EP0681528A1 - Ink jet printer nozzle assembly. - Google Patents
Ink jet printer nozzle assembly.Info
- Publication number
- EP0681528A1 EP0681528A1 EP94904720A EP94904720A EP0681528A1 EP 0681528 A1 EP0681528 A1 EP 0681528A1 EP 94904720 A EP94904720 A EP 94904720A EP 94904720 A EP94904720 A EP 94904720A EP 0681528 A1 EP0681528 A1 EP 0681528A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- nozzle
- shoulder
- stepped bore
- nozzle assembly
- seal ring
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2/1433—Structure of nozzle plates
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an ink jet printer nozzle assembly of the type comprising one or more nozzles mounted in a nozzle plate.
- Nozzle assemblies of this type are well known and usually comprise a jewel nozzle in which an orifice is formed to a required shape and dimensions and a nozzle- supporting plate having a stepped bore into which the nozzle is fixed by means of adhesive. Adhesive is used in order to assure a permanent, rigid attachment of the nozzle in the nozzle plate.
- a nozzle assembly for an ink jet printer comprising a nozzle mounted in a stepped bore in a supporting nozzle plate, the nozzle being disposed on a supporting shoulder within the stepped bore, sealed thereto by a resilient seal ring disposed between the nozzle and the shoulder, and retained therein by a crimp of the nozzle plate surface.
- the invention also includes a method of manufacturing a nozzle assembly of this type, in which the nozzle is disposed on a supporting shoulder within the stepped bore of the nozzle plate, a resilient seal ring is provided between the shoulder and the nozzle, and the nozzle is retained within the stepped bore by crimping of the nozzle plate surface around the open end of the stepped bore.
- the seal ring preferably comprises a seal ring which is formed of FTFE or other similar compliant material, to provide a secure seal between the underside of the nozzle and the shoulder in the stepped bore.
- the shoulder may include a retained seal disposed, for example in an annular groove in the shoulder or the adjacent wall of the bore.
- Crimping the nozzle in position enables the problems associated with adhesive fixing to be overcome and, in particular, enables the nozzle to be accurately positioned in parallelism with the nozzle plate to ensure the precise location of the jet of ink which issues therefrom in use.
- the nozzle may be initially held in position within the stepped bore by a cylindrical guide around which an annular crimping tool may slide, so as to be driven against the edge of the open end of the bore around the nozzle, to produce the crimp.
- Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly sectioned, of a nozzle plate and printing tool
- Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the crimp head of a crimping tool
- Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a location pin for locating the plate relative to the tool.
- Fig. 4 is a plan view of the PTFE seal.
- Figure 1 shows a nozzle plate 1 positioned on the base plate 2 of a crimping tool, the base plate 2 having a hardened steel locating pin 3 which locates within a bore
- Figure 1 shows the finished nozzle plate, after crimping of the jewel 7 into position in the counterbore 5 has taken place, an annular crimp 9 being shown.
- a cylindrical guide 10 is first lowered into position on top of the jewel 7 and thereafter the annular crimping head 11 of the crimping tool is thrust downwardly around the cylindrical guide 10 into engagement with the upper surface 12 of the nozzle plate immediately around the end of the counterbore 5 in order to form the crimp.
- PTFE seal 6 supports the jewel or nozzle in the counterbore 5 at a predefined position so that the nozzle or jewel 7 is always fixed in the same relative position within the nozzle plate, thus ensuring consistency of dimensions across different nozzle assemblies.
Landscapes
- Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
Abstract
A nozzle assembly for an ink jet printer has a nozzle mounted in a stepped bore (4) in a supporting nozzle plate (1). The nozzle (7) is disposed on a supporting shoulder within the stepped bore and is sealed thereto by a resilient seal ring (6) disposed between the nozzle and the shoulder. The nozzle is retained in the stepped bore by a crimp (9) of the nozzle plate surface.
Description
INK JET PRINTER NOZZLE ASSEMBLY
The present invention relates to an ink jet printer nozzle assembly of the type comprising one or more nozzles mounted in a nozzle plate.
Nozzle assemblies of this type are well known and usually comprise a jewel nozzle in which an orifice is formed to a required shape and dimensions and a nozzle- supporting plate having a stepped bore into which the nozzle is fixed by means of adhesive. Adhesive is used in order to assure a permanent, rigid attachment of the nozzle in the nozzle plate.
However, there are disadvantages in using this type of fixing. For example, adhesive may enter the nozzle orifice or the narrower portion of the stepped bore in the nozzle plate and thus impede the desired flow through it. Furthermore, the adhesive forms a layer between the underside of the nozzle and the shoulder in the stepped bore in the nozzle plate and it is difficult to control, to the desired degree of accuracy, the precise positioning of the nozzle, as a result. Accuracy of position is important and particularly so in regard to ensuring that the emitted ink jet is normal to the surface of the nozzle plate.
According to the present invention therefore, there is provided a nozzle assembly for an ink jet printer, the nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle mounted in a stepped bore in a supporting nozzle plate, the nozzle being disposed on a supporting shoulder within the stepped bore, sealed thereto by a resilient seal ring disposed between the nozzle and the shoulder, and retained therein by a crimp of the nozzle plate surface.
The invention also includes a method of manufacturing a nozzle assembly of this type, in which the nozzle is disposed on a supporting shoulder within the stepped bore of the nozzle plate, a resilient seal ring is provided between the shoulder and the nozzle, and the nozzle is
retained within the stepped bore by crimping of the nozzle plate surface around the open end of the stepped bore.
The seal ring preferably comprises a seal ring which is formed of FTFE or other similar compliant material, to provide a secure seal between the underside of the nozzle and the shoulder in the stepped bore. Alternatively, the shoulder may include a retained seal disposed, for example in an annular groove in the shoulder or the adjacent wall of the bore. The use of a PTFE seal ensures a sufficiently secure seal to avoid leakage around the nozzle in use, avoiding the need for adhesive to be used in fixing and sealing the nozzle in the nozzle plate.
Crimping the nozzle in position enables the problems associated with adhesive fixing to be overcome and, in particular, enables the nozzle to be accurately positioned in parallelism with the nozzle plate to ensure the precise location of the jet of ink which issues therefrom in use.
The nozzle may be initially held in position within the stepped bore by a cylindrical guide around which an annular crimping tool may slide, so as to be driven against the edge of the open end of the bore around the nozzle, to produce the crimp.
One example of a nozzle assembly according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly sectioned, of a nozzle plate and printing tool;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the crimp head of a crimping tool;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a location pin for locating the plate relative to the tool; and.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the PTFE seal.
Figure 1 shows a nozzle plate 1 positioned on the base plate 2 of a crimping tool, the base plate 2 having a hardened steel locating pin 3 which locates within a bore
4 formed in the nozzle plate. Coaxial with the bore 4 is
an enlarged counterbore 5 in which are positioned firstly a PTFE seal 6 and a jeweled nozzle 7 having a tapered central orifice 8. Figure 1 shows the finished nozzle plate, after crimping of the jewel 7 into position in the counterbore 5 has taken place, an annular crimp 9 being shown.
In order to form the crimp 9 a cylindrical guide 10 is first lowered into position on top of the jewel 7 and thereafter the annular crimping head 11 of the crimping tool is thrust downwardly around the cylindrical guide 10 into engagement with the upper surface 12 of the nozzle plate immediately around the end of the counterbore 5 in order to form the crimp. PTFE seal 6 supports the jewel or nozzle in the counterbore 5 at a predefined position so that the nozzle or jewel 7 is always fixed in the same relative position within the nozzle plate, thus ensuring consistency of dimensions across different nozzle assemblies.
The shape of the end of the annular crimping head 11 is more clearly seen in figure 2 and the form of the locating pin 3 seen in more detail in figure 3. The PTFE seal itself is shown in figure 4.
Claims
1. A nozzle assembly for an ink jet printer, the nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle mounted in a stepped bore (4) in a supporting nozzle plate (1) , the nozzle (7) being disposed on a supporting shoulder within the stepped bore, sealed thereto by a resilient seal ring (6) disposed between the nozzle and the shoulder, and retained therein by a crimp (9) of the nozzle plate surface.
2. A nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal ring comprises a separate seal ring (6) formed from a compliant material, to provide a secure seal between the underside of the nozzle (7) and the shoulder in the stepped bore (4).
3. A nozzle assembly according to claim 2, wherein the seal ring (6) is formed from PTFE or other similar material.
4. A nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder includes a retained seal disposed in an annular groove on the shoulder or adjacent wall of the bore.
5. A method of manufacturing a nozzle assembly in which the nozzle (7) is disposed on a supporting shoulder within a stepped bore (4) of a nozzle plate (1), a resilient seal ring is provided between the shoulder and the nozzle, and is retained within the stepped bore by crimping of the nozzle plate surface around the open end of the stepped bore.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the nozzle (7) is initially held in position within the stepped bore (4) by a cylindrical guide around which an annular crimping tool (11) may slide, so as to be driven against the edge of an open end of the bore around the nozzle, to produce the crimp (9) .
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB939301625A GB9301625D0 (en) | 1993-01-27 | 1993-01-27 | Ink jet printer nozzle assembly |
| GB9301625 | 1993-01-27 | ||
| PCT/GB1994/000144 WO1994016899A1 (en) | 1993-01-27 | 1994-01-26 | Ink jet printer nozzle assembly |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0681528A1 true EP0681528A1 (en) | 1995-11-15 |
| EP0681528B1 EP0681528B1 (en) | 1997-01-02 |
Family
ID=10729426
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP94904720A Expired - Lifetime EP0681528B1 (en) | 1993-01-27 | 1994-01-26 | Ink jet printer nozzle assembly |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0681528B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH08506065A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69401338T2 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB9301625D0 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994016899A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3823408A (en) * | 1972-11-29 | 1974-07-09 | Ibm | High performance ink jet nozzle |
| GB8602647D0 (en) * | 1986-02-04 | 1986-03-12 | Domino Printing Sciences Plc | Ink jet droplet generator |
| JPS6364755A (en) * | 1986-09-08 | 1988-03-23 | Hitachi Ltd | Recording head |
-
1993
- 1993-01-27 GB GB939301625A patent/GB9301625D0/en active Pending
-
1994
- 1994-01-26 DE DE69401338T patent/DE69401338T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-01-26 EP EP94904720A patent/EP0681528B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-01-26 WO PCT/GB1994/000144 patent/WO1994016899A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1994-01-26 JP JP6516822A patent/JPH08506065A/en active Pending
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| See references of WO9416899A1 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE69401338T2 (en) | 1997-04-24 |
| WO1994016899A1 (en) | 1994-08-04 |
| JPH08506065A (en) | 1996-07-02 |
| GB9301625D0 (en) | 1993-03-17 |
| EP0681528B1 (en) | 1997-01-02 |
| DE69401338D1 (en) | 1997-02-13 |
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