JP2005161721A - Inkjet recording head cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that defective supplying of ink or deviated ejection thereof occurs when an inkjet recorder is left for a long time period by being not used or an ink tank which is left for a long time period by being unopened after the manufacturing, is loaded to the recorder to be continuously used. <P>SOLUTION: This inkjet recording head cartridge has an ink channel for coupling an ink containing section containing ink to an ejection section for ejecting the ink. The cartridge is equipped with an ink activating device provided on a portion in an ink supply channel. The ink is supplied to an inkjet recording head after the ink has passed through the ink activating device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording head cartridge that performs recording by discharging a recording liquid onto a recording medium.

  The liquid jet recording apparatus is a so-called non-impact recording type recording apparatus, which can record on various recording media at high speed and has almost no noise during recording. ing. A typical example of the liquid jet recording method used in this type of liquid jet recording apparatus is a method using an electrothermal conversion element as an ejection energy generating element. In a liquid jet recording head using this method, an electrothermal conversion element is provided in a pressurizing chamber, and an electric pulse serving as a recording signal is applied thereto to give thermal energy to the recording liquid, and the phase change of the recording liquid at that time In some cases, the bubble pressure at the time of foaming (boiling) of the recording liquid caused by the above is used for ejecting recording droplets.

  Further, the liquid jet recording head using the electrothermal conversion system is a system (edge shooter) that discharges the recording liquid in parallel to the substrate on which the electrothermal conversion elements are arranged (for example, Patent Document 1). There is a method (side shooter) that discharges a recording liquid perpendicularly to a substrate on which electrothermal transducers are arranged.

Recently, from the viewpoint of ecology, etc., each color tank has been designed so that the print head unit and the ink storage unit are detachable for each ink color so that only used colors can be replaced. Replaceable ink tanks and ink cartridges are becoming common.
JP-A-6-299108

  However, when the ink jet recording apparatus is left unused for a long period of time, or when an ink tank left unopened for a long time after manufacturing is installed, the ink component in the ink tank slightly changes, In addition, impurities that elute the tank constituent material into the ink from the tank member in the ink tank are present in the ink.

  Ink that contains a slight change in the ink component in the ink tank present in the ink after being left for a long time, and impurities that the tank constituent material elutes into the ink from the tank member in the ink tank When the ink is continuously supplied to the filter, the filter part in the ink flow path for connecting the ink containing part for containing the ink and the discharge part for discharging the ink, the inner wall of the flow path, the discharge port, and the discharge port The ink component in the ink tank that exists in the ink in the vicinity of the outlet is slightly changed, and impurities that the tank constituent material elutes into the ink from the tank member in the ink tank adheres to the ink. Inadequate supply, or a problem of occurrence of misalignment occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an ink jet recording head cartridge having an ink flow path for communicating an ink containing portion for containing ink and a discharging portion for discharging the ink. An ink jet device having an ink activation device in a part of a supply channel, and supplying ink to an ink jet recording head after the ink has passed through a part of the ink activation device of the ink supply channel An object is to provide a recording head cartridge.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording head cartridge that can improve the reliability of the ink jet recording head.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording head cartridge of the present invention is an ink jet recording head cartridge having an ink flow path for communicating an ink containing portion for containing ink and a discharging portion for discharging the ink. An ink activation device is provided in a part of the ink supply channel, and the ink is supplied to the ink jet recording head after the ink has passed through the ink activation device of a part of the ink supply channel.

  According to the ink jet recording head cartridge configured as in the present invention, the ink jet recording head cartridge having an ink flow path for communicating an ink containing portion for containing ink and a discharging portion for discharging the ink. When the ink passes through the ink activation device by having an ink activation device in a part of the ink supply channel and allowing the ink to pass through a part of the ink activation device of the ink supply channel The ink is kept in a highly activated state. As a result, the dissolving power and dispersing power of the components in the ink are increased.

  Due to this effect, when the ink jet recording apparatus is left unused for a long period of time, or when an ink tank left unopened for a long period after manufacture is installed, the ink components are subtly in the ink tank. In order to enhance the dissolving power and dispersion power of the changed materials and the impurities and the like that the tank constituent material elutes into the ink from the tank member in the ink tank, the ink containing portion for containing the ink and the ink are ejected. A filter part in the ink flow path for communicating with the discharge part of the ink, the inner wall of the flow path, and the ink outlet in the ink tank existing in the ink around the discharge opening and the discharge opening, or In the ink tank, there is no adhesion of what is considered to be impurities that elute from the tank components into the ink, resulting in poor ink supply or discharge. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of such twisting. More specifically, the ink activation device generates a magnetic field, thereby causing the ink to pass through the magnetism, so that the ink is ionized by the magnetism and becomes highly activated. As a result, the dissolving power of the components in the ink is increased. In addition, there are a method of generating a magnetic field by a permanent magnet and a method of generating a magnetic field by passing an electric current as a method for increasing the dispersion force. In addition to this, electric energy is applied to the entire ink or ultrasonic waves are applied. The same effect can be obtained by means such as providing energy. In addition, there are other means using far infrared energy, shock wave energy, chemical energy, physical energy, etc. These means can be used alone or in combination.

  In the present invention, when an ink activation device is provided in a part of the ink supply flow path and the ink passes through a part of the ink activation device in the ink supply flow path, the ink is supplied to the ink jet recording head. In addition, it is preferable that the place where the ink activation device is provided is as close as possible to the ink tank of the ink tank and the joint of the recording head.

  Further, it is preferable that the flow path from the place where the ink activation device is provided to the nozzle of the recording head is also short.

  As described above, in an ink jet recording head cartridge having an ink flow path for communicating an ink containing portion for containing ink and a discharge portion for discharging the ink, an ink activity is provided in a part of the ink supply flow channel. An ink jet recording head cartridge comprising: an ink jet device, wherein the ink is supplied to the ink jet recording head after the ink has passed through a part of the ink activating device of the ink supply channel.

  Further, by using an ink jet recording head cartridge, wherein the ink activating device generates a magnetic field, the ink jet recording device is left unused for a long period of time, or unopened for a long time after manufacture. It is possible to solve the problem of ink supply failure or ejection misalignment that occurs when the ink tank left unattended is attached and used continuously.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 are explanatory diagrams for explaining each of the preferred head cartridge, recording head, and ink tank and the relationship thereof in which the present invention is implemented or applied. Hereinafter, each component will be described with reference to these drawings.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the recording head H1001 of the present invention is a constituent element of the recording head cartridge H1000. The recording head cartridge H1000 is detachably provided on the recording head H1001 and the recording head H1001. Ink tank H1900 (H1901, H1902, H1903, H1904). The recording head cartridge H1000 is fixedly supported by positioning means and electrical contacts of a carriage (not shown) mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus main body, and is detachable from the carriage. The ink tank H1901 is for black ink, the ink tank H1902 is for cyan ink, the ink tank H1903 is for magenta ink, and the ink tank H1904 is for yellow ink. In this manner, each of the ink tanks H1901, H1902, H1903, and H1904 is detachable from the recording head H1001, and each ink tank can be replaced, so that the running cost of image recording by the ink jet recording apparatus is reduced. Reduced.

  Next, the recording head H1001 will be described in more detail in order for each component constituting the recording head.

<1> Recording Head The recording head H1001 is a bubble jet (registered trademark) side that performs recording using an electrothermal transducer that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling to the ink in response to an electrical signal. This is a recording head that is of a shooter type.

  As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, the recording head H1001 includes a recording element unit H1002, an ink supply unit H1003, and a tank holder H2000.

  Further, as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 4, the recording element unit H1002 includes a first recording element substrate H1100, a second recording element substrate H1101, a first plate H1200, an electrical wiring tape H1300, and an electrical contact substrate H2200. The ink supply unit H1003 is composed of an ink supply member H1500, a flow path forming member H1600, a joint rubber H2300, a filter H1700, and a seal rubber H1800.

<1-1> Recording Element Unit FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a partially exploded configuration of the first recording element substrate H1100.

  The first recording element substrate H1100 is anisotropically etched using, for example, a Si substrate H1110 having a thickness of 0.5 to 1 mm and an ink supply port H1102 having a long groove-like through-hole as an ink channel using the crystal orientation of Si. The electrothermal transducers H1103, which are formed by a method such as sand blasting, are arranged in a staggered pattern on each side of the ink supply port H1102, and are arranged in a zigzag pattern in each row, and the electrothermal transducers H1103, An electric wiring such as Al for supplying power to H1103 is formed by a film forming technique. Furthermore, electrode portions H1104 for supplying electric power to the electric wiring are arranged on both outer sides of the electrothermal transducer H1103, and bumps H1105 such as Au are formed on the electrode portion H1104. On the Si substrate, an ink channel wall H1106 and an ejection port H1107 for forming an ink channel corresponding to the electrothermal conversion element H1103 are formed of a resin material by a photolithography technique, and an ejection port array H1108 is formed. Forming. Accordingly, since the ejection port is provided to face the electrothermal conversion element H1103, the ink supplied from the ink flow path H1102 is ejected by bubbles generated by the electrothermal conversion element H1103.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the second recording element substrate H1101 in a partially exploded state.

  The second recording element substrate H1101 is a recording element substrate for ejecting ink of three colors, and has three ink supply ports H1102 formed in parallel, and electric is provided on both sides of each ink supply port. A heat conversion element and an ink discharge port are formed. Of course, like the first recording element substrate H1100, an ink supply port, an electrothermal conversion element, an electric wiring, an electrode portion, and the like are formed on the Si substrate, and an ink flow path and an ink discharge are made of a resin material on the Si substrate by a photolithography technique. An exit is formed.

  Similarly to the first recording element substrate, a bump H1105 such as Au is formed on the electrode portion H1104 for supplying electric power to the electric wiring.

  Reference is again made to FIG. The first plate H1200 is made of, for example, an alumina (Al2O3) material having a thickness of 0.5 to 10 mm. The material of the first plate is not limited to alumina, and has a linear expansion coefficient equivalent to that of the material of the recording element substrate H1100 and is equivalent to the thermal conductivity of the material of the recording element substrate H1100. Alternatively, it may be made of a material having an equivalent or higher thermal conductivity. The material of the first plate H1200 is, for example, any of silicon (Si), aluminum nitride (AlN), zirconia, silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon carbide (SiC), molybdenum (Mo), and tungsten (W). May be. The first plate H1200 has ink supply ports H1201 for supplying black ink to the first recording element substrate H1100 and inks for supplying cyan, magenta, and yellow ink to the second recording element substrate H1101. A supply port H1201 is formed, the ink supply port 1102 of the recording element substrate corresponds to the ink supply port H1201 of the first plate H1200, and the first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101. Are bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200 with high positional accuracy. The first adhesive H1202 used for bonding is desirably a low viscosity, low curing temperature, cured in a short time, has a relatively high hardness after curing, and has ink resistance. The first adhesive H1202 is, for example, a thermosetting adhesive mainly composed of an epoxy resin, and the thickness of the adhesive layer is desirably 50 μm or less.

  The electrical wiring tape H1300 applies an electrical signal for ejecting ink to the first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101, and includes a plurality of recording element substrates. An electrical contact substrate having an opening portion, an electrode terminal H1302 corresponding to the electrode portion H1104 of each recording element substrate, and an external signal input terminal H1301 located at the end of the wiring tape for receiving an electrical signal from the main unit An electrode terminal portion H1303 for electrical connection with H2200 is provided, and the electrode terminal H1302 and the electrode terminal 1303 are connected by a continuous copper foil wiring pattern.

  The electrical wiring tape H1300, the first recording element substrate 1100, and the second recording element substrate H1101 are electrically connected to each other, and the connection method is, for example, the electrode portion 1104 of the recording element substrate and the electrical wiring tape H1300. The electrode terminal H1302 is electrically bonded by a thermal ultrasonic pressure bonding method.

  The second plate H1400 is a single plate-like member having a thickness of 0.5 to 1 mm, for example, and is formed of a ceramic material such as alumina (Al2O3) or a metal material such as Al or SUS. The first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101 that are bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200 have openings that are larger than the outer dimensions thereof. Further, the first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101 and the electric wiring tape H1300 are bonded to the first plate H1200 with a second adhesive H1203 so as to be electrically connected in a plane. The back surface of the wiring tape H1300 is bonded and fixed with a third adhesive H1306.

  Electrical connection portions of the first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101 and the electric wiring tape H1300 are sealed with a first sealant H1307 (not shown) and a second sealant H1308, Protects electrical connections from ink corrosion and external impacts. The first sealing agent mainly seals the back surface side of the connection portion between the electrode terminal H1302 of the electric wiring tape and the electrode portion H1105 of the recording element substrate and the outer peripheral portion of the recording element substrate, and the second sealing agent. Seals the front side of the connecting part.

  Further, an electrical contact substrate H2200 having an external signal input terminal H1301 for receiving an electrical signal from the main unit is connected to the end of the electrical wiring tape by thermocompression bonding using an anisotropic conductive film or the like.

  The electric wiring tape H1300 is bent at one side surface of the first plate H1200, and is bonded to the side surface of the first plate H1200 with the third adhesive H1306. As the third adhesive H1306, for example, a thermosetting adhesive having a thickness of 10 to 100 μm mainly composed of an epoxy resin is used.

<1-2> Ink Supply Unit The ink supply member H1500 is formed by resin molding, for example. As the resin material, it is desirable to use a resin material mixed with 5 to 40% of glass filler in order to improve the shape rigidity.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the ink supply member H1500 is a component of the ink supply unit H1003 for guiding ink from the ink tank H1900 to the recording element unit H1002, and by ultrasonically welding the flow path forming member H1600. An ink flow path H1501 is formed. In addition, a filter H1700 for preventing entry of dust from the outside is joined to the joint H1517 engaged with the ink tank H1900 by welding. Further, in order to prevent ink from evaporating from the joint H1517 portion, A seal rubber H1800 is attached.

  The ink supply member H1500 also has a part of the function of holding the removable ink tank H1900, and has a first hole H1503 for engaging the second claw H1910 of the ink tank H1900.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a mounting guide H1601 for guiding the recording head cartridge H1000 to the mounting position on the carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, and an engaging portion for mounting and fixing the recording head cartridge to the carriage by the head set lever. H1508, an abutting portion H1509 in the X direction (carriage scanning direction) for positioning at a predetermined mounting position of the carriage, an abutting portion H1510 in the Y direction (recording medium conveyance direction), an abutting in the Z direction (ink ejection direction) A contact portion H1511 is provided. In addition, a terminal fixing portion H1512 for positioning and fixing the electrical contact substrate H2200 of the recording element unit H1002 is provided, and a plurality of ribs are provided around the terminal fixing portion H1512 to increase the rigidity of the surface having the terminal fixing portion H1512. ing.

<1-3> Coupling of recording head unit and ink supply unit As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head H1001 is completed by coupling the recording element unit H1002 to the ink supply unit H1003 and further to the tank holder H2000. The coupling is performed as follows.

  The ink supply port of the recording element unit H1002 (ink supply port H1201 of the first plate H1200) and the ink supply port of the ink supply unit H1003 (ink supply port H1601 of the flow path forming member H1600) are communicated so that ink does not leak. Therefore, each member is fixed with the screw H2400 so as to be pressure-bonded via the joint rubber H2300. At the same time, the recording element unit H1002 is accurately positioned and fixed with respect to the reference positions in the X, Y, and Z directions of the ink supply unit.

  The electrical contact substrate H1301 of the recording element unit H1002 is positioned and fixed to one side surface of the ink supply member H1500 by terminal positioning pins H1515 (2 places) and terminal positioning holes H1309 (2 places). The fixing method is, for example, fixing by crimping the terminal coupling pin H1515 provided on the ink supply member H1500, but may be fixed using other fixing means. A completed drawing is shown in FIG.

  Further, the recording head H1001 is completed by fitting the coupling hole and coupling portion of the ink supply member H1500 with the tank holder into the tank holder H2000 and coupling them. The completed drawing is shown in FIG.

<2> Print Head Cartridge FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining mounting of the print head H1001 and the ink tanks H1901, H1902, H1903, and H1904 constituting the printhead cartridge H1000, and the ink tanks H1901, H1902, H1903, Corresponding color ink is stored inside the H1904. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, each ink tank is formed with an ink supply port H1907 for supplying ink in the ink tank to the recording head H1001. For example, when the ink tank 1901H is attached to the recording head H1001, the ink supply port H1907 of the ink tank H1901 is brought into pressure contact with the filter H1700 provided in the joint portion H1520 of the recording head H1001, and the black ink in the ink tank H1901 is supplied with ink. The ink is supplied from the port H1907 to the first recording element substrate through the first plate H1200 through the ink flow path H1501 of the recording head H1001.

  Then, ink is supplied to the foaming chamber having the electrothermal conversion element H1103 and the discharge port H1107, and is ejected toward a recording sheet as a recording medium by the thermal energy given to the electrothermal conversion element H1103.

  FIG. 8 shows a view when the ink activation device is mounted on a part of the ink supply channel.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing a flow of ink from the ink supply port of H1907 to the ink flow path of H1501.

  When ink flows from the H1907 ink supply port through the H1506 sub-filter to the H1505 main filter, the ink passes through the H1507 ink activation device provided on both sides of the H1501 ink flow path. At this time, the ink is kept in a highly activated state. As a result, the dissolving power and dispersing power of the components in the ink are increased. Due to this effect, when the ink jet recording apparatus is left unused for a long period of time, or when an ink tank left unopened for a long period after manufacture is installed, the ink components are subtly in the ink tank. In order to enhance the dissolving power and dispersion power of the changed materials and the impurities and the like that the tank constituent material elutes into the ink from the tank member in the ink tank, the ink containing portion for containing the ink and the ink are ejected. A filter part in the ink flow path for communicating with the discharge part of the ink, the inner wall of the flow path, and the ink outlet in the ink tank existing in the ink around the discharge opening and the discharge opening, or In the ink tank, there is no adhesion of what is considered to be impurities that elute from the tank components into the ink, resulting in poor ink supply or discharge. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of such twisting.

(Second Embodiment)
As a second embodiment, FIG. 9 shows a view when an ink activation device is attached to a part of the ink supply flow path.

  FIG. 9 is a view when the ink activation device is mounted so as to sandwich the ink supply port of H1907 and the ink flow path of H1501.

  From the ink supply port of H1907, the ink passes through the H1700 filter and passes through the ink flow path of H1501. At this time, the ink is maintained in a highly activated state by passing the ink through the ink activating device mounted so as to sandwich the ink supply port of H1907 and the ink flow path of H1501. As a result, the dissolving power and dispersing power of the components in the ink are increased. Due to this effect, when the ink jet recording apparatus is left unused for a long period of time, or when an ink tank left unopened for a long period after manufacture is installed, the ink components are subtly in the ink tank. In order to enhance the dissolving power and dispersion power of the changed materials and the impurities and the like that the tank constituent material elutes into the ink from the tank member in the ink tank, the ink containing portion for containing the ink and the ink are ejected. A filter part in the ink flow path for communicating with the discharge part of the ink, the inner wall of the flow path, and the ink outlet in the ink tank existing in the ink around the discharge opening and the discharge opening, or In the ink tank, there is no adhesion of what is considered to be impurities that elute from the tank components into the ink, resulting in poor ink supply or discharge. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of such twisting.

  In each of the above embodiments, the bubble jet (registered trademark) type, particularly the side shooter type using an electrothermal transducer that generates thermal energy as a recording method has been described, but the present invention is limited thereto. is not. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a so-called piezo discharge method using an electromechanical transducer and an ink jet head such as an edge shooter type head.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a recording head and an ink tank are combined in an embodiment of the recording head cartridge of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a recording head cartridge according to the present invention in a state where a recording head and an ink tank are separated. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the recording head cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and the like. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an ink supply unit and a recording element unit shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the first recording element substrate shown in FIG. 4 with a part thereof broken. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the second recording element substrate shown in FIG. 4 with a part thereof broken. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the recording head cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and the like. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view when an ink activation device is provided in the ink flow path of H1501 from the ink supply port of H1907 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view when an ink activation device is provided in the ink flow path of H1501 from the ink supply port of H1907 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a combined body of a recording element unit and an ink supply unit in the recording head cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and the like. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a bottom surface of the recording head cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording element board | substrate 2 Support member 2a Recording liquid supply flow path 2b Partition 3 Discharge port plate 3a Discharge port 4 Discharge energy generating element 5 Recording liquid supply port 10 Adhesive agent H1, H1a, H1b, H1c Recording element substrate H2 Discharge port H3 Recording Liquid supply port H4, H4a, H4b, H4c Wiring substrate H5 Sealing resin H6, H6a, H6b, H6c Recording element unit H7 Support member H8 Support plate H10 Wiring integrated substrate H101 Transfer pin H106 Vacuum suction finger H110, H111 CCD camera H112, H113 UV irradiation nozzle H1000 Recording head cartridge H1001 Recording head H1002 Recording element unit H1003 Ink supply unit H1100, H1100 ′ First recording element substrate H1101 Second recording element substrate H1102 Ink supply port H1 03 Electrothermal conversion element H1104 Electrode H1105 Bump H1106 Ink channel wall H1107 Ejection port H1108 Ejection port array H1110 Si substrate H1200 First plate H1201 Ink supply port H1202 Adhesive H1300 Electric wiring tape H1301 External signal input terminal H1302 Electrode terminal H1303 Electrode Terminal portion H1307 First sealant H1308 Second sealant H1309 Terminal positioning hole H1310 Terminal coupling hole H1400 Second plate H1500 Ink supply member H1501 Ink flow path H1502 Tank positioning hole H1503 First hole H1504 Second Hole H1505 Main filter H1506 Subfilter H1507 Ink supply device H1509 X abutting part H1510 Y abutting part H1511 Z abutting H1512 Terminal fixing part H1515 Terminal positioning pin H1516 Terminal coupling pin H1520 Joint part H1600 Flow path forming member H1601 Mounting guide H1602 Ink supply port H1700 Filter H1800 Seal rubber H1900 Ink tank H1901 Black ink tank H1902 Cyan ink tank H1903 Magenta ink tank H1904 Yellow Ink tank H1907 Ink supply port H1908 Tank positioning pin H1909 First claw H1910 Second claw H1911 Third claw H1912 Movable lever H2000 Tank holder H2300 Joint rubber H2400 Screw

Claims (2)

  In an ink jet recording head cartridge having an ink flow path for communicating an ink containing portion for containing ink and a discharge portion for discharging the ink, an ink activation device is provided in a part of the ink supply flow path, An ink jet recording head cartridge, wherein ink is supplied to an ink jet recording head after the ink has passed through a part of an ink activation device in an ink supply channel. 2. An ink jet recording head cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink activating device generates a magnetic field in a part of the ink supply flow path.

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