JP2001038890A - Ink-jet recording head, method for removing dust in the head, production of the head, and method for recovering the head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove dust in an ink-jet recording head. SOLUTION: A cleaning nozzle 308a having a discharge opening larger than a printing nozzle 308b is formed at the end of a nozzle line adjacent to the printing nozzle 308b to be used for printing. When liquid is discharged from nozzles 308, by the flow of the liquid associated with the refill of the liquid to the nozzles 308, dust in an adjacent nozzle can be moved to the nozzles 308. With the use of this phenomenon, dust is moved along the nozzles 308 to be collected to the cleaning nozzle 308a and discharged from the discharge opening of the cleaning nozzle 308a so that even dust large in size can be removed from the heads.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink jet recording head, a method of removing dust from the ink jet recording head, a method of manufacturing the ink jet recording head, and a method of recovering the ink jet recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording head for discharging ink and attaching it to a recording medium to perform recording has fine discharge ports to enable high-definition recording. is there. If dust is clogged in such a fine discharge port, there is a problem that ink is not discharged, an ink discharge direction is incorrect, a landing position on a recording medium is shifted, and a discharge amount of ink is reduced. Occurs.

On the other hand, as a countermeasure in the manufacturing process,
Cleaning of the members constituting the manufacturing apparatus and the ink jet recording head to prevent dust from remaining in the ink jet recording head, and providing a filter in the ink flow path of the ink jet recording head to prevent the dust from moving to the discharge port. Has been conventionally implemented.

[0004]

As described above, even if the members of the manufacturing apparatus and the ink jet recording head are washed in the manufacturing process, small dust often remains in the manufactured ink jet recording head. Specifically, when observing the state in which dust is clogged in the nozzles, the dust 411 is usually larger than the discharge port 402 as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is difficult to remove the dust 411 by a method such as suctioning from the discharge port 402. Therefore, when such dust 411 remains in the vicinity of the ejection port 402, the prescribed ejection performance of the ink jet recording head cannot be obtained, and it is necessary to rebuild a product, and the yield of the ink jet recording head is reduced, and the cost is reduced. It goes up.

[0005] Even if a filter is provided in the ink flow path of the ink jet recording head, if dust remains in a portion closer to the discharge port 402 than the filter, the discharge performance will be impaired. If a number of filters are provided in the ink jet recording head in order to prevent the dust 411 from remaining near the discharge port 402, the cost increases by the number of filters.

[0006] Even in an ink jet recording head for performing black and white recording, for example, having 256 nozzles and discharge energy generating means, dust 4 is formed near the discharge port 402 as described above.
11 remain, but perform color printing, for example, 6
Ink jet recording heads that perform recording at the same printing density as the above-described black and white printing with different kinds of ink require nozzles for discharging ink of each color, so that a large number of 256 × 6 nozzles are required. Therefore, the possibility that the dust 411 remains in any one of the ejection ports 402 increases. For this reason, in the production of ink jet recording heads capable of color printing in the future,
There is a great need for a countermeasure against the dust 411 clogging the discharge port 402.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to remove dust from the inside of an ink jet recording head, thereby suppressing a decrease in the yield of head manufacturing due to the dust remaining near the discharge port, and increasing the cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording head, a method of removing dust from the ink jet recording head, a method of manufacturing the ink jet recording head, and a method of recovering the ink jet recording head.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording head according to the present invention comprises a plurality of ejection energy generating means used for ejecting a liquid, and substantially corresponding to the ejection energy generating means. In an ink jet recording head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid and a common liquid chamber for holding liquid to be supplied to the plurality of nozzles, the nozzle is a recording nozzle used for print recording. And a cleaning nozzle having a larger opening than the recording nozzle, which is used for discharging dust remaining in the head.

According to this configuration, after the liquid is discharged from the nozzle, the liquid is discharged from the adjacent nozzle through the common liquid chamber by the flow of the liquid at the time of the refill operation in which the liquid is filled in the nozzle. Since the dust in the head can be moved toward the nozzle, the dust is moved from the nozzle part far from the cleaning nozzle to the nozzle part close to the nozzle one by one, and finally moved into the cleaning nozzle for cleaning. The dust can be discharged from the nozzle. At this time, since the cleaning nozzle is not used for print recording, a large opening can be formed without affecting the printing performance, and by making the opening larger than the recording nozzle, Even large garbage that cannot be discharged,
It can be discharged from the cleaning nozzle.

If the nozzle width of the cleaning nozzle is made larger than the nozzle width of the printing nozzle, the opening of the cleaning nozzle can be further enlarged, and larger dust can be discharged from the cleaning nozzle. Since the cleaning nozzle is not used for print recording, the arrangement pitch of the cleaning nozzle can be increased without affecting the printing performance, and the nozzle width is further increased by increasing the arrangement pitch. be able to.

In the ink jet recording head of the present invention, if the cleaning nozzles are arranged at the ends of the rows formed by the nozzles, the cleaning nozzles can be formed without affecting the arrangement pitch of the printing nozzles.

When the cleaning nozzle is arranged at one end of the row formed by the nozzles, it is necessary to move the dust at the other end to one end where the cleaning nozzle is arranged. By arranging the dust at both ends of the head, the dust inside the head can be moved from the center of the head to both ends and discharged, so the distance to move the dust can be shortened, and the dust inside the head can be efficiently removed. It can be performed.

In the method for removing dust in an ink jet recording head according to the present invention, a plurality of ejection energy generating means used for ejecting a liquid, and a plurality of ejection energy generating means are formed substantially in a line corresponding to the ejection energy generating means. A method for removing dust in an ink jet recording head having a nozzle for discharging liquid and a common liquid chamber for holding liquid to be supplied to a plurality of nozzles, wherein a nozzle for recording used for print recording among the nozzles And a step of discharging dust remaining in the head from a cleaning nozzle having a larger opening.

Further, in the method of removing dust in an ink jet recording head according to the present invention, the liquid is ejected from a nozzle, and the dust in a neighboring nozzle is removed by the flow of the liquid accompanying the refill of the liquid to the ejected nozzle. It is characterized by having a step of sequentially moving dust between the nozzles by repeating the step of moving the nozzle to the ejected nozzle while sequentially changing the nozzle for ejecting the liquid, and finally transferring the dust to the cleaning nozzle. And

In an ink jet recording apparatus in which a cleaning nozzle is arranged at one end of a row formed by nozzles, liquid is ejected from a nozzle located away from the cleaning nozzle to a nozzle located near the cleaning nozzle. Change the nozzle,
By sequentially discharging the liquid from the nozzles, dust in the head can be finally moved to the cleaning nozzle.

In an ink jet recording apparatus in which cleaning nozzles are arranged at both ends of a row formed by nozzles, the nozzles for discharging liquid from the nozzle at the center of the row to the nozzles at both ends are changed in order. By discharging the liquid from the nozzles, dust in the head can be finally moved to the cleaning nozzles at both ends of the nozzle row.

The discharge of dust from the cleaning nozzle may be performed by suction or pressurization from the outside of the ink jet recording head, or by driving a discharge energy generating element to discharge the liquid from the cleaning nozzle, together with the liquid. The dust may be discharged from the head by a method.

In the manufacturing process of the ink jet recording head, if dust is removed from the ink jet recording head according to the present invention after the head is assembled, the dust remains in the head and the liquid discharging performance is impaired. Lowering of the yield can be suppressed.

In addition, when the ink jet recording head is mounted on the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus, as the ink jet recording head recovery step for restoring the communication of the nozzles, if the dust in the ink jet recording head according to the present invention is removed, the ink jet recording can be performed. Immediately after the start of use of the head, when exchanging liquid (ink), or when the ink ejection performance has deteriorated, dust can be appropriately removed, and the ejection performance of the inkjet recording head can be maintained.

[0020]

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 4 show a basic configuration of an ink jet recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording head, FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan sectional views, FIG. 2 shows a right end of the head, and FIG. 3 shows a left end of the head. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the nozzle 308, wherein FIG. 4A shows a vertical cross section, and FIG. In the present invention, the nozzle 308
The term refers to an entire portion including an ejection port 302 that ejects ink and an ink flow path that guides ink from the common liquid chamber to the ejection port 302. In the description of the present embodiment, the description of the electrical wiring and the like for driving the electrothermal transducer 301 is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, this ink jet recording head has a long groove-shaped ink supply port 303 at the center.
Are formed, and a substrate 304 on which electrothermal conversion elements 301 as ejection energy generating means are formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the ink supply port 303, and a coating resin layer formed on the substrate 304 and constituting the flow path wall 307 306 and the coating resin layer 3
And a discharge port plate 305 in which a discharge port 302 is provided.

As a material of the substrate 304, glass, ceramics, plastic, metal or the like can be used. In the present embodiment, a Si substrate (wafer) is used.
Is used. The electrothermal conversion element 30 is placed on the substrate 304.
1 is staggered as shown in FIGS.
(Dot Per Inch) pitch 133 on one side, 26 on both sides
Six are formed. 1 to 3, a part of the description of the nozzle 308 in the middle part is omitted. Ink channel wall 307
And the discharge ports 302 are formed at a pitch corresponding to the electrothermal conversion element 301, and these form a nozzle 308 as shown in FIG. In this embodiment,
Although the coating resin layer 306 and the discharge port plate 305 are shown as separate members, the coating resin layer 306 is formed on the substrate 304 by a method such as spin coating to form a coating on which the ink flow path wall 307 is formed. Resin layer 306
And the discharge port plate 305 may be formed simultaneously as the same member.

The nozzle 308 in this embodiment is assigned a nozzle number. The nozzle numbers are assigned in such a manner that the nozzle numbers on one side (the upper part in FIGS. 2 and 3) sandwiching the ink supply port 303 start from 1, and 1, 3, 5,.
5, the nozzle numbers on the opposite side (below in FIGS. 2 and 3) are 2, 4, 6,..., 266 in order from the end. Of these, the printing nozzle 308a used for print recording has 128 nozzles of 1 to 255 on one side, and 2 to 256 nozzles on the other side.
As shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle number 257 is provided outside the printing nozzle 308a (A in FIG. 3).
A cleaning nozzle 308b not used for print recording of a total of 10 nozzles is formed for each of 5 to 266 nozzles on each side. The size of the ink discharge port 303 of the printing nozzle 308a is 21 × 21 μm, while the cleaning nozzle 30
The size of the ejection port 303 of 8b is 30 × 35 μm, which is larger than the ink ejection port 303 of the printing nozzle 308a.
Further, the electrothermal conversion element 301 is formed not only in the printing nozzle 308a but also in the cleaning nozzle 308b.

Next, in the manufacturing process of the ink jet recording head, the substrate 30 on which the coating resin 306 is formed is formed.
FIG. 5 shows a method of removing dust remaining in the head by using an apparatus provided on the production line after the discharge port plate 305 is joined to the upper surface of the head 4 and assembly of the head is completed.
This will be described with reference to the sequence shown in FIG.

First, at step 0, ink is filled into the head from an ink supply port 303 by an ink filling means (not shown) provided on the production line of the ink jet recording head. Next, in Step 1, the ink is discharged by driving the electrothermal conversion elements 301 of the nozzles 308 from the nozzle numbers 11 to 20 according to a prescribed sequence by the inkjet recording head driving means provided on the production line. .

At this time, according to the study of the present inventors, 10 kHz
When 1000 ink droplets are ejected from the five nozzles 308 in Z, almost all of the dust remaining on the five nozzles 308 on each side (left and right in FIG. 2) adjacent to the nozzle 308 from which the ink was ejected is refilled. However, it is known that the ink moves to the portion of the nozzle 308 from which the ink has been ejected. That is, nozzle numbers 1, 3,
5, 7, 9 and nozzle numbers 21, 23, 25, 27,
Garbage remaining on the 5 nozzles on each side of 29
The ink is ejected from the five nozzles of nozzle numbers 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19 to move to this portion. Similarly, dust can be moved to the nozzle 308 from which the ink has been ejected by the nozzle 308 on the opposite side of the ink supply port.

Next, in step 2, the nozzle numbers 21 to 3
Ink is ejected from the nozzles 308 up to 0 to move dust to this portion. As described above, by sequentially changing the nozzles 308 that eject ink from the smaller nozzle numbers to the larger nozzle numbers, dust remaining in the head can be removed from the nozzles 308 with the smaller nozzle numbers. The nozzle is moved to the larger nozzle 308. Then, in step 25, the printing nozzles 30 with nozzle numbers 247 to 256 adjacent to the cleaning nozzle 308b
After the ink is ejected from the nozzle 8a and the dust is moved to this portion, in step 25, the ink is ejected from the cleaning nozzles 308b of the nozzle numbers 257 to 266, thereby almost all the dust remaining in the ink jet recording head. Can be collected at the cleaning nozzle 308b. Further, in step 27, the cleaning nozzle 308
By discharging 2000 inks at 10 kHz from b, dust can be removed from inside the head. The removal of dust from the inside of the head in step 27 is performed by providing a recovery means such as a pump for drawing out the dust in the head by sucking or pressurizing the ink in the head to the manufacturing line. It may be performed by a recovery means. As described above, the discharge port 302 of the cleaning nozzle 308b is larger than the discharge port of the printing nozzle 308a. Thus, by removing dust from the discharge port 302 of the cleaning nozzle 308b, the printing nozzle 308a is removed. Large dust that cannot be removed from the discharge port 302 can be removed.

Here, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 6, of the fact that the discharge of ink from the nozzle 308 causes the dust on the adjacent nozzle 308 to move to the nozzle 308 from which the ink has been discharged. In the above description, an example in which dust is moved in units of five nozzles is shown. However, FIG. 6 shows an example in which dust is moved in units of three nozzles for simplification. FIG. 6 shows a state immediately after the ink is ejected from the three nozzles on the left side. When the ink is ejected in this manner, the ink around the ejection port 302 is transiently exhausted, and the meniscus 312 is formed. Then, the meniscus 312 is moved by the ink pressure to the ink ejection port 30.
2 and the ink is refilled in the nozzle 308 that has ejected the ink. At this time, an ink flow as shown by an arrow in FIG. 6 is generated from the peripheral portion toward the nozzle 308 that has ejected the ink, and the dust 311 remaining in the peripheral nozzle 308 is flowed into this ink flow. It moves in the direction toward the nozzle 308 that has ejected the ink.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printing nozzle 308a is ejected from the nozzle 308 far from the cleaning nozzle 308b to the nozzle 308 near the cleaning nozzle 308b in order.
The dust can be moved to the portion of the cleaning nozzle 308b formed adjacent to the cleaning nozzle 308b having the ejection port 302 larger than the printing nozzle 308a, and the dust can be removed from this portion.

In this embodiment, the method of charging the ink jet recording head with the ink and driving the electrothermal transducer 301 with the apparatus provided on the production line has been described. The same operation may be performed by the ink filling means and the electrothermal conversion medium driving means of the ink jet recording apparatus main body in a state where the ink jet recording apparatus is mounted. In this case, not only immediately after starting the use of the head, but also when exchanging the ink or when the ink discharge performance is reduced due to the clogging of the dust, the sequence for dust removal can be appropriately operated. By appropriately removing dust as described above, the ink ejection performance can be maintained.

In this embodiment, 10 KHz is 10
The dust was moved in units of 5 nozzles by discharging 00 inks. However, the dust was moved according to the pitch of the nozzle row of the ink jet recording head to which the present invention is applied, the amount of ink discharged per shot, and the like. What is necessary is just to set suitably so that it can be moved.

In this embodiment, the electrothermal transducer 3
In the above description, the inkjet recording head in which the discharge ports 302 are opposed to each other is described. However, the inkjet recording head is arranged so that the surface on which the electrothermal transducer 301 is formed is perpendicular to the direction in which the ejection ports 302 are formed. Similar effects can be obtained for the head.

In addition to the electrothermal conversion element 301 shown in the present embodiment, for example, a piezoelectric element that generates pressure by applying a voltage may be used as the ink discharging means.

That is, the material and detailed structure of each member of the ink jet recording head are not the essence of the present invention. The present invention provides a plurality of ink discharging means for discharging ink and a plurality of ink discharging means corresponding to each ink discharging means. What is an ink jet recording head having an ink ejection port, a common liquid chamber for holding ink to be supplied to a plurality of ink ejection means, and an ink flow path for guiding ink from the common liquid chamber to the ink ejection port. The present invention is also applicable to an inkjet recording head.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 7 shows Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
1 is a cross-sectional plan view of an ink jet recording head.
In the figure, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the number of nozzles of the ink jet recording head according to the present embodiment is 138 on one side, and 276 on both sides of the ink supply port. Among them, the number of printing nozzles is 128 nozzles on one side, and five cleaning nozzles on one side are formed at portions B and C outside the printing nozzles with the ink supply port 303 interposed therebetween. That is, in this ink jet recording head, the cleaning nozzles 308b are arranged at both ends of the nozzle row. The nozzles 308 are arranged in a staggered manner at a pitch of 600 DPI.

The nozzle numbers are assigned in such a manner that the nozzle number on one side starts from 1 and 1, 3, 5,.
5. The nozzle numbers on the other side are 2, 4, 6,
..., 276, etc. Therefore, the cleaning nozzle 308b is a nozzle 308 at the right end nozzle number 1 to 10 and a nozzle 308 at the left end nozzle number 267 to 276. The printing nozzle 308a is a nozzle at the center nozzle number 11 to 266. 308. As in the first embodiment, the size of the discharge port 303 of the printing nozzle 308a is 13.5 × 13.5 μm, the size of the discharge port 303 of the cleaning nozzle 308b is 20 × 20 μm, and the size of the discharge port 303 of the cleaning nozzle 308b is large. Is made larger than the size of the discharge port 303 of the printing nozzle 308a so that even large dust can be removed. Further, as in the first embodiment, the electrothermal conversion elements 301 are arranged in both the printing nozzle 308a and the cleaning nozzle 308b.

Next, in the manufacturing process of the ink jet recording head, the substrate 30 on which the coating resin 306 is formed is formed.
FIG. 8 shows a method of removing dust remaining in the head by using an apparatus provided in the manufacturing line after the discharge port plate 305 is joined to the head 4 and assembly of the head is completed.
This will be described with reference to the sequence shown in FIG.

First, at step 0, ink is filled into the head from the ink supply port 303 by ink filling means provided on the production line of the ink jet recording head. Next, in step 1, the nozzle numbers 129 to 13 in the center of the head are driven by the inkjet recording head driving means provided on the production line in accordance with a prescribed sequence.
The ink is ejected by driving the electrothermal conversion elements 301 of the nozzles 308 up to eight. As in the first embodiment, by discharging 1000 inks at 10 kHz, one side adjacent to each of the five nozzles at the top and bottom in FIG.
The dust remaining in the five nozzles 308 can be moved to this portion by the flow of ink generated by refilling the nozzle 308 at the center. Next, in step 2, the nozzles 30 of nozzle numbers 139 to 148
From step 8, ink is ejected from the nozzles 308 of nozzle numbers 149 to 158 in step 3. in this way,
The dust is sequentially moved toward the nozzle 308 having the larger nozzle number.

Then, in step 4, the nozzle number 15
Nozzle number 1 simultaneously with nozzles 308 from 9 to 168
The ink is ejected from the nozzles 308 from 19 to 128. In the present embodiment, as described above, by discharging ink from the nozzle 308 having the larger nozzle number and the nozzle 308 having the smaller nozzle number at the same time with the central nozzle interposed therebetween, dust remaining in the head is removed from the nozzle row. To both ends. At this time, ink is ejected from the nozzles 129 to 138 in step 1 to move dust to this portion, and then in step 2, the nozzles 119 to 128 are simultaneously printed with the nozzles 139 to 148. When ink is ejected from the nozzles up to the nozzles No. 129 to No. 138,
The ink flow from the eight portions toward the nozzle 308 with the larger nozzle number and the ink flow toward the nozzle 308 with the smaller nozzle number interfere with each other, and dust cannot be moved satisfactorily. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the nozzles 308 of nozzle numbers 129 to 138 at the center of the head are
Remove the garbage remaining in the part for 10 nozzles in steps 2 and 3.
After moving to the nozzle 308 side with the larger nozzle number, in step 4, the nozzles 3 at both ends with the center portion of the nozzle row
08 is ejected. In the configuration of the ink jet recording head described in the present embodiment, even if ink is simultaneously ejected from the nozzles 308 separated by 15 nozzles or more,
It has been found that interference of the ink flow due to the refill does not occur, and therefore, no interference of the ink flow occurs in Step 4.

In this way, by changing the nozzles 308 for ejecting ink from the center of the nozzle row to both ends in order from step 5 to step 16, dust remaining in the head can be removed from the nozzle row. It is moved to the cleaning nozzle 308b formed at both ends. Then, in step 17, 10 kHz from the cleaning nozzles 308b of nozzle numbers 267 to 276 and nozzle numbers 1 to 10
2,000 inks are ejected to remove dust from inside the head.

In this embodiment, dust can be removed in a shorter time than in the first embodiment by removing dust from the cleaning nozzles on both sides.

In this embodiment, the cleaning nozzle 308 is used.
The shape of the discharge port 302 of FIG.
As shown in FIG.
By making the shape of 2 circular, unlike the case of a quadrangle, the degree of catching of the dust changes, and the dust is easily removed. Therefore, a part of the discharge nozzle 30 of the cleaning nozzle 308a is used.
It is also preferable to make the two shapes circular.

In this embodiment, the cleaning nozzle 308 is used.
The distance of the flow path wall 307 from the ink supply port 303 was the same as that of the printing nozzle 308b, but only the flow path wall 307 of the cleaning nozzle 308a was separated from the ink supply port 303 as shown in FIG. Increasing is effective because the cleaning nozzle 308a makes it easier to collect dust.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 9 shows Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
FIG. In the figure, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the ink jet recording head of this embodiment, the arrangement pitch of the cleaning nozzles 308b is different from that of the first embodiment. That is, the printing nozzles 308a are formed at a pitch of 300 DPI, while the cleaning nozzles 308b are formed at a pitch of 150 DPI. The nozzle numbers are assigned in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The printing nozzles 308a are 128 nozzles on one side and 256 nozzles on both sides of the ink supply port 303 from nozzle numbers 1 to 256, and the cleaning nozzle 308b is a nozzle. 2 nozzles on one side from number 257 to 260, 4 on both sides
Nozzle. In the present embodiment, the cleaning nozzle 308b
Is longer than the pitch of the printing nozzles 308a, and the nozzle width of the cleaning nozzle 308b is larger than the nozzle width of the printing nozzle 308a. Further, the discharge port 302 of the cleaning nozzle 308b is larger than in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a sequence showing a method of removing dust from the ink jet recording head. This sequence is the same as that of the first embodiment except that ink is ejected from the four cleaning nozzles 308b of nozzle numbers 257 to 260 in steps 26 and 27.

In the ink jet recording head of this embodiment, the arrangement pitch of the cleaning nozzles 308b is lengthened to increase the nozzle width and the size of the ink discharge port, so that a larger dust can be removed. We were able to.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention,
For cleaning, dust remaining in the ink jet recording head during the manufacturing process is larger than the printing nozzle provided at the end of the nozzle array due to the flow of ink generated during refilling after ink is ejected from the nozzle. The dust in the head can be removed by moving the nozzle to the nozzle portion and discharging the nozzle from the discharge port of the cleaning nozzle to the outside of the head. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the yield due to the dust remaining near the ejection port, and to suppress the cost of the ink jet recording head.

The present invention can also be applied to an ink jet recording head recovery method for removing dust that has entered the ink jet recording head while the ink jet recording head is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective sectional view of an inkjet recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of a right end portion of the ink jet recording head of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of a left end portion of the ink jet recording head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a nozzle portion of the ink jet recording head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a sequence of dust removal of the inkjet recording head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of moving dust inside the ink jet recording head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view showing an ink jet recording head according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

8 is a diagram showing a sequence of dust removal of the ink jet recording head of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a plan sectional view showing an ink jet recording head according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

10 is a diagram showing a dust removal sequence of the ink jet recording head of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where dust is clogged in a recording unit of a conventional inkjet recording head.

FIG. 12 is a plan sectional view showing an ink jet recording head according to a modification of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a plan sectional view showing an ink jet recording head according to another modification of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 to 276 Nozzle number 301 Electrothermal conversion element 302, 402 Discharge port 303 Ink supply port 304 Substrate 305 Discharge port plate 306 Coating resin layer 307, 407 Channel wall 308 Nozzle 308a Printing nozzle 308b Cleaning nozzle 311 411 Dust 312 Meniscus

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of discharge energy generating means used for discharging a liquid, and a plurality of nozzles for discharging the liquid, the plurality of nozzles being formed substantially in a row corresponding to the discharge energy generating means. An ink jet recording head having a common liquid chamber for holding liquid to be supplied to a plurality of the nozzles, wherein the nozzle is a recording nozzle used for print recording,
Used to discharge garbage remaining in the head,
An inkjet recording head including a cleaning nozzle having an opening larger than the recording nozzle. 2. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle width of the cleaning nozzle is larger than a nozzle width of the printing nozzle. 3. The ink jet recording head according to claim 2, wherein an arrangement pitch of said cleaning nozzles is longer than an arrangement pitch of said printing nozzles. 4. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning nozzle is arranged at one end of a row formed by the nozzles. 5. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning nozzles are arranged at both ends of a row formed by the nozzles. 6. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein at least one discharge port of the cleaning nozzle has a circular shape. 7. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the flow path wall of the cleaning nozzle and the ink supply port is larger than a distance between the flow path wall of the print nozzle and the ink supply port. Item 2. The inkjet recording head according to item 1. 8. A plurality of ejection energy generating means used for ejecting a liquid, and a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the liquid, the plurality of nozzles being formed substantially in rows corresponding to the ejection energy generating means. A method for removing dust in an ink jet recording head having a common liquid chamber for holding a liquid to be supplied to a plurality of nozzles, wherein the nozzle has a larger opening than a recording nozzle used for print recording. A method for removing dust from an ink jet recording head, comprising a step of discharging dust remaining in the head from a nozzle. 9. Discharging the liquid from the nozzle,
The step of moving the dust in a neighboring nozzle to the nozzle from which the liquid is discharged by the flow of the liquid accompanying the refilling of the liquid to the nozzle from which the liquid is discharged is repeatedly performed while sequentially changing the nozzle from which the liquid is discharged. 9. The method of removing dust in an ink jet recording head according to claim 8, further comprising the step of sequentially moving the dust between the nozzles, and finally transferring the dust to the cleaning nozzle. 10. The cleaning nozzle is disposed at one end of a row formed by the nozzles, and in the transfer step, the cleaning nozzle is located at a position close to the cleaning nozzle from a position remote from the cleaning nozzle. The dust removal method according to claim 9, wherein the nozzle that discharges the liquid to the nozzle is changed, and the liquid is sequentially discharged from the nozzle. 11. The cleaning nozzle is disposed at both ends of a row formed by the nozzle, and in the transferring step,
The ink jet recording head according to claim 9, wherein the nozzle that discharges the liquid from the nozzle at the center of the row formed by the nozzles to the nozzles at both ends is changed, and the liquid is discharged from the nozzle sequentially. How to remove garbage inside. 12. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in the step of discharging the dust from the cleaning nozzle, the liquid in the cleaning nozzle is suctioned or pressurized to discharge the liquid and discharge the dust. 12. The method for removing dust from the ink jet recording head according to any one of items 11 to 11. 13. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in the step of discharging the dust from the cleaning nozzle, the discharge energy generating element is driven to discharge the dust together with the discharge of the liquid from the cleaning nozzle. A method for removing dust from an ink jet recording head according to any one of the preceding claims. 14. The ink jet recording head according to claim 8, wherein said ink jet recording head includes said discharge energy generating means, said nozzle, and said common liquid chamber.
13. A method for manufacturing an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising the step of removing dust by the dust removing method in the ink jet recording head described in the above section. 15. After the start of use of the ink jet recording apparatus, dust collected during use of the ink jet recording head is removed by the dust removing method in the ink jet recording head according to any one of claims 8 to 13. An ink jet recording head recovery method having a step.