlet is configured to carry liquid from described liquid container to droplet ejection body; And
Bindiny mechanism is configured to connect described feed flow housing and droplet ejection body housing, and wherein, in case connect, described feed flow housing just can not separate with described droplet ejection body housing.
17. liquid supply assembly according to claim 16, wherein, described self-supporting liquid container comprises flexible pouch.
18. liquid supply assembly according to claim 16, wherein, described bindiny mechanism comprise be configured to described droplet ejection body housing in two or more elongated flexible parts of being clasped of corresponding receiving plane.
19. the basic components of a use droplet ejection module comprise:
Housing has the bindiny mechanism that is configured to connect basic components and liquid supply assembly, and wherein, in case connect, described basic components just can not separate with described liquid supply assembly;
Fluid passage is formed in the described housing, and is configured to receive liquid and described liquid is delivered to droplet ejection body from described liquid supply assembly; And
Droplet ejection body, be connected with described housing, and comprise being configured to one or more liquid inlet of receiving described liquid and be communicated with from described housing that described droplet ejection body comprises and is configured to optionally from one or more actuator of described one or more nozzle ejection droplet and is used to receive one or more signal of telecommunication to drive one or more electric contact of described one or more actuator with one or more fluid nozzle.
20. basic components according to claim 19, wherein, described bindiny mechanism comprises two or more receiving planes, and described two or more receiving planes are configured to receive and are included in two or more the corresponding elongated flexible elements in the described liquid supply assembly and provide being clasped between described basic components and the described liquid supply assembly to be connected.
21. a use droplet ejection module comprises:
Liquid supply assembly comprises self-supporting liquid container and liquid outlet, the liquid path of the fluid passage in described liquid outlet provides from described liquid supply assembly to the back side that is formed on described use droplet ejection module;
Housing is configured to forever be connected with described liquid supply assembly;
Droplet ejection body, forever be connected with described housing, comprise nozzle face with at least one nozzle, described droplet ejection body comprises and is configured to optionally from least one actuator of described at least one nozzle ejection droplet and is used to receive one or more signal of telecommunication to drive at least one electric contact of described at least one actuator, also comprises the back side with at least one fluid passage; And
Flexible circuit, be installed on the described nozzle face of described housing and described droplet ejection body, there, described flexible circuit is electrically connected with described droplet ejection body, provides in order to control described one or more signal of telecommunication from the liquid injection of described at least one nozzle to give described at least one actuator.
22. use droplet ejection module according to claim 21, wherein, described droplet ejection body also comprises:
One or more pumping chamber is formed on the substrate, and there, each pumping chamber all comprises and is configured to receive the receiving terminal of liquid and be used for from the ejection end of described pumping chamber atomizing of liquids from liquid activity.
23. use droplet ejection module according to claim 22, wherein, described droplet ejection body also comprises:
Nozzle plate is connected with described substrate and comprises and pass one or more nozzle that described nozzle plate forms, here, each nozzle is communicated with the pumping chamber fluid and from the described ejection end reception liquid of described pumping chamber to spray from described nozzle.
24. use droplet ejection module according to claim 23, wherein, described at least one actuator that is included in the described droplet ejection body has:
One or more piezo-activator, be connected with described nozzle plate, here, piezo-activator is positioned in each pumping chamber and comprises piezoelectric, and this piezoelectric is configured to the described pumping chamber of deflection and gives the pressurization of described pumping chamber with the corresponding nozzle atomizing of liquids from being communicated with the described ejection end fluid of described pumping chamber.
25. use droplet ejection module according to claim 21, described liquid supply assembly also comprises:
The feed flow housing;
But evacuated chamber is formed in the described feed flow housing, and described feed flow housing is connected with the aperture that makes fluid leave described chamber; And
Bag is suitable for accommodating liquid, but described bag is positioned at described evacuated chamber.
26. use droplet ejection module according to claim 25, wherein:
Described flexible circuit also comprises and is configured to the contact face that is electrically connected with the external circuit that described one or more signal of telecommunication is provided;
The described aperture that is connected with described chamber and the described contact face of described flexible circuit are formed at during the single of installation component is connected, and described aperture is connected with the vacuum source fluid and described contact face is electrically connected with external circuit.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US63725404P | 2004-12-17 | 2004-12-17 | |
| US60/637,254 | 2004-12-17 | ||
| US69913405P | 2005-07-13 | 2005-07-13 | |
| US60/699,134 | 2005-07-13 | ||
| PCT/US2005/045919 WO2006066201A1 (en) | 2004-12-17 | 2005-12-16 | Single-use droplet ejection module |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN101119850A true CN101119850A (en) | 2008-02-06 |
| CN101119850B CN101119850B (en) | 2013-01-02 |
Family
ID=39055549
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN200580048178.2A Active CN101119850B (en) | 2004-12-17 | 2005-12-16 | Single-use droplet ejection module |
| CNA2005800483608A Pending CN101124093A (en) | 2004-12-17 | 2005-12-16 | Printhead module |
| CN2008101797769A Active CN101428505B (en) | 2004-12-17 | 2005-12-16 | Printhead module and printhead system |
Family Applications After (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA2005800483608A Pending CN101124093A (en) | 2004-12-17 | 2005-12-16 | Printhead module |
| CN2008101797769A Active CN101428505B (en) | 2004-12-17 | 2005-12-16 | Printhead module and printhead system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (3) | CN101119850B (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111497446A (en) * | 2019-01-31 | 2020-08-07 | 京瓷办公信息系统株式会社 | Recording head assembly and ink jet recording apparatus |
| CN114179522A (en) * | 2017-02-23 | 2022-03-15 | 富士胶卷迪马蒂克斯股份有限公司 | Reducing dimensional changes in funnel nozzles |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009143025A1 (en) | 2008-05-22 | 2009-11-26 | Fujifilm Corporation | Actuatable device with die and integrated circuit element |
| JP5851677B2 (en) * | 2009-08-12 | 2016-02-03 | ローム株式会社 | Inkjet printer head |
| EP3554841B1 (en) | 2016-12-19 | 2023-06-28 | Fujifilm Dimatix, Inc. | Actuators for fluid delivery systems |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5341161A (en) * | 1991-06-14 | 1994-08-23 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink recorder including a sealing member for an ink storage section |
| ES2271718T3 (en) * | 1998-05-18 | 2007-04-16 | Seiko Epson Corporation | INJECTION PRINTER OF INJECTION OF INK AND CARTRIDGE OF CORRESPONDING INK. |
-
2005
- 2005-12-16 CN CN200580048178.2A patent/CN101119850B/en active Active
- 2005-12-16 CN CNA2005800483608A patent/CN101124093A/en active Pending
- 2005-12-16 CN CN2008101797769A patent/CN101428505B/en active Active
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN114179522A (en) * | 2017-02-23 | 2022-03-15 | 富士胶卷迪马蒂克斯股份有限公司 | Reducing dimensional changes in funnel nozzles |
| US11571895B2 (en) | 2017-02-23 | 2023-02-07 | Fujifilm Dimatix, Inc. | Reducing size variations in funnel nozzles |
| CN114179522B (en) * | 2017-02-23 | 2023-10-17 | 富士胶卷迪马蒂克斯股份有限公司 | Method for producing a nozzle |
| CN111497446A (en) * | 2019-01-31 | 2020-08-07 | 京瓷办公信息系统株式会社 | Recording head assembly and ink jet recording apparatus |
| CN111497446B (en) * | 2019-01-31 | 2021-10-29 | 京瓷办公信息系统株式会社 | Recording head assembly and ink jet recording apparatus |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CN101124093A (en) | 2008-02-13 |
| CN101119850B (en) | 2013-01-02 |
| CN101428505A (en) | 2009-05-13 |
| CN101428505B (en) | 2011-03-30 |
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