JP2005125576A - Liquid ejecting recording head and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid ejecting recording head which has the yield improved and costs reduced by lowering the probability of invasion of dust and foreign matter into an ink passage. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid ejecting recording head consists of a first substrate with at least discharge openings and energy generating elements, an ink tank for storing a liquid to be supplied to the first substrate, and a first substrate supporting member having the ink passage formed for supplying the liquid from the ink tank to the first substrate via a foreign matter removal part. The first substrate supporting member with the formed ink passage, and the foreign matter removable part are integrally formed of a powder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid discharge recording head that discharges ink or other liquid onto a recording medium such as paper, and a manufacturing method thereof.

  In recent years, among recording apparatuses such as printers, facsimiles, and the like, in particular, ink jet recording apparatuses have rapidly improved in recording image quality. In order to cope with this improvement in the recording image quality, the recording head needs to discharge smaller droplets, and the discharge ports for discharging the droplets in the recording head inevitably become smaller.

  Conventionally, a liquid ejection recording head affects ejection between a first substrate that ejects liquid onto a recording medium such as paper and an ink tank that stores ink for supplying ink to the first substrate. An ink flow path is formed through a foreign matter removing portion that prevents foreign matter from entering. The first substrate includes at least an ejection port and an energy generating element, and a first substrate support member in which a part of the ink flow path is formed is bonded to the ink tank side of the first substrate.

  The ink supply part of the ink tank has an ink supply member having a capillary force larger than that of the ink absorber inside the ink tank, and ink is supplied by bringing the foreign substance removal part and the ink supply member into contact with each other. The pore diameter of the foreign matter removing portion is about several μm to several tens of μm, although it varies depending on the size of the discharge port for discharging the droplet. As shown in FIG. 10, the outline of the assembly process of the liquid discharge recording head is as follows: a first substrate having at least a discharge port for discharging ink and an energy generating element is bonded to a first substrate support member, and electric wiring is attached thereto. After the connection, the connection portion is sealed, and finally the liquid discharge recording head is formed by joining to the frame with the foreign matter removing portion in which the ink flow path is formed.

JP 2003-053990 A

  Thus, in the assembly process of the conventional head configuration, the ink flow path is blocked from the outside air and becomes a closed space near the final process, and several processes must be obtained. In other words, the present situation is that there is a high probability that foreign matter will enter the ink flow path due to assembly parts to which dust or foreign matter has adhered or dust generated during the process.

  Further, the degree of influence of the foreign matter on the liquid discharge recording head has become increasingly severe due to the recent decrease in discharge port due to the improvement in recording image quality. Currently, most of the liquid discharge recording head assembly is performed in a clean room as a countermeasure against this, and more careful cleaning processes are added, but it is difficult to completely remove foreign matter and dust. In addition, since all of these measures lead to an increase in capital investment, the cost of the head is increased, and further measures are required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid discharge recording head capable of reducing the cost and a method for manufacturing the same.

  The present invention provides a first substrate having at least an ejection port and an energy generating element, an ink tank for storing a liquid to be supplied to the first substrate, and the first substrate from the ink tank through a foreign matter removing unit. In a liquid discharge recording head constituted by a first substrate support member in which an ink flow path for supplying a liquid is formed, the first substrate support member in which the ink flow path is formed and a foreign substance removing portion are integrally formed of powder. Preferably, the foreign matter removing part is directly pressed against the ink absorber inside the ink tank for storing the liquid to be supplied to the first substrate, and the surface shape of the foreign matter removing member is on a hemispherical surface or less than half. A liquid discharge recording head having a spherical shape, a conical shape, a parabolic rotator, or an uneven shape.

  Further, the first substrate support member in which the ink flow path is formed and the foreign substance removal portion are laminated and formed, and finally integrated by sintering together, or the first substrate support in which the ink flow path is formed. One of the member and the foreign matter removing part is sintered and formed, and the other is laminated and then sintered again, and the first substrate support member and the foreign matter removing member are preferably integrated. A liquid discharge recording head manufacturing method is characterized in that a resin is contained only in a first substrate support member after being formed.

  According to the present invention, since the foreign substance removing portion and the first substrate support member with the ink flow path are integrally formed of powder, the first substrate is attached to the first substrate support member with the ink flow path integrated with the foreign matter removal section. By joining these, the closed space of the ink flow path can be formed from the initial assembly stage. As a result, the probability of dust and foreign matter entering the ink flow path can be reduced, yield can be improved, and most assembly processes can be handled outside the clean room, thereby reducing the cost of the liquid discharge recording head. It becomes possible.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a liquid discharge recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The liquid discharge recording head shown in FIG. 1 includes an ink tank in which an ink absorber made of a porous material is housed, a first substrate having a discharge port for discharging ink and an energy generation mechanism, and the first substrate. A first substrate support member with an ink flow path for supporting is formed, and a first substrate support member with an ink flow path and a foreign substance removal portion for preventing foreign substance intrusion into the ink flow path are integrally formed of powder. Yes.

  By adopting such a configuration, the ink channel can form a closed space only by first combining the first substrate supporting member with the ink channel and the first substrate integrated with the foreign substance removing portion first. It is possible to reduce the probability of dust and foreign matter entering the ink flow path being problematic. In addition, since most of the liquid discharge recording head assembly process can be performed outside the clean room, the capital investment is reduced and the cost of the liquid discharge recording head can be reduced.

  The first substrate support member and the foreign matter removing part are integrally formed by laminating the first substrate support part and the foreign matter removing part and pressurizing and then collectively sintering, and finally the resin is contained only in the first substrate support member. Formed. As the sintered material, carbon was used for the first substrate support member, and SUS was used for the foreign matter removing portion. As another method for integrally forming the first substrate support member and the foreign matter removing member, the first substrate support member and the foreign matter removing portion are separately formed by sintering, and then combined by re-sintering all at once. The method may be a method in which any one of the first substrate support member and the foreign matter removing portion is formed by sintering, and then the remaining members are stacked and integrated by sintering again.

  Here, the resin to be included in the first substrate support member when the first substrate support member and the foreign matter removing portion are integrally formed is preferably a material excellent in ink resistance. In addition, it is preferable to have a seal member for preventing ink leakage at the joint between the foreign matter removing portion and the ink tank. Specifically, an elastic body having ink resistance such as butyl chloride rubber is preferable.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a liquid discharge recording head according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  The liquid discharge recording head shown in FIG. 3 includes an ink tank in which an ink absorber made of a porous material is housed, a first substrate having a discharge port for discharging ink and an energy generation mechanism, and the first substrate. A first substrate support member with an ink flow path for supporting is formed, and a first substrate support member with an ink flow path and a foreign substance removal portion for preventing foreign substance intrusion into the ink flow path are integrally formed of powder. Yes.

  The joint between the ink absorber and the foreign matter removing portion is formed by pressing the foreign matter removing portion against the ink absorber. At this time, the capillary force of the foreign matter removing portion is preferably larger than the capillary force of the ink absorber. The convex shape of the foreign matter removal part is a hemispherical shape, a spherical shape less than half, a conical shape, a parabolic rotator shape, and an uneven shape, and the absorber uniformly deforms when the foreign matter removal part is pressed against the absorbent body Is preferred. With this configuration, ink can be smoothly led out from the ink tank.

  Further, since the ink flow path can form a closed space simply by connecting the first substrate supporting member with the ink flow path integrated with the foreign substance removing portion and the first substrate, it is possible to remove dust and foreign matters that have been a problem in the conventional configuration. The probability of entry into the ink flow path can be reduced. In addition, since most of the liquid discharge recording head assembly process can be performed outside the clean room, the capital investment is reduced and the cost of the liquid discharge recording head can be reduced.

  The present invention can be applied to a liquid discharge recording head that discharges ink or other liquid onto a recording medium such as paper, and a manufacturing method thereof, thereby reducing the cost.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an initial stage of an assembly process of the liquid discharge recording head of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid discharge recording head according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a method for integrally forming a first substrate support member and a foreign matter removing portion of a liquid discharge recording head according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a foreign matter removing unit of a liquid discharge recording head according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a foreign matter removing unit of a liquid discharge recording head according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a foreign matter removing unit of a liquid discharge recording head according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a foreign matter removing unit of a liquid discharge recording head according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a foreign matter removing unit of a liquid discharge recording head according to the present invention. It is an assembly process schematic diagram of a conventional liquid discharge recording head.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Energy generating element 2 Ejection port 3 1st board | substrate 4 Ink flow path 5 1st board | substrate support member 6 Flexible circuit (electrical wiring)
7 Lead 8 Foreign matter removal part 9 Sealant 10 Ink tank 11 Ink absorber 12 Ink supply member 13 Second substrate 14 Printer main body connection part (pad)
15 Ink Supply Unit 16 Frame 19 Type

Claims (15)

A first substrate having at least an ejection port and an energy generating element; an ink tank for storing a liquid to be supplied to the first substrate; and supplying the liquid from the ink tank to the first substrate through a foreign matter removing unit. In the liquid discharge recording head constituted by the first substrate support member in which the ink flow path is formed,
A liquid discharge recording head, characterized in that the first substrate support member in which the ink flow path is formed and the foreign matter removing portion are integrally formed of powder.   2. The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein a foreign matter removing portion is directly brought into pressure contact with an ink absorber inside an ink tank for storing a liquid to be supplied to the first substrate.   3. The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter removing portion and the first substrate support member have different porosity.   The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein a surface shape of the foreign matter removing portion is a hemispherical shape or a spherical shape less than half.   The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein a surface shape of the foreign matter removing portion is a conical shape.   The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein a surface shape of the foreign matter removing portion is a parabolic rotator.   The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein a surface shape of the foreign matter removing portion has irregularities.   The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein a main material of the first substrate support member and the foreign matter removing portion is alumina.   The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein a main material of the first substrate support member and the foreign matter removing portion is carbon.   The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein different materials are used for the foreign matter removing unit and the first substrate support member.   The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate support member contains a resin.   The liquid discharge recording head according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank is detachable. A first substrate having at least an ejection port and an energy generating element; an ink tank for storing a liquid to be supplied to the first substrate; and supplying the liquid from the ink tank to the first substrate through a foreign matter removing unit. In the manufacturing method of the liquid discharge recording head constituted by the first substrate support member in which the ink flow path is formed,
A method of manufacturing a liquid discharge recording head, wherein the first substrate support member on which an ink flow path is formed and the foreign matter removing portion are stacked and finally integrated by sintering together. A first substrate having at least an ejection port and an energy generating element; an ink tank for storing a liquid to be supplied to the first substrate; and supplying the liquid from the ink tank to the first substrate through a foreign matter removing unit. In the manufacturing method of the liquid discharge recording head constituted by the first substrate support member in which the ink flow path is formed,
One of the first substrate support member in which the ink flow path is formed and the foreign matter removing portion are sintered and formed, and the other is laminated and sintered again to be integrated. A manufacturing method of a recording head.   15. The method of manufacturing a liquid discharge recording head according to claim 13, wherein the first substrate support member is made to contain resin only after the first substrate support member and the foreign matter removing portion are integrally formed.

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