JP2006264284A - Method for manufacturing liquid ejecting head, and fluid branch apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture a liquid ejecting head by performing cleaning by supplying sufficient flushing water to a plurality of liquid flow paths uniformly without raising the supply pressure of the flushing water. <P>SOLUTION: By using a fluid branch apparatus 41 comprising: a tubular main body 43 in which a fluid of air and water mixture is supplied to one feed section 42 by specified pressure force; and a plurality of output ports 44 concentrically prepared in the tubular main body 43, the fluid supplied to the tubular main body 43 is made to discharge from the output ports 44 so that the passage resistance may become uniform and the cleaning of ink feeding members is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head that can reliably remove foreign substances in a plurality of liquid flow paths of a liquid supply unit that supplies liquid from a liquid storage member to a head body.

  The present invention also relates to a fluid branching jig that can uniformly discharge fluid from a plurality of discharge ports, and is applied when supplying cleaning water for removing foreign substances in a plurality of liquid flow paths of a liquid supply unit. It is preferable.

  An ink jet recording head, which is one aspect of a liquid ejecting head, includes an ink supply unit that is mounted on an ink containing member that contains ink and has a plurality of ink flow paths. And a head body having a plurality of nozzle openings for discharging the supplied ink as ink droplets (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A plurality of ink chambers are formed in the ink containing member, and a needle member attached to the ink supply port of the ink chamber is provided in the ink supply portion corresponding to the ink chamber, and the ink in the ink chamber is passed through the needle member. In addition to being sent to the ink flow path, foreign matter in the ink is removed through the filter, and the ink is sent to the head body.

  When assembling the ink supply section (ink flow path provided with a needle member as a mounting member), in order to prevent dirt and dust generated during assembly from stagnation in the flow path, a cleaning liquid having a constant flow rate is flowed. Foreign matter is removed by passing water through. Since the ink supply unit includes a plurality of needle members and ink flow paths corresponding to the plurality of ink chambers, it is necessary to allow the cleaning liquid to flow uniformly. Passing the cleaning liquid individually adjusted to a predetermined pressure to the plurality of ink flow paths leads to uniform cleaning, but piping and pressure adjusting members are complicated and a large space is required.

  For this reason, a jig having a plurality of branch paths is used, and cleaning water is supplied to the jig, and the cleaning water is branched and supplied to the plurality of ink channels through the branch path. However, the flow resistance varies depending on the length and diameter of the flow path from the cleaning water supply port to the branch path, the direction of the branch section, etc., and it is difficult to make the flow rate of the wash water after branching uniform. there were. Therefore, there is a possibility that the removal of foreign matters may be insufficient in the ink flow path connected to the branch path with a small flow rate. Although it is conceivable to supply cleaning water to the jig at a pressure that can secure the required flow rate even in a branch flow with a low flow rate, more than necessary washing water flows in the branch flow that has ensured the flow rate. Excessive fluid pressure acts on the filter or the like, and the parts are deformed or damaged.

JP 2004-90440 A

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that a liquid ejecting head is manufactured by uniformly supplying sufficient cleaning water to a plurality of liquid flow paths and performing cleaning without increasing the supply pressure of the cleaning water. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid jet head that can be used.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid branching jig that can uniformly discharge fluid from a plurality of discharge ports.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention includes a head main body having a plurality of nozzle openings that discharge liquid droplets, and a head from a liquid storage member that stores liquid via a plurality of liquid channels. A liquid supply member that supplies liquid to the main body, and uniformly discharges fluid of a predetermined pressure from the plurality of concentric fluid discharge channels and supplies the fluid to the plurality of liquid channels of the liquid supply member, respectively. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head, comprising: a cleaning step of removing foreign matters on the path; and an attachment step of attaching the head main body to the liquid supply member.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the cleaning water is discharged from the plurality of fluid discharge channels uniformly without increasing the supply pressure of the cleaning water by discharging the cleaning water from the plurality of concentric fluid discharge channels. The liquid ejecting head can be manufactured by uniformly supplying sufficient cleaning water to the plurality of liquid flow paths and performing cleaning.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the liquid supply member includes a mounting member on which the plurality of liquid storage members are mounted, and a filter provided in the mounting member. The liquid ejecting head manufacturing method is characterized in that cleaning water discharged at a uniform pressure in a state where the mounted mounting member is fixed is sent to remove foreign matter.
In the second aspect of the present invention, the liquid ejecting head can be manufactured by removing foreign matters generated after the filter and the mounting member are mounted.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, in the cleaning step, a fluid having a predetermined pressure mixed with a predetermined gas and water is used in the cleaning step. It is in.
In the third aspect of the present invention, since the fluid used to remove the foreign matter is a mixture of a predetermined gas and water, the gas in the fluid becomes fine bubbles and separates the foreign matter from the liquid flow path. Foreign matter can be removed more reliably.

In order to achieve the above object, a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a cylindrical main body in which a fluid in which a predetermined gas and water are mixed is supplied to a single supply portion at a predetermined pressure, and a concentric circular shape on the cylindrical main body. The fluid branching jig is characterized in that the fluid supplied to the main body is discharged from the discharge port so that the flow path resistance is uniform.
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, by providing a plurality of concentric discharge ports, the fluid supplied to the main body can be discharged from the discharge ports so that the flow path resistance is uniform.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the fluid branching jig according to the fourth aspect, wherein a pressure chamber is formed in the cylindrical main body between the supply portion and the plurality of discharge ports.
In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the fluid made uniform in the pressure chamber can be discharged from a plurality of discharge ports provided concentrically.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the fluid branching jig according to the fourth aspect, wherein the cylindrical main body is provided with a branch pipe between the supply portion and the plurality of discharge ports.
In the sixth aspect of the present invention, fluid can be discharged from a plurality of discharge ports provided concentrically through the branch pipe.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the fluid branching treatment is used for supplying cleaning water in any one of the first to third liquid ejecting head manufacturing methods. In the ingredients.
In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the liquid supply path can be cleaned by applying to a cleaning process in the manufacture of the liquid jet head.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head as a liquid ejecting head manufactured by a manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an ink jet recording head manufactured by the manufacturing method according to FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of a fluid branching jig used in the method of manufacturing an ink jet recording head according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the fluid branching jig, and FIG. 5 shows an ink supply. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state in which the member is being cleaned, FIG. 6 is a view showing the amount of water passing through each fluid discharge channel of the fluid branching jig, and FIG. . FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration of a fluid branching jig according to another embodiment, and FIG. 9 shows a cross section of a fluid branching jig according to another embodiment.

An outline of the ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a carriage shaft 2, and a carriage 3 is supported on the carriage shaft 2 so as to be movable in the axial direction. The carriage 3 is provided with an ink jet recording head 4 and a cartridge 5 is detachably attached thereto. The apparatus main body 1 is provided with a drive motor 6, and the driving force of the drive motor 6 is transmitted to the carriage 3 through a plurality of gears and a timing belt 7 (not shown). By driving the drive motor 6, the carriage 3 on which the ink jet recording head 4 is mounted is reciprocated along the carriage shaft 2. The apparatus body 1 is provided with a platen 8 along the carriage shaft 2. The platen 8 is rotated by a driving force of a paper feed motor (not shown), and a recording sheet S which is a recording medium such as paper fed by a paper feed roller or the like is conveyed on the platen 8.

The ink jet recording head 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
An ink supply member 51 as a liquid supply member constituting the ink jet recording head 4 has a cartridge mounting portion 12 to which a cartridge 5 serving as a fluid storage member is mounted. For example, the cartridge 5 is configured as a separate body filled with black and a plurality of color inks, and the ink supply member 51 has a cartridge mounting portion 12 to which the cartridge 5 of each color is mounted. For example, when eight cartridges 5 are provided, the eight cartridge mounting portions 12 are provided in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG.

  Also, a tubular flow path forming portion 15 is formed on the bottom surface of the ink supply member 51. The tubular flow path forming portion 15 is formed with a plurality of ink communication paths 14 having one end opened to the cartridge mounting portion 12 and the other end opened to the head body 13 side. Has been. An ink supply needle 16 as a mounting member is fixed to the upper surface side of the ink supply member 51, that is, an opening portion of the ink communication path 14 of each cartridge mounting portion 12, and the ink supply needle 16 removes bubbles and foreign matters in the ink. Is fixed through a filter 17. When the cartridge 5 is mounted on the ink supply member 51, the ink supply needle 16 is inserted into the supply port of the cartridge 5, and the ink in the cartridge 5 passes through the ink communication path 14 or the flow path forming portion 15 that serves as a liquid flow path. To the head body 13 (ink supply member 51).

  The head body 13 has a head case 23 that holds a piezoelectric element unit having a plurality of piezoelectric elements and discharges ink droplets from nozzle openings by driving the piezoelectric elements on the end surface opposite to the ink supply member 51. Yes. A circuit board 25 is sandwiched between the ink supply member 51 and the head case 23. The circuit board 25 is for supplying a signal for driving the piezoelectric element, and a connector for connecting an external wiring is fixed to one end of the circuit board 25. In addition, connection wiring such as TCP connected to the piezoelectric element is inserted into the circuit board 25.

  When manufacturing the ink jet recording head 4, a filter 17 in which a large number of fine holes are formed in a thin film is attached to an opening portion of the ink communication path 14, and then an ink supply needle 16 is welded. For this reason, foreign materials or the like of the material may remain in the ink communication path 14 when attaching these members. Therefore, before the head main body 13 is mounted, the cleaning water is pumped from the ink supply needle 16 side to flow. A cleaning process for cleaning the inside of the road is performed.

  In the cleaning process, a flow path branch comprising a cylindrical main body in which a fluid in which air and water are mixed is supplied to one supply section at a predetermined pressure, and a plurality of discharge ports provided concentrically on the cylindrical main body. Cleaning is performed by discharging the fluid supplied to the cylindrical main body from the discharge port so that the flow path resistance is uniform, using a timepiece.

The cleaning process will be described with reference to FIGS.
The fluid branching jig will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the fluid branch jig 41 is supplied with a predetermined gas, for example, a fluid in which air and water are mixed, at a predetermined pressure to one supply portion 42 formed at the center of one board surface. A cylindrical main body 43 is provided. For example, eight discharge ports 44 are provided concentrically on the other surface of the fluid branch jig 41. A pressure chamber 45 is formed between the supply unit 42 and the discharge port 44. Since the discharge ports 44 are formed concentrically and the mixed fluid is set to the same pressure in the pressure chamber 45, the fluid is supplied to the supply unit 42 at a predetermined pressure, so that the mixing is performed at a uniform flow rate. A fluid is discharged from the eight discharge ports 44.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical main body 43 includes a main body 46 that forms a pressure chamber 45 and a discharge port 44, and a lid portion 47 that is provided with a supply unit 42. 46 is fixed. The lid portion 47 and the main body 46 are fitted through taper surfaces 46a and 47a and an O-ring 48, and a tight fitting force can be obtained by tightening a bolt (not shown).

  In addition, as a structure of a fluid branch jig | tool, as shown to FIG. 8, FIG. 9, it is also possible to make it the structure which does not provide a pressure chamber. That is, the fluid branch jig 30 is provided with one supply portion 32 at the center of the surface of the cylindrical main body 31 and eight branch pipes 33 extending from the circumferential direction toward the center. The end of the branch pipe 33 is closed with a blind plug 34, and a discharge port 35 is provided on the other panel surface side of the branch pipe 33. When the fluid is supplied to the supply unit 32 at a predetermined pressure, the mixed fluid that is uniformly branched into the branch pipe 33 and has a uniform flow rate is discharged from the eight discharge ports 35. Since the fluid branch jig 30 branches the fluid through the branch pipe 33, no moisture remains in the flow path even if the cleaning water is a mixed fluid of air and water. The reason why the cleaning water is a mixed fluid of air and water here is that the gas in the fluid becomes fine bubbles and the foreign matter is separated from the liquid flow path, so that the foreign matter can be removed more reliably. In addition, although air is used as the predetermined gas constituting the mixed fluid, it is not limited to air as long as foreign matter in the ink flow path can be removed.

  Although the fluid branch jig 41 and the fluid branch jig 30 described above are examples applied when the ink jet recording head 4 is manufactured, the fluid branch jig 41 and the fluid branch jig 30 may be applied to other fluid branches.

A process of cleaning the ink supply member 51 using the fluid branch jig 41 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The cleaning device 61 shown in the figure is provided with a fluid branching jig 41 with the board surface parallel. Eight sets of flow paths 63 each having a check valve 62 are provided below the fluid branch jig 41, and an ink supply member 51 is disposed at the lower end of the flow path 63. The ink supply member 51 is provided with the filter 17 and the ink supply needle 16 being welded. In the ink supply member 51, eight ink supply needles 16 are fitted to the lower ends of the flow paths 63, respectively. A supply pipe 64 through which cleaning water is sent is connected to the supply unit 22 of the fluid branch jig 41. Further, each discharge port 44 of each fluid branch jig 41 and each check valve 62 are connected by a pipe 65 having the same length.

  When the ink supply member 51 is cleaned using the cleaning device 61 described above, the flow resistance of the cleaning liquid discharged from the discharge port 44 by the fluid branch jig 41 can be made uniform. For this reason, the cleaning liquid in a uniform state can be sent to the eight ink supply needles 16 to supply the cleaning liquid evenly to all the ink communication paths 14. For this reason, it is possible to uniformly supply sufficient cleaning water to the plurality of ink flow paths without increasing the supply pressure of the cleaning water, thereby removing foreign matters. The head main body 13 is attached to the ink supply member 51 in the state where the foreign matter is removed after the cleaning is completed, thereby obtaining an ink jet recording head.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the water flow rate of the eight discharge ports 44 (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) is constant at, for example, about 60 g at all the discharge ports 44. It was confirmed. When the ratio of water and air as the fluid is 4 to 3, the ratio that averages the difference between the maximum flow rate and the minimum flow rate of the eight discharge ports 44 (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) It was confirmed that the variation in flow rate could be suppressed to about 7%, for example. Incidentally, when a jig having 8 discharge ports is simply used, a difference occurs in the flow resistance, and depending on the supply site, the water flow rate is in the range of about 40 g to about 120 g. . The variation in this case is about 163%, for example, and by using the fluid branch jig 41, the variation can be suppressed to about 1/20. In addition, it was confirmed that the same effect was acquired also when the fluid branch jig | tool 30 was used.

  From the above, it is possible to drastically suppress fluid variations and uniformly supply sufficient cleaning water to multiple ink channels without removing cleaning water supply pressure, and remove foreign matter from all channels. Ink jet recording heads can be manufactured by supplying a sufficient amount of cleaning water uniformly to a plurality of ink flow paths and performing cleaning. That is, since it is not necessary to increase the supply pressure of the cleaning water more than necessary to remove the foreign matter, there is no possibility that the fluid pressure more than necessary acts on the filter 17 and the like to cause deformation or damage to the parts.

  In addition, the fluid can be branched in a uniform state with respect to any one of liquid, gas, and mixed fluid of liquid and gas. Further, as the cleaning device 61, it is not necessary to consider the flow path resistance of the discharge port 44 only by managing the pipe 65.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus. It is principal part sectional drawing of an inkjet recording head. It is a schematic block diagram of a fluid branch jig. It is sectional drawing of a fluid branch jig. It is a front view of the state which is cleaning the ink supply member. It is the IV-IV line arrow directional view in FIG. It is a graph showing the amount of water flow of each fluid discharge channel of a fluid branch jig. It is a schematic block diagram of the fluid branching jig which concerns on the other embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the fluid branch jig | tool which concerns on other example embodiments.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body, 4 Inkjet recording head, 13 Head main body, 14 Ink communication path, 16 Ink supply needle, 30, 41 Fluid branch jig, 32, 42 Supply part, 31, 43 Cylindrical main body, 33 Branch pipe, 35 44 discharge port, 45 pressure chamber, 51 ink supply member

Claims (7)

A head body having a plurality of nozzle openings for discharging liquid droplets;
A liquid supply member that supplies liquid from a liquid storage member that stores liquid to the head body via a plurality of liquid flow paths;
A cleaning step of uniformly discharging a fluid of a predetermined pressure from a plurality of concentric fluid discharge channels and supplying each of the fluids to a plurality of liquid channels of the liquid supply member to remove foreign matters in the liquid channels;
And a mounting step of mounting the head body on the liquid supply member. In claim 1,
The liquid supply member includes a mounting member for mounting a plurality of liquid storage members, and a filter provided in the mounting member.
In the cleaning step, the cleaning water discharged at a uniform pressure is sent in a state where the mounting member on which the filter is mounted is fixed to remove foreign matter. In claim 1 or 2,
In the cleaning step, a liquid in which a predetermined gas and water are mixed as a fluid having a predetermined pressure is used.   A cylindrical main body in which a fluid in which a predetermined gas and water are mixed is supplied to a single supply section at a predetermined pressure, and a plurality of discharge ports provided concentrically on the cylindrical main body, and is supplied to the main body. The fluid branching jig is characterized in that the fluid is discharged from the discharge port so that the flow path resistance is uniform. In claim 4,
A fluid branching jig characterized in that a pressure chamber is formed between a supply section and a plurality of discharge ports in a cylindrical main body. In claim 4,
A fluid branching jig characterized in that a branch pipe is provided between a supply part and a plurality of discharge ports in a cylindrical main body. The fluid branching jig according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the fluid branching jig is used for supplying cleaning water in the method of manufacturing a liquid jet head according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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