JP2007516878A - Droplet ejection assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid drop delivery device is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of nozzle openings from which fluid is ejected and a waste control aperture.

Description

  The present invention relates to the deposition of droplets on a substrate.

  An ink jet printer is a type of apparatus for depositing droplets on a substrate. Ink jet printers generally include an ink path from an ink source to a nozzle path. The nozzle path terminates at a nozzle opening through which ink droplets are ejected. Ink droplet ejection is typically controlled by applying pressure to the ink in the ink path with an actuator, which can be, for example, a piezoelectric deflector, a thermal bubble jet generator, or an electrostatic deflection element. A typical print assembly has an array of ink paths with corresponding nozzle openings and associated actuators. Droplet ejection from each nozzle opening can be controlled independently. In an on-demand droplet ejection print assembly, the actuator is activated to selectively eject droplets to specific pixel locations in the image as the print assembly and print substrate move relative to each other. In high performance print assemblies, the nozzle openings are generally 50 μm or smaller, for example about 25 μm in diameter, separated by a pitch of 100-300 nozzles / inch (3.9-11.8 nozzles / mm); It has a resolution of 100 to 3000 dpi (3.9 to 118.1 dots / mm) or higher and provides droplets with a volume of about 1 to 120 picoliters (pL) or less. The droplet ejection frequency is generally 10 kHz or higher.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,017 to Hoisington et al. Describes a printed assembly having a semiconductor structure and a piezoelectric actuator. The structure is made of silicon with an ink chamber defined by etching. The nozzle openings are defined by individual nozzle plates attached to the silicon structure. Piezoelectric actuators have a layer of piezoelectric material that changes shape, ie, bends, in response to an applied voltage. The bending of the piezoelectric layer exerts pressure on the ink in the pump chamber located along the ink path. Piezoelectric inkjet print assemblies are also described in US Pat. Nos. 5,099,038 and 2,5, Hine, US Pat. No. 4, Moynihan et al. The entire contents of these patent documents are hereby incorporated by reference.
US Pat. No. 5,265,315 US Pat. No. 4,825,227 US Pat. No. 4,937,598 US Pat. No. 5,659,346 US Pat. No. 5,757,391

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a means for enhancing droplet ejection performance in a print head of an ink jet printer.

  In one aspect, a feature of the present invention is a droplet ejector comprising a flow path in which pressure is applied to the liquid to eject the droplet from the nozzle opening. Adjacent to the nozzle opening, there are a plurality of protrusions extending in a direction intersecting the plane of the nozzle opening.

  In another aspect, a feature of the present invention is a droplet ejector comprising a flow path within which pressure is applied to the liquid for ejection through the nozzle opening. In the vicinity of the nozzle opening, there are at least four standing pillars extending in a direction intersecting the plane of the nozzle opening. The upright and nozzle openings are defined in a common structure.

  In another aspect, a feature of the present invention is liquid ejection by providing a printhead with a flow path in which pressure is applied to the liquid for ejection through a nozzle opening. In the vicinity of the nozzle opening, there are a plurality of protrusions extending in the direction intersecting the plane of the nozzle opening. The liquid sucked by the capillary action force is supplied to the space defined by the protrusions.

  In another aspect, a feature of the present invention is a droplet ejector comprising a flow path in which pressure is applied to the liquid to eject the droplet from the nozzle opening. Adjacent to the nozzle opening, there are a plurality of protrusions extending in a direction intersecting the plane of the nozzle opening. The nozzle openings and projections are defined in a common structure made of silicon material, the nozzle openings are arranged on the platform, and the projections are arranged in the vicinity of the platform.

  Other aspects or embodiments may have the features of the aspects described above and combinations of one or more of the following features. The nozzle opening is surrounded by a protrusion. The protrusions are upright or wall-shaped. The protrusions are arranged in a pattern. The pattern defines a matrix array or arc. The pattern defines an ink reservoir space. The protrusion has a width of about twice or less than the nozzle opening width. The distance between the protrusion and the periphery of the nozzle opening is about 20% or more of the nozzle opening width. The distance between the protrusions is about twice or less than the nozzle opening width. The number of protrusions is 4 or more. The height of the protrusion is substantially equal to the plane of the nozzle opening, or the height of the protrusion is lower than the plane of the nozzle opening.

  The nozzle opening and the protrusion are defined in a common structure, and the structure is a silicon material. The droplet ejector includes a channel near the protrusion. The droplet ejector includes a vacuum source or a wicking material in the vicinity of the protrusion. The nozzle opening is disposed in the well, and the well has a protrusion. The nozzle opening is disposed on the platform, and the protrusion is disposed in the vicinity of the platform. The nozzle opening is 200 μm or smaller. The droplet ejector includes a piezoelectric actuator.

  Embodiments can have one or more of the following advantages. Printhead operation is robust and reliable because the waste ink liquid around the surface of the nozzle plate is controlled to reduce interference with drop formation and ejection. In high performance printheads where a large array of small nozzles must eject ink accurately at precise locations on the substrate, drop velocity and trajectory linearity are maintained. The protrusions control the waste ink liquid and allow the head to vary the desired ejection characteristics and various pressure characteristics at the nozzle openings, such as inks that vary in viscosity and surface tension characteristics. The protrusions are robust, do not require moving parts, and can be economically implemented by etching into a semiconductor material such as a silicon material.

  Further aspects, features and advantages are set forth below. For example, certain aspects have protrusion dimensions, characteristics and operating conditions as discussed below.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the ink jet device 10 includes a liquid reservoir 11 containing supply ink 12 and a liquid passage 13 that leads from the liquid reservoir 11 to the pressure chamber 14. An actuator 15, for example a piezoelectric transducer, forms one of the walls of the pressure chamber 14. The actuator can be used to apply ink force to eject ink droplets 19 from the nozzle 17 toward the substrate 20 through the liquid passage 16 leading from the pressure chamber 14 to the nozzle openings 17 of the nozzle plate 18. In operation, the inkjet device 10 and the substrate 20 can be moved relative to each other. For example, the substrate can be a continuous web that is moved between rolls 22 and 23. The desired image is produced on the substrate 20 by selective ejection of droplets from the array of nozzles 17 on the nozzle plate 18.

  The ink jet device also controls the operating pressure at the ink meniscus near the nozzle opening when the system is not ejecting droplets. Variations in meniscus pressure can cause variations in drop volume or velocity that can cause print errors and drops. In the illustrated embodiment, pressure control is provided by a vacuum source 30 such as a mechanical pump that provides a vacuum to the headspace 9 above the ink 12 in the reservoir 11. The vacuum is transmitted to the nozzle opening 17 through the ink to prevent ink from dripping through the nozzle opening 17 due to gravity. A controller 32, such as a computer controller, monitors the vacuum above the ink in the reservoir 11 and adjusts the vacuum source 30 to maintain the reservoir at the desired vacuum. In another embodiment, the vacuum source is provided by placing an ink reservoir below the nozzle opening to create a vacuum near the nozzle opening. An ink level monitor (not shown) detects the ink level, which drops as ink is consumed during the printing operation, thus increasing the vacuum at the nozzle. The controller monitors the ink level and refills the reservoir from the bulk container to maintain the vacuum within the desired operating range when the ink drops below the desired level. In another embodiment, a reservoir is located below the nozzle that is sufficiently separated from the meniscus vacuum to overcome the capillary force of the nozzle, in another embodiment, pressure is applied to the ink to maintain the meniscus near the nozzle opening. be able to. In an embodiment, the operating vacuum is maintained at about 0.5 to about 10 inches of water column (1 inch water column = 249 Pa).

  Referring to FIG. 2, the nozzle plate unit 90 includes a stairs 92 and a nozzle opening 94 disposed at the center of the stairs 92. In the vicinity of the platform 92 and the nozzle opening 94, there is a region of an ink control protrusion 96 in the form of a cylinder extending from the floor surface of the nozzle plate in a direction intersecting the plane of the nozzle opening 94. Ink may accumulate on the nozzle plate 18 during ink ejection. If the ink reservoir is not controlled, over time, the ink can form a liquid mass that causes print errors. For example, liquid mass near the edge of the nozzle opening can affect the trajectory, velocity or volume of the ejected droplet. Also, the liquid mass could be large enough to drop on the printed substrate to produce a meaningless mark. The liquid mass may protrude far enough from the nozzle plate surface to contact the printed substrate and cause the printed substrate to become soiled. The protrusion 96 spreads the waste liquid around the nozzle plate, thus suppressing the growth of a thick liquid mass that can be dripped, for example, from the nozzle plate onto the printed substrate. Initially, a liquid mass is formed on the platform 92 and then moves from the platform 92 to the area of the protrusion 96 near the platform 92. The protrusion 96 defines a space 98 in which the waste liquid is sucked away from the nozzle opening 94 by capillary action force.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the two areas 90, 90 'of the nozzle plate have two adjacent nozzle openings 94, 94' as shown. Each of the regions 90 and 90 'has a protruding region surrounding the nozzle opening. The protruding region is bounded by blank regions 114, 115 and 117 and waste liquid channels 119 and 112. Channels 119 and 122 have a drain aperture 121. The pattern of protrusions directs ink away from the nozzle and into the channel. When the nozzle plate is arranged in a horizontal direction (nozzle opening is directed upwards or downwards), the waste ink liquid mass is initially subjected to four rough directions 112, 116, 118 from between the protrusions under the influence of capillary action. And 120 in all possible directions. When the waste ink liquid reaches the blank area 114, 115 or 117, the capillary action force is too large to keep the waste ink liquid moving in the same direction as before, so that the interval between the protrusions 96 is too large. Movement is blocked. The movement of the waste ink liquid continues until it meets the channels 119 and 122, and the channels 119 and 122 receive the waste ink liquid. In the embodiment, the aperture 121 is maintained under reduced pressure by communicating with, for example, a mechanical vacuum device (not shown) in order to draw waste ink from each channel. Alternatively, the apertures can be filled with a wicking material, such as urethane foam or other absorbent material, to remove the waste ink liquid from the respective channel 119. In embodiments, the ratio of the protrusion height to the protrusion width is from about 0.2 to about 1 to greater than, for example, about 5 to greater. When the nozzle plate is arranged in the vertical direction, the waste ink liquid is macroscopically unidirectional from the projection-protrusion under the influence of gravity and capillary action force depending on the arrangement direction of the nozzle plate 110. Move to 112, 116, 118 or 120. A suitable channel is described in the specification of US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 7,833, filed on Dec. 30, 2003, and a suitable aperture is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 10/749829, filed Dec. 30, 2003. As described in the specification, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The spacing, size, position, shape, number and pattern of protrusions are selected to prevent excessive accumulation of ink on the nozzle surface by increasing the surface area of the nozzle plate in the area around the nozzle opening. The dimension of the gap G between the protrusions is such a dimension that the liquid will be drawn and held in the interprotrusion space by the capillary action force. In embodiments, the gap G is between about 2-fold to it a value less than about 20% to value greater than a nozzle opening width W _N of the nozzle opening width W _N. In embodiments, the pattern of protrusions defines multiple sets of rows and columns. In an embodiment, the pattern defines an arc. The pattern of protrusions can be arranged to guide the waste ink liquid in a desired direction on the nozzle plate.

Width W _P of the protrusions is sufficiently small to give a significant increase in surface area is large enough to be substantially robust. Further, the width of the protrusion is not so large that excessive waste ink liquid is accumulated on the upper surface. In an embodiment, the width of the protrusion is about twice or less than the nozzle opening width. The height H _P of the protrusions is higher than the plane of the nozzle opening, is lower than or equal to the plane. The longer the protrusions, the larger the surface area obtained, so the amount of waste ink liquid that can be retained increases. Protrusions below the nozzle opening plane are less susceptible to damage. Protrusions equal to the nozzle opening plane are easier to create in some cases, for example by etching.

The protrusions are arranged at locations where the waste ink liquid on the nozzle plate can accumulate. In an embodiment, the protrusion substantially surrounds the nozzle opening. In an embodiment, the protrusions are spaced from the nozzle openings to suppress waste ink liquid accumulation in locations too close to the nozzle openings that can affect droplet ejection. In embodiments, the projections on the periphery of the nozzle opening will not be closer than about 20% to 200% of the nozzle opening width W _N.

  In the embodiment, the shape of the protrusion is an elongated vertical pillar. The uprights can be, for example, circular in cross section or irregular in cross section. The uprights can be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the nozzle opening or meet the nozzle opening plane at an angle other than a right angle. In another embodiment, the protrusion is a wall structure. The wall structure can cover a substantial area and be applied to the nozzle plate, so the resist should be removed to bring the nozzle plate into contact with another structure, such as the substrate.

  The number of uprights is selected to control the desired jet liquid volume or create the desired pattern, as discussed above. In embodiments where the protrusion surrounds the nozzle opening, there are 4 or more, for example 6 or more uprights.

In certain embodiments, the height _{H P} of the protrusions is greater than about 100μm to from example about 5 [mu] m, for example, 200 [mu] m. The distance S from the closest column to the edge of the platform is, for example, about 10 μm to about 20 μm, and the gap G between the protrusions is, for example, about 5 μm to about 25 μm. Width _{W P} of the projections is about 20μm, for example, from about 5 [mu] m. In an embodiment, the nozzle opening width is about 200 μm or less, for example 10 to 50 μm, and the nozzle pitch is about 25 nozzles / inch (about 0.98 nozzles / mm) or less, for example about 100 to 300 nozzles. / Inch (about 3.9 to 11.8 nozzles / mm), the ink droplet volume is about 1 to 70 pL, and pressure is applied to the liquid by the piezoelectric actuator. In embodiments, the jet liquid has a surface tension of about 20-50 dynes / cm (1 dynes / cm = 10 ⁻³ N / m). In an embodiment, the jetting liquid is ink. In embodiments, the jet liquid is a biological liquid.

  Referring now to FIG. 4, the nozzle plate region 120 has a nozzle opening 126 disposed in the well 124, and the nozzle opening 126 is surrounded by a projection 125 in the form of a cylinder near the nozzle opening 126. The protrusion 125 spreads the waste ink liquid symmetrically in the well. Over time, the well 124 is filled to some extent with the jetting liquid to form a meniscus that covers the nozzle opening. The use of wells to facilitate the injection of liquid was filed on Dec. 30, 2003, filed and assigned at the same time as the present specification and is entitled “DROP EJECTION ASSEMBLY”. No. 10 / 7,622, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

  5-5B, the nozzle plate region 200 includes a plurality of arc projections 202 in the form of walls that form an intermittent concentric surface around the platform 204 and a nozzle opening located in the center of the platform 204. 206. The protrusion 202 around the altar 204 extends in a direction intersecting the plane of the nozzle opening 202. A first space 207 is formed between the edge 203 of the altar 204 and the row of first arc projections 202 forming a first intermittent concentric surface around the altar 204. A second space 210 is formed between the protrusions 202 that are equidistant from the center of the nozzle opening 206 in the radial direction, and a third space 212 is formed between the protrusions 202 on the adjacent intermittent concentric surfaces. The ink liquid mass formed on the platform 204 moves to the area of the protrusion 202. The ink is drawn into the first space 207 and then moves under capillary action until it encounters the second space 210 and then begins to move radially away from the platform 204. Upon encountering the third space, the waste ink liquid moves into the third space 210 or continues to move away from the nozzle opening 206 in the radial direction. The path followed by the waste ink liquid depends on the relative dimensions of the first space 207, the second space 210, and the third space 212. In an embodiment, the number of intermittent concentric surfaces around the platform 204 is, for example, 2, 4, 6, 10 or more. As described above, the protrusion interval is an interval at which the liquid will be drawn into the interprotrusion space and held by the capillary action force. In an embodiment, the arcuate protrusion is higher than the plane of the nozzle opening 206.

  Any of the protrusions and / or nozzle openings of the above-described embodiments can be formed by machining, electroforming, laser ablation and chemical etching or plasma etching. The protrusion can be formed by molding, for example, an injection molded plastic protrusion. The protrusion and nozzle opening can be formed in a common structure or in separate structures to be assembled. For example, the nozzle openings can be formed in a structure that defines another component of the ink flow path, and the wells can be formed in another structure that is assembled with the structure that defines the nozzle opening. In another embodiment, the protrusion, nozzle opening and pressure chamber are formed in a common structure. The structure can be a metal, carbon or silicon material, eg an etchable material such as silicon or silicon dioxide. The formation of printhead components using an etching method is described in US patent application Ser. No. 10/189947, filed Jul. 3, 2002, and US Patent Application No. 60/90, filed Oct. 10, 2003. The details of each specification are incorporated herein by reference.

  In embodiments, the droplet ejection system can be utilized to eject liquids other than ink. The deposited droplets can be ink or other material. For example, the deposited droplets can be UV curable or other radiation curable materials, or other materials that can be delivered as droplets, such as biological fluids. For example, the described device could be part of a precision dispensing system. The protrusions can be formed of a porous material, such as porous silicon or porous metal, to increase the surface area and thus enhance the ability of the protrusions to handle waste ink. The protrusions can be formed of an absorbent material that can help to absorb the waste ink liquid from the nozzle plate.

  The protrusions are described in US patent application Ser. No. 10/749829 filed on Dec. 30, 2003, US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 794,622 filed Dec. 30, 2003. Can be used in combination with other waste control aspects such as wells described in the literature and / or channels described in US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 789,833, filed Dec. 30, 2003. it can. For example, a series of channels can be provided on the nozzle surface near the protrusion. The cleaning structure can be combined with a manual or automatic cleaning and wiping system in which cleaning liquid is applied to the nozzle plate and wiped off. The cleaning structure can collect cleaning liquid and waste, not waste ink liquid after jetting.

  Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims.

1 is a schematic representation of a droplet ejection assembly. It is a perspective view of a part of nozzle plate with a protrusion. It is a top view of a part of nozzle plate with a protrusion. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of a nozzle plate in which nozzle openings and protrusions are arranged in a well. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of a nozzle plate having an arc-shaped protrusion. FIG. 5A is a top view of a portion of the nozzle plate shown in FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle plate portion shown in FIG. 5A taken along line 5B-5B.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Head space 10 Inkjet apparatus 11 Liquid reservoir 12 Ink 13,16 Liquid path 14 Pressure chamber 15 Actuator 17 Nozzle 18 Nozzle plate 19 Ink droplet 20 Substrate 22, 23 Roll 30 Vacuum source 32 Controller 96 Protrusion

Claims (31)

In droplet ejector,
A flow path in which pressure is applied to the liquid in order to eject droplets from the nozzle opening, and a plurality of protrusions extending in the direction intersecting the plane of the nozzle opening in the vicinity of the nozzle opening,
A droplet ejector comprising:   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle opening is surrounded by the protrusion.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a vertical column.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a wall shape.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are arranged in a pattern.   The droplet ejector of claim 5, wherein the pattern defines a matrix array.   The droplet ejector according to claim 5, wherein the pattern defines an arc.   The droplet ejector according to claim 5, wherein the pattern defines a concentric ink reservoir space.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a width of about twice or less than a width of the nozzle opening.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the protrusion and a peripheral edge of the nozzle opening is about 20% or more of a width of the nozzle opening.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein an interval between the protrusions is about twice or less than a width of the nozzle opening.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the number of the protrusions is four or more.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein a height of the protrusion is substantially equal to a plane of the nozzle opening.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein a height of the protrusion is lower than a plane of the nozzle opening.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein a height of the protrusion is higher than a plane of the nozzle opening.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle opening and the protrusion are defined in a common structure.   The droplet ejector according to claim 16, wherein the structure is a silicon material.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, further comprising a channel in the vicinity of the protrusion.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum source or a wicking material in the vicinity of the protrusion.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle opening is disposed in a well, and the well has the protrusion.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is disposed on a platform, and the protrusion is disposed in the vicinity of the platform.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of nozzle openings, a plurality of protrusions in the vicinity of each of the nozzle openings, wherein the nozzle openings and the protrusions are defined in a common structure. Droplet ejector.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle opening has a width of about 200 μm or less.   The droplet ejector according to claim 1, further comprising a piezoelectric actuator. In droplet ejector,
A flow path in which pressure is applied to the liquid therein for injection through the nozzle opening, and at least four standing columns extending in a direction intersecting the plane of the nozzle opening in the vicinity of the nozzle opening;
With
The vertical column and the nozzle opening are defined in a common structure;
A droplet ejector characterized by that.   26. The droplet ejector according to claim 25, wherein a distance between the upright columns is about 10% or more of the width of the nozzle opening and twice or less than the width of the nozzle opening.   The droplet ejector according to claim 25, wherein the protrusion has a width of about twice or less than a width of the nozzle opening. In the method of liquid injection,
A flow path in which pressure is applied for injection through the nozzle opening, and a plurality of protrusions extending in a direction intersecting a plane of the nozzle opening in the vicinity of the nozzle opening, wherein the protrusion is the nozzle Providing a print head that defines a space that intersects the plane of the opening;
Supplying liquid sucked by capillary action force into the space defined by the protrusion, and ejecting the liquid through the nozzle opening by applying pressure to the liquid in the flow path;
A method comprising the steps of: 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the liquid has a surface tension of about 20-50 dynes / cm (1 dynes / cm = 10 < ^-3 > N / m). 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the liquid has a viscosity of about 1 to 40 centipoise (1 centipoise = 10 < ^-11 > ^N.sec / m < ² >). In droplet ejector,
A flow path in which pressure is applied to the liquid in order to eject droplets from the nozzle opening,
And a plurality of protrusions extending in a direction intersecting a plane of the nozzle opening in the vicinity of the nozzle opening,
With
The nozzle opening and the protrusion are defined in a common structure made of silicon material;
The nozzle opening is disposed on the platform, and the protrusion is disposed in the vicinity of the platform;
A droplet ejector characterized by that.

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