JP2008110525A - Liquid jet head and liquid jet device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a bubble from entering at least a fluid channel to which a liquid is supplied. <P>SOLUTION: There is disclosed a liquid jet head in which a liquid is supplied to a liquid chamber 45 provided with a nozzle 71 and a pressure generation element 61a through the fluid channel 51, and the liquid is jetted from the nozzle 71 by means of the pressure generation element 61a. Both the fluid channel 51 and the liquid chamber 45 are sealed by a moisture-curable resin including as a main component polyisobutylene of an organic polymer compound having alkoxysilane in a molecular structure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head in which a part of a flow path for supplying liquid to a liquid chamber provided with at least a nozzle for discharging liquid is formed of a resin, and a liquid discharge apparatus including the liquid discharge head.

  The liquid is supplied to the liquid chamber provided with the nozzle and the pressure generating element through the flow path having a fine structure, the liquid is pressed by the energy generated by the pressure generating element, and the liquid is discharged from the nozzle provided in the liquid chamber. As the liquid ejecting apparatus, there is, for example, an ink jet printer apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an ink jet printer apparatus) that ejects ink droplets onto a recording sheet and prints an image or characters on the recording sheet.

  This ink jet method has extremely low noise during printing, can perform high-speed printing, and can reduce the size of the ink discharge head that discharges ink. It is easy and compact.

  In the ink jet printer device, for example, ink is supplied to the liquid chamber provided with the heating resistor and the nozzle of the ink discharge head from the ink cartridge through the flow path, and the ink supplied into the liquid chamber is heated with the heating resistor, By pressing the ink with the generated bubbles, the ink is ejected from the nozzle and printed on the recording paper.

  The ink discharge head that discharges ink by such a method has a heating resistor, a driving circuit (shift register, etc.) on the surface, and a wiring pattern that connects the heating resistor and the driving circuit formed by a general-purpose silicon process. A silicon substrate, a nozzle sheet formed by electroforming or the like and formed with a nozzle for discharging ink, and a flow path forming a part of a flow path for supplying ink to a liquid chamber surrounded by the circuit board and the nozzle sheet A member.

  In the manufacturing method of the ink discharge head having such a structure, first, the silicon substrate and the nozzle sheet are aligned while the heating resistor formed on the silicon substrate and the nozzle of the nozzle sheet face each other. A thermosetting sheet adhesive is interposed therebetween, and the silicon substrate and the nozzle sheet are bonded together with this sheet adhesive. Next, the flow path member is bonded to the side opposite to the side where the nozzle sheet of the silicon substrate is bonded, and the silicon substrate and the nozzle sheet are fixed to the flow path member. As a result, a liquid chamber surrounded by the head chip and the nozzle sheet is formed, and an ink discharge head in which a flow path for supplying ink to the liquid chamber is formed by the flow path member, the head chip, and the nozzle sheet is obtained. It is done. In the ink discharge head, each member of the silicon substrate, the nozzle sheet, and the flow path member is bonded with an adhesive, and a gap between the members is filled with a sealing material to prevent ink leakage.

  The sealing material is required to have characteristics such as completely filling a predetermined gap generated between each member and not entering a fine structure such as a nozzle. As the encapsulant, a moisture-curable encapsulant is generally used for reasons such as ease of use that it does not require heat treatment and cures if left after application.

  A typical moisture curable encapsulant is a moisture curable one-pack silicone encapsulant. This moisture curable one-part silicone sealing material has high ink resistance and adhesion. In addition, the moisture curable one-pack silicone encapsulant has many product variations, and has the advantages of a desired viscosity and a short tack-free time.

  By the way, in the ink discharge head, a major problem is to prevent air bubbles from being mixed. In the ink discharge head, when bubbles enter the flow path or the liquid chamber, the discharge energy that presses the ink generated by the pressure generating element such as the heating resistor or the piezo element is absorbed by the bubbles, and the discharge energy is absorbed into the ink in the liquid chamber. If it is not transmitted properly, stable discharge cannot be performed. In addition, in the ink discharge head, if bubbles exist in the flow path or the liquid chamber, the ink supply from the ink cartridge to the nozzles provided in the liquid chamber via the flow path is blocked by the bubbles, and ink supply failure and ink This causes a discharge failure.

  In order to remove bubbles mixed in the ink ejection head, a method is adopted in which the ink is sucked with a recovery pump that sucks ink provided in the ink jet printer device, and the bubbles are removed from the flow path and the liquid chamber. .

  However, in the ink discharge head, the bubbles are once removed by the recovery pump, but if left for a while, bubbles are gradually mixed, resulting in a problem due to the bubbles that cannot be stably discharged. For this reason, in the ink discharge head, the recovery operation by the recovery pump is frequently performed.

  In the ink discharge head, the reason why bubbles are mixed into the flow path and the liquid chamber is that air that has entered through gaps between members due to the shape of the constituent members such as the silicon substrate and the flow path member becomes bubbles, Depending on the material of the constituent member, there is a material that easily allows air to pass therethrough, and the air that permeates through such a constituent member may be a bubble, or the degree of exclusion of the bubble may be small depending on the suction conditions of the recovery pump. . In particular, the biggest cause of air bubbles entering the flow path and the liquid chamber is air bubbles that pass through the sealing material that seals the gaps between the constituent members. That is, in general, the organosilicone compound used for the moisture-curing one-pack silicone sealing material that seals the gap has a long bond distance between silicon and carbon or other atoms, so that it easily allows air to pass through. The permeability is extremely low. In the ink discharge head, when this moisture-curing one-part silicone sealing material is used, there is no need for heat treatment, and there is a convenience in use that it cures if left after application, but since the gas permeability is low, the flow rate is low. Air enters the flow path from between the path member and the head chip, bubbles are mixed into the ink in the flow path, and the bubbles flow from the flow path to the liquid chamber. As a result, this ink discharge head is obstructed by air bubbles and cannot stably discharge ink.

Japanese Patent No. 2980451

  The present invention provides a liquid discharge head and a liquid discharge apparatus capable of preventing air bubbles from being mixed into at least a flow path to which liquid is supplied.

  A liquid discharge head according to the present invention supplies a liquid to a liquid chamber provided with a nozzle and a pressure generating element through a flow path, and discharges the liquid from the nozzle with the pressure generating element. A moisture curable resin mainly composed of an organic polymer compound polyisobutylene having an alkoxysilane is used in at least a part of the flow path.

  Further, the liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention includes a liquid ejection head that supplies the liquid to the liquid chamber provided with the nozzle and the pressure generating element through the flow path, and discharges the liquid from the nozzle with the pressure generating element. A moisture curable resin mainly composed of an organic polymer compound polyisobutylene having an alkoxysilane in the molecular structure is used in at least a part of the flow path of the liquid discharge head.

  According to the present invention, at least a part of a channel to which a liquid is supplied is formed of a moisture curable resin mainly composed of an organic polymer compound polyisobutylene having an alkoxysilane in the molecular structure. The gas permeability is low, and bubbles can be prevented from being mixed in the flow path. In addition, in the present invention, it is possible to prevent bubbles from being mixed into the flow path, so that it is possible to prevent the bubbles from being mixed into the liquid chamber through which the liquid is supplied and the liquid is discharged. As a result, in the present invention, the liquid is stably supplied to the flow path and the liquid chamber without being inhibited by bubbles, and the discharge of the liquid is stabilized.

  An ink discharge head and an ink jet printer apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. An ink jet printer apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as a printer apparatus 1) shown in FIG. 1 is a line type ink jet printer apparatus that prints over the width direction (W direction) of a recording paper P on which images and characters are printed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer apparatus 1 includes an ink jet printer head cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a head cartridge) 2 that ejects ink i onto a recording paper P, and an apparatus in which the head cartridge 2 is mounted. A main body 3. In the printer apparatus 1, the head cartridge 2 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 3.

  First, the head cartridge 2 constituting the printer apparatus 1 will be described. The head cartridge 2 ejects the ink i using, for example, a heating resistor using an electrothermal conversion type as a pressure generating element, and causes the ink i to land on the main surface of the recording paper P. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the head cartridge 2 is mounted with an ink cartridge 21 containing ink i. For each color, the ink cartridge 21 includes a yellow ink cartridge 21y, a magenta ink cartridge 21m, a cyan ink cartridge 21c, and a black ink cartridge 21k.

  Here, the ink i filled in each ink cartridge 21 is as follows. The ink i is obtained by dissolving or dispersing at least a dye in a solvent containing water, a water-soluble organic solvent, or the like.

  As the dye contained in the ink used in the present invention, any of water-soluble dyes such as direct dyes, acid dyes and reactive dyes can be used.

  Specifically, examples of yellow direct dyes include C.I. I. Direct Yellow 1, 8, 11, 12, 24, 26, 27, 28, 33, 39, 44, 50, 58, 85, 86, 87, the same 88, 89, 98, 100, 110 and the like.

  Examples of magenta direct dyes include C.I. I. Direct Red 1, 2, 2, 4, 9, 13, 17, 20, 23, 24, 28, 31, 31, 33, 37, 39, 44, the same 46, 62, 63, 75, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89, 95, 99, 113, 197, 201, 218, 220, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 321 and the like.

  Examples of cyan direct dyes include C.I. I. Direct Blue 1, 2, 6, 8, 15, 22, 25, 41, 71, 76, 77, 78, 80, 86, 90, 98, the same 106, 108, 120, 158, 160, 163, 165, 168, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 199, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 207, 225, 226, 236, 237, 246, 248, 249, and the like.

  Examples of black direct dyes include C.I. I. Direct Black 17, 19, 22, 32, 38, 51, 56, 62, 71, 74, 75, 77, 94, 105, 106, 107, 108, 112, 113, 117, 118, 132, 133, 146, and the like.

  Examples of yellow acid dyes include C.I. I. Acid Blue 1, 3, 7, 7, 19, 19, 23, 25, 29, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 49, 59, 61, 70, 72, 75, 76, 78, 79, 98, 99, 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 118, 119, 127, 128, 131, 135, 141, 142, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, and the like.

  Examples of magenta acid dyes include C.I. I. Acid Red 1, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 18, 26, 27, 32, 35, 37, 42, 51, 52, 57, 75, 77, 80, 82, 83, 85, 87, 88, 89, 92, 94, 97, 106, 111, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 138, 143, 145, 154, 155, 158, 168, 180, 183, 184 186, 194, 198, 199, 209, 209, 211, 215, 216, 217, 219, 249, 252, 254, 256, 257, 262, 262 265, 266, 274, 276, 282, 283 The 303, the 317, the 318, the 320, the 321, the 322 and the like.

  Examples of cyan acid dyes include C.I. I. Acid Blue 1, 7, 9, 15, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 40, 41, 43, 45, 54, 59, 60, 62, 72, 74, 78, 80, 82, 83, 90, 92, 93, 100, 102, 103, 104, 112, 113, 8117, 120, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 138, 140, 142, 143, 151, 154, 158, 161, 166, 167, 168 170, 171, 175, 182, 183, 183, 184, 187, 192, 199, 203, 204, 205, 229, 234, 236, and the like.

  Examples of black acid dyes include C.I. I. Acid Black 1, 2, 2, 7, 26, 29, 31, 31, 44, 48, 50, 51, 52, 58, 60, 62, 63, 64, 67, 72, 76, 77, 94, 107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 115, 118, 119, 121, 122, 131, 132, 139, 140, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 191 and the like.

  Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent contained in the ink include aliphatic monohydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohol derivatives, and the like.

  Specifically, examples of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol include lower alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, i-propyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, s-butyl alcohol, and t-butyl alcohol. It is done. Of these aliphatic monohydric alcohols, ethyl alcohol, i-propyl alcohol, and n-butyl alcohol are particularly preferably used. These aliphatic monohydric alcohols are highly effective in adjusting the surface tension of ink and improving the penetrability into recording media such as plain paper and special paper, dot formation, and drying of printed images. It is preferably contained in the ink.

  Examples of the polyhydric alcohol include alkylene glycols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol and glycerol, polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, and thiodiglycol.

  Examples of the polyhydric alcohol derivative include lower alkyl ethers of the above-described polyhydric alcohol such as ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and lower carboxylic acid esters of the above-described polyhydric alcohol such as ethylene glycol diacetate. These polyhydric alcohols and polyhydric alcohol derivatives are less likely to evaporate and lower the freezing point of the ink, so that they have the effect of improving the storage stability of the ink and preventing clogging of the nozzles of the printer apparatus 1. It is preferred that The ink requires water-soluble organic solvents such as the above-mentioned aliphatic monohydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohols and polyhydric alcohol derivatives, and additives such as surfactants, pH adjusters, preservatives, and chelating agents. Depending on the content, it may be contained.

  The ink cartridge 21 filled with the ink i is formed in a substantially rectangular shape having substantially the same dimensions as the width of the recording paper P. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 21 includes an ink supply unit 22 for supplying ink i to a cartridge body 31 of the head cartridge 2 described later, and an external communication hole 23 for adjusting the amount of air inside. And are formed.

  The ink supply unit 22 is provided at a substantially central portion below the ink cartridge 21. The ink supply unit 22 is a substantially protruding nozzle, and the tip of the nozzle is connected to a connection unit 35 of the head cartridge 2 described later, so that the ink cartridge 21 and the cartridge main body 31 of the head cartridge 2 are connected. The ink can be supplied. The ink supply unit 22 includes a valve mechanism, and the supply of ink i to the cartridge body 31 is adjusted by the valve mechanism.

  The external communication hole 23 is a vent hole that takes air into the inside from the outside of the ink cartridge 21. When the ink i in the ink cartridge 21 is reduced by the ejection of the ink i, air corresponding to the reduced amount is supplied from the outside. It can be taken into the ink cartridge 21. The ink cartridge 21 and the head cartridge 2 that discharges the ink i may be integrally formed. Further, the ink cartridge 21 may be connected to the four color ink cartridges 21 by a connecting member or the like.

  The head cartridge 2 to which the ink cartridge 21 is mounted has a cartridge body 31 as shown in FIGS. The cartridge body 31 includes a mounting portion 32 to which the ink cartridge 21 is mounted, an ink discharge head 33 that discharges the ink i, and a head cap 34 that protects the ink discharge head 33.

  A connection part 35 connected to the ink supply part 22 of the ink cartridge 21 attached to the attachment part 32 is provided at substantially the center of the attachment part 32. The connection portion 35 serves as a supply path for supplying the ink i from the ink supply portion 22 of the ink cartridge 21 attached to the attachment portion 32 to the ink discharge head 33 for discharging the ink i provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge main body 31. . The connection unit 35 adjusts the supply of ink i from the ink cartridge 21 to the ink discharge head 33 by a valve mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ink discharge head 33 to which the ink i is supplied from the connection portion 35 is disposed on the bottom surface of the cartridge body 31 for each color. In the ink discharge head 33, nozzles 71, which will be described later, which are discharge ports for discharging the ink i supplied from the connecting portion 35 are arranged in a line substantially in the width direction of the recording paper P, that is, in the direction of the arrow W in FIG. Yes. As shown in FIG. 4, the ink ejection head 33 does not move in the width direction (W direction) of the recording paper P when ejecting the ink i. As shown in FIG. 4, the yellow nozzle line 72y, the magenta nozzle line 72m, and cyan Ink i is ejected for each nozzle line 72c and black nozzle line 72k.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ink discharge head 33 is supplied with the ink i from the connection portion 35 of the head cartridge 2, and is a flow path plate serving as a flow path member that guides the supplied ink i to each nozzle 71. 41, a head chip 42 for discharging the supplied ink i, a nozzle sheet 43 on which nozzles 71 for discharging the ink i are formed, and a frame 44 for supporting the nozzle sheet 43. As shown in FIG. 5, the ink discharge head 33 is formed with an ink liquid chamber 45 that presses and discharges ink i supplied from an ink flow path 51 described later.

  The flow path plate 41 is provided for each color of the ink i, and is formed of a material such as metal that has rigidity that does not easily deform and ink resistance to the stored ink i. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flow path plate 41 has the nozzles 71 arranged in parallel so that the ink i is supplied to all of the plurality of nozzles 71 forming the nozzle lines 72 of the respective colors to be described later. The recording paper P is formed in the width direction (W direction) over a length corresponding to the width of the recording paper P. The flow path plate 41 is provided so as to protrude from the flow path forming portion 52 that forms a part of the ink flow path 51 having a length corresponding to the width of the recording paper P, and to substantially the center of the upper surface of the flow path forming portion 52. A flow path connection portion 53 is connected to the connection portion 35 of the cartridge main body 31 and connects the connection portion 35 and the flow path forming portion 52. The flow path forming portion 52 is formed with a flange portion 52a bonded to the frame 44 on the flow path connecting portion 53 side. In the flow path forming part 52, a head chip 42 to be described later for discharging the ink i is disposed on the surface opposite to the side where the flow path connecting part 53 is provided. The flow path plate 41 supplies ink i of the ink cartridge 21 from the connection part 35 of the cartridge body 31 to the flow path connection part 53, supplies ink i from the flow path connection part 53 to the ink flow path 51, and Ink i is supplied from the path 51 to each head chip 42. The ink flow path 51 is formed by being surrounded by a flow path forming portion 52 of the flow path plate 41, a head chip 42 described later, and a nozzle sheet 43.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the head chip 42 includes a circuit board 61 provided with an electrothermal change type heating resistor 61 a and a film 62 interposed between the circuit board 61 and the nozzle sheet 43. The As shown in FIG. 4, the head chip 42 is provided in a substantially line shape over the width direction of the recording paper P. For example, out of about 5000 nozzles 71, a set of about 310 nozzles is provided. It is provided for each group. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the head chip 42 is arranged in a substantially line shape in the width direction (W direction) of the recording paper P in a zigzag manner for each color with the ink flow path 51 interposed therebetween. The chip 42 is provided so that the end portions thereof face each other. The head chip 42 is disposed on the bottom surface of the flow channel plate 41 so that the end surface on the ink flow channel 51 side forms a part of the ink flow channel 51.

  The circuit board 61 has, for example, a heating resistor 61a that heats and presses the ink i, a logic IC (Integrated Circuit), a driver transistor, and a shifter on one surface of a substrate made of a silicon-containing material such as a silicon substrate or a glass substrate. A control circuit for the heating resistor 61a composed of a resistor or the like is formed. The heating resistor 61a is formed in a square shape having a side of approximately 18 μm. As shown in FIG. 5, the circuit board 61 forms the upper surface of the ink liquid chamber 45.

  The film 62 is made of, for example, an exposure curable dry film resist such as an epoxy resin. As shown in FIG. 5, the film 62 is formed on the circuit board 61 by a photolithography process so as to surround one heating resistor 61 a except for the portion communicating with the ink flow path 51 described above. The film 62 forms a side surface of the ink liquid chamber 45 and constitutes the ink liquid chamber 45 together with the circuit board 61. Further, the nozzle sheet 43 is bonded to the film 62 on the surface opposite to the circuit board 61. The film 62 has a thickness of approximately 12 μm.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the nozzle sheet 43 includes a plurality of nozzles 71 including through holes formed in a substantially line shape in a staggered manner so as to face the heating resistor 61 a. In the nozzle sheet 43, the nozzle lines 72y, 72m, 72c, and 72k of the respective colors are integrally formed as one sheet. The nozzle sheet 43 forms the bottom surface of the ink liquid chamber 45 and also forms a part of the ink flow path 51. This nozzle sheet 43 is formed by electroforming technique using, for example, nickel, has a thickness of 15 μm to 20 μm, and has a nozzle 71 having a diameter of about 20 μm.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the frame 44 that supports the nozzle sheet 43 has a rectangular shape, a thickness of about 5 mm, sufficient rigidity, and the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42 are The opening 44a to be fitted is formed in a rectangular shape for each color with a length corresponding to the width of the recording paper P. The nozzle sheet 43 is bonded to the surface of the frame 44 on the side where the head chip 42 is disposed via a thermosetting sheet adhesive. The frame 44 supports the nozzle sheet 43 so that the nozzle 71 of the nozzle sheet 43 and the heating resistor 61a of the head chip 42 face each other and the head chip 42 and the nozzle sheet 43 are bonded together. When the nozzle sheet 43 and the frame 44 are bonded to each other at a high temperature of about 150 ° C., the nozzle sheet 43 contracts more than the frame 44 at a temperature lower than the bonding temperature. After the bonding, the nozzle sheet 43 contracts as the temperature decreases, and is bonded to the frame 44 in a tensioned state. Therefore, the interval between the nozzles 71 varies depending on the linear expansion coefficient of the frame 44.

The frame 44 is formed of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as that of the circuit board 61 of the head chip 42. For example, when a silicon substrate is used as the circuit board 61, the frame 44 is formed of silicon nitride. When a ceramic substrate is used as the circuit board 61, alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ), mullite, nitridation is used. If the circuit board 61 is made of aluminum, silicon carbide or the like, and is made of quartz (SiO ₂ ) or the like, and the circuit board 61 is a metal substrate, Invar steel is used. Etc. are formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the ink discharge head 33 having the above-described configuration has nozzles on the head chip 42 so that the nozzles 71 of the nozzle sheet 43 bonded to the frame 44 and the heating resistor 61 a face each other. By bonding the sheet 43, the upper surface and the side surface of the ink liquid chamber 45 are formed by the circuit board 61 and the film 62 of the head chip 42, and the lower surface is formed by the nozzle sheet 43. The width of the ink liquid chamber 45 is approximately 25 μm.

  In such an ink discharge head 33, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at least a part of the ink flow path 51 in contact with the ink i is formed of a moisture curable resin. Specifically, the ink discharge head 33 seals the gap between the flow path forming part 52 and the circuit board 61 and bonds the flow path forming part 52 of the flow path plate 41 and the circuit board 61 together. 81 is formed of moisture curable resin. In the bonding portion 81, the end surface on the ink flow path 51 side forms a part of the ink flow path 51. Further, in the ink discharge head 33, a sealing portion 82 that seals between the head chips 42 arranged in parallel along the ink flow path 51 is formed of a moisture curable resin. Similarly to the adhesive portion 81, the end surface of the sealing portion 82 on the ink flow path 51 side forms a part of the ink flow path 51. In the ink discharge head 33, the gap between the flow path forming portion 52 and the circuit board 61 is sealed with the adhesive portion 81, and the space between the head chips 42 is sealed with the sealing portion 82. Therefore, it is possible to prevent air from entering the ink flow path 51 and bubbles from entering the ink flow path 51. In the ink ejection head 33, it is possible to prevent bubbles from being mixed into the ink flow path 51, thereby preventing bubbles from being mixed into the ink liquid chamber 45 to which the ink i is supplied from the ink flow path 51. Therefore, the ink discharge head 33 can prevent bubbles from entering the ink liquid chamber 45 and the ink flow path 51.

  The adhesion part 81 and the sealing part 82 are formed of a moisture curable resin whose main component is an organic polymer compound having low gas permeability. A general organic polymer compound has a property of gas permeability that is several tens of times lower than that of a conventionally used silicone polymer compound. In addition, in the adhesion part 81 and the sealing part 82, all organic polymer compounds cannot be used as they are. There is basically no organic polymer compound that can be moisture-cured, and even if it can be moisture-cured, it seals the gaps in contact with the ink. This is because there is almost no material that can satisfy the above characteristics.

  Therefore, the adhesive part 81 and the sealing part 82 are made of polyisobutylene, which is an organic polymer compound having low gas permeability, and in order to impart moisture curing to the polyisobutylene, by adding alkoxysilane, gas permeation is achieved. Moisture curable resin having low properties and moisture curable is obtained, and this moisture curable resin is used. This moisture curable resin is a one-pack type, and is used for the bonding portion 81 and the sealing portion 82, so that when the ink discharge head 33 is produced, it is cured with moisture in the air, so heat is not required. Thus, it is possible to easily produce a stable ink discharge head 33 with no positional deviation between members.

  The application of moisture curable property to polyisobutylene is performed in the same manner as a general moisture curable one-component sealing material. In the case of a moisture-curing one-component sealing material, silicon having an alkoxy group that is easily hydrolyzed is added to the molecular terminal of the organic polymer compound, and the alkoxy group is decomposed with moisture to change to silanol. Adds curability. This silanol is extremely unstable, and if a slight amount of a catalyst such as organotin is added, it is polymerized as it is and gelled. Thereby, a moisture hardening type 1 liquid sealing material can seal a crevice. Therefore, the moisture curable resin used for the bonding part 81 and the sealing part 82 also adds an alkoxysilane to the terminal of the polyisobutylene in order to impart moisture curing characteristics to the polyisobutylene having low gas permeability. Silicone modification. Between the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42 and between the head chips 42, a moisture curable resin mainly composed of polyisobutylene having alkoxysilane in the molecular structure is cured with moisture in the air. It is sealed with the adhesive portion 81 and the sealing portion 82.

  The simplest method for modifying the organic polymer compound with silicone includes a method of adding a silane coupling agent. Silane coupling agents have an alkoxy group and a vinyl group, an epoxy group, an amino group, a methacryl group, an acryl group, and a mercapto group that are reactive groups that react with an organic polymer compound in the molecule. The compound can be easily modified to be moisture curable.

As the silane coupling agent, structural formula R—Si≡ (X) ₃ or R—Si≡ (R ′) (X) ₂ (wherein R is a vinyl group, an epoxy group, an amino group, an imino group or a mercapto group) R ′ represents a lower alkyl group, and X represents a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, or a chloro atom), and any of them may be used. For example, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltrimethoxy Silanes, vinylsilanes such as vinyltris (2-methoxyethoxy) silane, methacrylsilanes such as 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 2- (3,4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxy Epoxy silanes such as silane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-2- (aminoethyl) Aminosilanes such as 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-2- (aminoethyl) -3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, N-phenyl-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and mercapto such as 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane Silane etc. are mentioned. The addition amount of the silane coupling agent is preferably about 0.1 wt% to 5 wt% with respect to the total composition of the moisture curable resin.

  In addition to the silane coupling agent, additives such as an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, a hydrolysis inhibitor, a thickener, a plasticizer, a pigment, and a filler can be used as necessary. Moreover, a well-known catalyst, additive, etc. for adjusting hardening reaction can be used.

  In the moisture curable resin, it is preferable to contain a condensation catalyst in order to promote curing when being cured with moisture in the air. Condensation catalysts include alkyl titanates; organosilicon titanates; metal salts of carboxylic acids such as tin octylate, dibutyltin laurate, dibutyltin maleate, dibutyltin phthalate, lead octylate, triethylamine, triethylenediamine, dibutylamine Known silanol condensation catalysts such as amine salts of 2-ethylhexoate, other acidic catalysts, and basic catalysts can be effectively used. In addition, these may be used independently or may be used in combination of 2 or more types.

  The adhesive portion 81 and the sealing portion 82 can seal up to a very fine gap in order to prevent air from entering the ink liquid chamber 45 and the ink flow path 51 from the outside. From the viewpoint of workability, the viscosity of the moisture curable resin is very important. Therefore, the viscosity of the moisture curable resin is preferably in the range of 2000 to 100000 cp.

  When a resin that cures by mixing two liquids is used for the bonding part 81 and the sealing part 82, the two liquids are mixed immediately before use, and between the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42 within a certain time. It is necessary to apply between the head chips 42, which is difficult in terms of production technology, and is unsuitable for producing a uniform product throughout the day. Therefore, since the above-described moisture curable resin used for the bonding portion 81 and the sealing portion 82 is a one-pack type, the workability when the ink discharge head 33 is manufactured is good, and the uniform ink discharge head 33 is obtained. Can be produced.

  In addition, when a thermosetting sealing material is used for the bonding portion 81 and the sealing portion 82 instead of a moisture curable resin, a nozzle sheet 43 or a molding resin in which a member constituting the ink discharge head 33 is made of metal. It is rich in various materials such as a component frame 44, and has different thermal expansion coefficients. After the head chip 42 and the nozzle sheet 43 are bonded together, the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42 are bonded with a thermosetting sealing material. When the thermosetting sealing material is cured, the positional relationship between the heating resistor 61a and the nozzle 71 is shifted due to the difference in the linear expansion coefficient between the circuit board 61 and the nozzle sheet 43. There are many things that end up. If the positional relationship between the heat generating resistor 61a and the nozzle 71 is deviated, the ejection direction of the ink i is changed or non-ejection, which greatly affects ejection.

  On the other hand, the above-described moisture curable resin used for the bonding portion 81 and the sealing portion 82 does not require heat to be cured, and is cured by moisture in the air. Positional displacement between members due to a difference in expansion coefficient can be prevented. In particular, it is possible to prevent the positional deviation between the heating resistor 61a and the nozzle 71 that greatly affects the ejection of the ink i. For these reasons, the above-described moisture curable resin is ideal from the viewpoint of stably and simply producing the ink discharge head 33.

  In addition, the moisture curable resin described above is similar to the moisture curable one-liquid sealing material, and details of a gap between the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42 constituting the ink discharge head 33 and between the head chips 42. It goes around to the details of the gap by capillarity, and forms a meniscus at places other than the gap, and the flow stops and hardens. For this reason, this moisture curable resin stably wraps around the gap that needs to be sealed, such as the adhesive portion 81 and the sealing portion 82, and does not wrap around a portion that does not need to be sealed. Has the advantage.

  Such characteristics cannot be realized by a two-component mixed sealing material, a photosensitive sealing material, or a thermosetting sealing material. In addition, cyanoacrylate and moisture-curing urethane encapsulant have a large amount of acrylic and urethane bonds that are easily hydrolyzed in the molecular structure, and therefore have insufficient resistance to ink.

  In addition, the part sealed with the moisture curable resin mentioned above is the head chip with which the ink i contacts, in addition to the adhesive part 81 between the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42 and the sealing part 82 between the head chips 42. 42, a moisture-curing resin is interposed between the film 62 and the nozzle sheet 43 to prevent air from entering between the film 62 and the nozzle sheet 43 and mixing bubbles into the ink i. Also good.

  Further, in the ink discharge head 33, either the adhesive portion 81 between the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42 or the sealing portion 82 between the head chips 42 uses the above-described moisture curable resin. Good.

  The ink discharge head 33 configured as described above is manufactured as follows. First, the nozzle sheet 43 in which a plurality of nozzles 71 are formed is produced by an electroforming technique.

  Next, the obtained nozzle sheet 43 is placed on a support jig (not shown) having a flat surface. Since the nozzle sheet 43 is formed very thin and cannot keep its form, it is placed on a support jig.

  Next, on the nozzle sheet 43 placed on the support jig, as shown in FIG. 4, the frame 44 is placed so that the nozzle line 72 faces the opening 44 a provided in the frame 44. The frame 44 is bonded together. The method of laminating the nozzle sheet 43 and the frame 44 is such that a thermosetting sheet adhesive such as an epoxy sheet adhesive is interposed between the nozzle sheet 43 and the frame 44 and the sheet adhesive is heated to 150 ° C. Then, heat cure and bond. The temperature at which the nozzle sheet 43 and the frame 44 are bonded together needs to be higher than the bonding temperature between the head chip 42 and the nozzle sheet 43 in a later process. Since the nozzle sheet 43 is supported by the frame 44, it is peeled off from the support jig.

  Next, a plurality of head chips 42 are arranged in a staggered manner so that the nozzles 71 and the heating resistors 61a face each other in the opening 44a of the frame 44, and the film 62 of the head chip 42 is heated and thermally cured. The head chip 42 and the nozzle sheet 43 are bonded together. When the head chip 42 is bonded to the nozzle sheet 43, the heating temperature of the film 62 is about 140 ° C., but is not limited to 140 ° C., and the temperature is adjusted depending on the properties of the film 62, but the film does not expand or contract. Thus, it is made lower than the bonding temperature of the nozzle sheet 43 and the frame 44. By bonding the head chip 42 and the nozzle sheet 43 together, an ink liquid chamber 45 surrounded by the head chip 42 and the nozzle sheet 43 is formed as shown in FIG.

  Next, the flow path forming portion 52 of the flow path plate 41 assembled in another process is fitted into the opening 44a of the frame 44, and the flow path forming portion 52 and the circuit board 61 of the head chip 42 are alkoxylated in the molecular structure. It adheres with a moisture curable resin mainly composed of polyisobutylene having silane, seals the gap between the flow path forming portion 52 and the head chip 42 with the moisture curable resin, and follows the ink flow path 51. The gaps between the head chips 42 arranged side by side are sealed with a moisture curable resin. Further, the flange portion 52 a of the flow path plate 41 is fixed to the frame 44. An adhesive portion 81 is formed by applying a moisture curable resin to the gap between the flow path forming portion 52 and the head chip 42, and a sealing portion by applying the moisture curable resin to the gap between the head chips 42. 82 is formed. Further, the frame 44 and the flange portion 52a of the flow path forming portion 52 are bonded with an adhesive. By bonding the head chip 42 and the flow path forming portion 52, as shown in FIG. 5, the ink discharge head 33 in which the ink liquid chamber 45 and the ink flow path 51 are connected so as to be able to supply ink i is obtained. .

  The obtained ink discharge head 33 discharges the ink i from the nozzle 71 as follows. In the ink discharge head 33, the ink i is supplied from the ink cartridge 21 to the ink flow path 51 formed by the flow path plate 41 via the connection portion 35 provided in the cartridge main body 31, and the adhesive portion 81 and the sealing portion Since air is prevented from entering from 82, ink i is supplied from the ink flow path 51 to the ink liquid chamber 45 without being blocked by bubbles. In the ink discharge head 33, the control circuit of the circuit board 61 drives and controls the heating resistor 61a, and supplies a current pulse to the selected heating resistor 61a for 1 to 3 μsec. Heat rapidly. In the ink discharge head 33, when the heating resistor 61a is heated, bubbles b are generated in the ink i in the ink liquid chamber 45 in contact with the heating resistor 61a, as shown in FIG. In the ink discharge head 33, as shown in FIG. 7B, the ink i is pressed in the ink liquid chamber 45 while the bubble b expands, and the displaced ink i is in a droplet state in the nozzle 71. More discharged. At this time, in the ink discharge head 33, since no bubbles are mixed in the ink liquid chamber 45, the bubbles generated by heating the heating resistor 61a can appropriately press the ink i, and the discharge direction is changed. Ink i is appropriately discharged without causing discharge. After the ink i is ejected, the ink i is supplied to the ink liquid chamber 45 through the ink flow path 51 to return to the state before ejection again. In this manner, the ink ejection head 33 can repeatedly eject ink droplets by repeatedly pressing the ink i filled in the ink liquid chamber 45.

  In the ink discharge head 33 as described above, at least the bonding portion 81 between the flow path forming portion 52 of the flow path plate 41 and the circuit substrate 61 of the head chip 42 and the head chip arranged along the ink flow path 51. By forming the sealing portion 82 between 42 with a moisture curable resin whose main component is polyisobutylene having an alkoxysilane in the molecular structure, the moisture curable resin does not allow air to pass therethrough. Air bubbles can be prevented from being mixed into the ink i in the flow path 51. Further, in the ink ejection head 33, the moisture curable resin wraps around the minute gaps between the flow path forming part 52 and the head chip 42 and between the head chips 42, and therefore, between the flow path forming part 52 and the head chip 42. In addition, the fine gaps between the head chips 42 can be sealed. Thereby, in the ink discharge head 33, since air bubbles are not mixed into the ink liquid chamber 45 and the ink flow path 51, the supply of the ink i from the ink cartridge 21 to the nozzle 71 is not hindered by the air bubbles, and the ink i can be smoothly performed. Thus, the discharge of the ink i from the nozzle 71 is not interrupted or is not discharged, and can be stably discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the head cap 34 for protecting the ejection surface 33a on which the ink droplets of the ink ejection head 33 are ejected does not eject the ink i and does not perform printing. The discharge surface 33a is closed to protect the nozzle 71 from drying and the like. When performing printing, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the head cap 34 moves from the bottom surface of the head cartridge 2 to the front of the apparatus body 3, that is, in the direction of the arrow A1 in FIG. The discharge surface 33a is exposed to the outside. After printing, the head cap 34 moves from the front of the apparatus main body 3 to the bottom surface of the head cartridge 2, that is, in the direction of arrow A2 in FIG. Protect.

  The head cap 34 is provided with a cleaning roller 34 a that wipes off excess ink i adhering to the ejection surface 33 a and removes bubbles in the nozzle 71. When opening the ejection surface 33a, the head cap 34 cleaned the ejection surface 33a with the cleaning roller 34a, and increased the viscosity of the excess ink i adhered to the ejection surface 33a and the surface of the nozzle 71. Ink i is sucked. The head cap 34 may clean the ejection surface 33a with the cleaning roller 34a when moving to the bottom surface of the head cartridge 2 after printing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the head cartridge 2 is mounted on the head cartridge mounting portion 91 in the apparatus main body 3 to which the head cartridge 2 having the above-described configuration is mounted. Further, the apparatus main body 3 is attached with a paper feed tray 93 that stores and stores the recording paper P before being printed at a paper feed port 92 provided on the lower front side, and a discharge tray provided on the upper front side. A paper discharge tray 95 for storing the recording paper P after printing is attached to the paper port 94.

  The printer apparatus 1 configured as described above performs printing based on print data input from an information processing apparatus provided outside. That is, in the printer apparatus 1, the head cap 34 is moved from the bottom surface of the head cartridge 2 to the front side of the apparatus body 3 by a head cap opening / closing mechanism (not shown). As a result, the printer 1 can expose the nozzles 71 provided on the ejection surface 33a of the ink ejection head 33 to the outside and eject ink i.

  Next, the printer apparatus 1 records only one sheet from the sheet feed tray 93 by a plurality of sheet feed rollers 96, 97, and 98 as shown in FIG. 8 by operating the operation button 3a provided on the apparatus body 3. Pull out the paper P. The printer apparatus 1 reverses the recording paper P pulled out from the paper feed tray 93 to the head cartridge 2 side by the reverse roller 99 and conveys the recording paper P onto the platen plate 101 provided at a position facing the ejection surface 33a by the conveyance belt 100. The recording paper P comes to face the ejection surface 33a.

  Next, the printer apparatus 1 supplies a drive current to a plurality of heating resistors 61a provided for each color in the ink discharge head 33 based on a print data control signal, and heats the heating resistors 61a for each color. To do. The printer device 1 heats the heating resistor 61a to the recording paper P in the order of a yellow nozzle line 72y, a magenta nozzle line 72m, a cyan nozzle line 72c, and a black nozzle line 72k. As shown in FIG. 7, the ink 71 of each color described above is ejected from the nozzle 71 in the form of droplets for each color, and a color image and characters composed of a plurality of colors are printed.

  Next, the printer apparatus 1 feeds the recording paper P by the conveyance belt 100 that rotates the recording paper P that has been printed in the direction of the paper discharge port 94 and the paper discharge roller 102 provided to face the conveyance belt 100. The recording paper P is sent out to the paper discharge port 94 and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 95.

  As described above, in the printer apparatus 1, the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42 of the ink discharge head 33 are bonded, and the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42 are bonded and sealed. By forming the sealing portion 82 for sealing the gap between the head chips 42 to be made of a moisture curable resin mainly composed of an organic polymer compound polyisobutylene having alkoxysilane in the molecular structure, this moisture curable property is obtained. Since the resin has low gas permeability, air can be prevented from entering from the outside, and air bubbles can be prevented from being mixed into the ink i in the ink liquid chamber 45 and the ink flow path 51. Thereby, in the printer apparatus 1, the ink i is smoothly supplied from the ink cartridge 21 to the ink liquid chamber 45 provided with the nozzle 71 via the ink flow path 51 without being hindered by bubbles. . In the printer apparatus 1, the ink i smoothly flows in the ink discharge head 33, whereby the ink droplet can be stably discharged from the nozzle 71, and the discharge of the ink droplet becomes unstable or the ink droplet is interrupted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ejection from being disabled, and it is possible to print high-quality images and characters.

  In particular, the printer apparatus 1 can prevent air bubbles from being mixed into the ink liquid chamber 45 that most easily affects the ejection of the ink droplets, so that the ink droplets can be ejected more stably.

  In addition, since the printer device 1 can prevent air bubbles from being mixed into the ink i, stable ejection can be performed even if the number of times of cleaning for removing the air bubbles by the cleaning roller 34a is reduced.

  Further, since the printer apparatus 1 can prevent bubbles from being mixed into the ink i, the discharge energy of the bubbles generated by the heating resistor 61a for discharging the ink i is absorbed by the bubbles mixed in the ink i. Thus, the ink i can be appropriately pressed. Therefore, using a moisture curable resin with low gas permeability for the bonding portion 81 and the sealing portion 82 is a printing method in which the ink i is ejected using thermal energy as in the printer apparatus 1 in the inkjet method. Ink jet type ink ejection heads and printer devices that produce superior effects.

  Further, in the printer 1 described above, as shown in FIG. 9, when bubbles are mixed in the ink i due to replacement of the ink cartridge 21 between the ink cartridge 21 and the ink discharge head 33, the bubbles are removed. A circulation pump 110 may be provided for each color. The circulation pump 110 is provided in the head cartridge 2.

  The circulation pump 110 is connected to the ink discharge head 33 by the first circulation pipe 111 and is connected to the ink cartridge 21 by the second circulation pipe 112. The circulation pump 110 is composed of, for example, a diaphragm pump, and sucks the ink i from the ink discharge head 33 through the first circulation pipe 111 in order to circulate the ink i between the ink discharge head 33 and the ink cartridge 21. Then, the suctioned ink i becomes a pressure generating unit that discharges the ink i to the ink cartridge 21 via the second circulating pipe 112. In the printer apparatus 1, the ink i in which bubbles in the ink discharge head 33 are mixed is sucked into the circulation pump 110 via the first circulation pipe 111, and the sucked ink i is drawn via the second circulation pipe 112. By discharging the ink into the ink cartridge 21, bubbles can be removed from the ink i. In the printer apparatus 1, bubbles are removed by the circulation pump 110 before starting printing or after printing a predetermined number of sheets and after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  The first reflux tube 111 has one end 111 a that is bifurcated, and both are connected to discharge ports 113 provided at both ends of the upper surface of the ink discharge head 33, and an ink flow path 51 provided inside the ink discharge head 33. It is connected. The other end 111 b of the first circulating pipe 111 is connected to a suction port 114 provided on the bottom surface of the circulation pump 110. The first reflux tube 111 is formed of, for example, a flexible resin tube.

  The second circulating pipe 112 has one end 112 a connected to the discharge port 115 of the circulation pump 110 and the other end 112 b connected to the injection port 116 provided on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 21. Similarly to the first circulating tube 111, the second circulating tube 112 is formed of, for example, a flexible resin tube.

  As described above, in the printer device 1 provided with the circulation pump 110, at least one end 111 a of the first circulation pipe 111 connected to the ink flow path 51 of the ink discharge head 33 and the discharge port of the ink discharge head 33. The gas permeability described above is low around the connection portion between the one end 111a of the first circulating tube 111 and the discharge port 113 of the ink discharge head 33 so that air does not enter the ink flow path 51 from between the air and the ink 113. A coating portion 117 is formed on which a moisture curable resin mainly composed of polyisobutylene having alkoxysilane in the molecular structure is applied. As a result, in the printer device 1, air enters from the connection portion between the one end 111 a of the first return pipe 111 and the discharge port 113 of the ink discharge head 33, and the ink flow path 51 and the ink flow path 51 are continuous with the ink flow path 51. Air bubbles can be prevented from entering the liquid chamber 45. In the printer apparatus 1, air can be prevented from entering from the adhesive portion 81 and the sealing portion 82 of the ink ejection head 33 and further from the coating portion 117, and mixing of bubbles can be prevented. Therefore, the number of times bubbles are removed by the circulation pump 110. Ink i can be stably ejected even if there is little.

  Further, in the printer device 1, the portion sealed with the moisture curable resin is not limited to the connection portion between the discharge port 113 of the ink discharge head 33 and the one end 111 a of the first reflux tube 111, but the first reflux tube 111. A connection portion between the other end 111b and the suction port 114 of the circulation pump 110, a connection portion between the one end 112a of the second circulating pipe 112 and the discharge port 115 of the circulation pump 110, and the other end 112b of the second circulation pipe 112. The ink cartridge 21, the circulation pump 110, the first circulation pipe 111, and the second circulation pipe 112 are also applied to the periphery of the connection portion between the ink cartridge 21 and the inlet 116 of the ink cartridge 21 with the moisture curable resin described above. It is possible to further prevent air bubbles from being mixed in. Further, the inner surface or the outer surface of the first reflux tube 111 or the second reflux tube 112 formed of a resin tube or the like is coated with a moisture curable resin, and air is passed from the first reflux tube 111 or the second reflux tube 112. May not enter.

  In the printer apparatus 1 described above, the head cartridge 2 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 3, but the head cartridge 2 or the ink discharge head 33 may be provided integrally with the apparatus main body 3. In the case where the head cartridge 2 is formed integrally with the apparatus main body 3 and the circulation pump 110 is provided, the ink cartridge 21 is mounted on the apparatus main body 3, and the ink i is circulated between the head cartridge 2 and the ink cartridge 21. The pump 110 is provided on the apparatus main body 3 side.

  The ink discharge head 33 that discharges the ink i is provided in the head cartridge 2, but is provided integrally with the ink cartridge 21, and the ink cartridge 21 is attached to the cartridge main body 31 that is not provided with the ink discharge head 33. Alternatively, it may be attached to the apparatus main body 3.

  The ink discharge head 33 is a full line type having a length corresponding to the maximum width of the recording paper P that can be printed by the printer apparatus 1, and a plurality of head chips 42 are arranged in a substantially line shape over the maximum width of the recording paper P. Although it is provided, it may be formed by a single head chip formed in the width of the recording paper P, and by sealing between the head chip and the flow path plate 41 with a moisture curable resin. Similarly, the occurrence of defects due to bubbles can be prevented.

  Further, as described above, the ink discharge head 33 is integrally provided in the ink cartridge 2 that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 3, but is not limited thereto, and is provided in the ink cartridge 2 in a replaceable manner. Alternatively, by sealing the connecting portion of the ink ejection head 33 and the ink cartridge 2 with a moisture curable resin, it is possible to prevent the bubbles from being mixed and to prevent the occurrence of problems due to the bubbles.

  In the above description, the example in which the present invention is applied to the printer apparatus 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the printer apparatus 1 and can be widely applied to other liquid ejection apparatuses that eject liquid. Is possible. For example, the present invention can be applied to a discharge device for a DNA chip in a liquid, a liquid discharge device that discharges a liquid containing conductive particles for forming a wiring pattern of a printer wiring board, and the like. By sealing the gap between the members of the supplied portion with a moisture curable resin, air bubbles can be prevented from being mixed in the same way as the printer device 1, and problems due to air bubbles can be prevented.

  Further, the line type printer device 1 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the serial type printer device in which the ink head moves in a direction substantially orthogonal to the traveling direction of the recording paper P. Similarly to the printer device 1, the gap between the members of the portion to which the ink i is supplied is sealed with a moisture-curing resin, so that air bubbles are prevented from being mixed and problems due to the air bubbles are generated. Can be prevented.

  Further, as a print mode of the printer apparatus 1, a mode for printing only a mainstream color such as black, an ink cartridge 21 and an ink discharge head 33 formed integrally, or an ink cartridge 21 for each color are provided. Any of a combination of a plurality of colors may be used, but a mode of printing a multicolor of different colors or a full color by mixing colors may be used.

  Further, in the printer device 1 described above, the full color ink discharge head 33 is formed by integrally forming the nozzle sheets 43 in four colors and the ink discharge heads 33 for each color are formed integrally. Alternatively, the nozzle sheet 43 may be prepared to form the ink discharge heads 33 independent for each color. In addition, the printer device 1 may be provided with a mono-color ink ejection head, not limited to full color. Even in such a case, the gap between the members to which the ink i is supplied is sealed with the moisture curable resin, so that bubbles can be prevented from being mixed and problems caused by the bubbles can be prevented.

  Further, in the printer device 1 described above, the adhesive portion 81 between the flow path plate 41 and the head chip 42, the sealing portion 82 between the head chips 42, the first discharge pipe of the ink discharge head 33 and the circulation pump 110. 111 is not limited to sealing a gap between members with a moisture curable resin, or coating the connection portion with a moisture curable resin, such as a coating portion 117 of a connection portion with 111, and generally a material having a low gas barrier property. In the case where a portion in contact with the ink i is formed, the portion may be coated to prevent bubbles from being mixed into the ink i. For example, when the connection between the ink cartridge 21 and the connecting portion 35 of the head cartridge 2 is connected via a tube or the like, the outer surface or the inner surface of the tube is coated to prevent air from entering from the tube. It is possible to prevent bubbles from entering i. Further, a member constituting the ink i supply system of the head cartridge 2 or the ink discharge head 33 may be formed of the moisture curable resin described above.

  In addition, the shape and structure of each member of the printer device 1 described above are merely examples of implementations when the present invention is carried out, and these limit the technical scope of the present invention. It should not be interpreted as.

  Hereinafter, an example in which an ink ejection head to which the present invention is applied and a comparative example to this example will be described. In the examples and comparative examples, 20 ink ejection heads were produced.

<Example 1>
In Example 1, first, a nozzle sheet having nickel as a main component and having a plurality of nozzles formed in a substantially line shape over the width of the recording paper P was produced by an electroforming technique.

  Next, the prepared nozzle sheet was placed on a support jig, and a frame was bonded to the main surface of the nozzle sheet with a sheet adhesive made of an epoxy resin so that the nozzle line opposed to the opening.

  Next, the nozzle sheet and the head chip were bonded together. As a method for bonding the nozzle sheet and the head chip, for example, a film made of an epoxy resin was interposed, and the nozzle sheet and the head chip were bonded by thermosetting the film. By bonding the head chip and the nozzle sheet together, an ink liquid chamber is formed in which one heating resistor is surrounded by the head chip and the nozzle sheet.

  Next, the flow path forming part of the flow path plate assembled in another process and the circuit board of the head chip are bonded together, and the gap between the flow path forming part and the head chip is adhered and sealed with moisture curable resin. In addition, an ink discharge head was manufactured by sealing between adjacent head chips with a moisture curable resin. As the moisture curable resin used, first, polyisobutylene having an allyloxy group at the terminal was synthesized according to a conventional method using polyisobutylene (average molecular weight: 5000). The polyisobutylene was reacted with dimethoxymethylsilane using a platinum catalyst to prepare a moisture curable resin. This moisture curable resin has the same structure as Kaneka Epion marketed by Kanega Chemical Co., Ltd. A tin catalyst and an amine catalyst were added to the moisture curable resin and cured to seal the gap between the flow path forming portion and the circuit board and the gap between the head chips.

<Comparative example 1>
In Comparative Example 1, a moisture curable silicone resin (GE Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd., trade name: TSE3941M) was used as the resin between the flow path forming part and the circuit board and between the adjacent head chips. Except for this, an ink ejection head was produced in the same manner as in Example 1.

<Comparative example 2>
In Comparative Example 2, a resin for sealing between the flow path forming portion and the circuit board and sealing between adjacent head chips was manufactured as follows. First, polypropylene glycol (average molecular weight: 5000) was modified with silicone by a conventional method to synthesize a polymer compound. Next, 0.8 wt% of dibutyltin dilaurate and triethylamine were added to the resin as curing catalysts, respectively, and cured, thereby sealing the gap between the flow path forming portion and the circuit board and the gap between the head chips. An ink discharge head was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that this resin was used.

  Next, the ink ejection heads of Example 1, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 2 were provided in the head cartridge of a printer device (LPR-5000) manufactured by Sony Corporation, and the performance recovery mechanism provided at the home position of the printer device. Recovery work is performed by the cleaning roller. After confirming that printing is possible after recovery, leave the ink ejection head mounted on the head cartridge in a normal room temperature environment, and print one A4 sheet per day without performing recovery operations. The test was conducted until the day when non-ejection occurred due to the generation of bubbles. The printing conditions follow the LPR-5000 ejection operation.

  The evaluation of gas permeability is indicated by a circle when 20 ink ejection heads of Examples and Comparative Examples did not cause non-ejection even after 1 month from the start of the test. When no discharge was found before 30 days, it was marked with Δ, and when no discharge occurred within 10 days, it was marked with ×. The results are shown in Table 1.

  From the results shown in Table 1, in Example 1 to which the present invention was applied, non-ejection of ink due to air bubbles passed more than one month compared to Comparative Example 1 using silicone resin and Comparative Example 2 using polypropylene glycol. It can be seen that gas permeability is low.

  In Example 1, by using polyisobutylene to which dimethoxymethylsilane is added, the gas permeability is lowered, and air does not enter between the flow path plate and the head chip and between the head chips, and the ink liquid Air bubbles could be prevented from entering the chamber and the ink flow path. Thereby, in Example 1, the non-ejection by a bubble did not arise even if 1 month or more passed.

  Furthermore, in Example 1, the moisture curable resin composed of polyisobutylene to which dimethoxymethylsilane was added was evaluated for reliability with the ink for LPR-5000, and the ink resistance was measured. It was confirmed that there was no problem with respect to ink resistance, since there was no deterioration of the eluate and the moisture curable resin, which caused problems such as ejection failure.

  In contrast to Example 1, in Comparative Example 2 and Comparative Example 3, since the resin is silicone resin or polypropylene glycol, gas permeability is high, and between the flow path plate and the head chip or between the head chips. Air entered and air bubbles entered the ink liquid chamber and ink flow path, and non-ejection occurred due to the air bubbles.

  Therefore, by using the moisture curable resin mainly composed of polyisobutylene having dimethoxymethylsilane of Example 1, it is possible to suppress the mixing of bubbles into the ink liquid chamber and the ink flow path, and to perform a long operation without performing a recovery operation. It can be seen that stable printing can be performed for a period of time.

1 is a perspective view showing a printer apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a head cartridge provided in the printer apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the head cartridge. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an ink discharge head. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink discharge head. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ink discharge head taken along line BB in FIG. 5. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state where bubbles are generated in the heating resistor, and FIG. 2B shows a state where ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle. It is sectional drawing shown typically. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a part of the printer device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a circulation pump is provided between the ink cartridge and the ink discharge head.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer apparatus, 2 head cartridge, 3 apparatus main body, 21 ink cartridge, 22 ink supply part, 23 external communication hole, 31 cartridge main body, 32 mounting part, 33 ink discharge head, 34 head cap, 35 connection part, 51 ink Channel, 52 channel forming part, 53 channel connecting part, 61 circuit board, 61a heating resistor, 62 film, 71 nozzle, 81 first sealing part, 82 second sealing part

Claims (9)

In a liquid discharge head for supplying liquid to a liquid chamber provided with a nozzle and a pressure generating element through a flow path, and discharging the liquid from the nozzle with the pressure generating element,
A liquid discharge head, characterized in that a moisture curable resin mainly comprising polyisobutylene, an organic polymer compound having an alkoxysilane in the molecular structure, is used in at least a part of the flow path. The flow path includes a flow path member connected to a liquid storage cartridge in which the liquid is stored, and a head chip provided on the bottom surface of the flow path member, including the pressure generating element, and a plurality of head chips arranged in parallel. Part formed,
The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein at least the flow path member and the circuit board are bonded with the moisture curable resin. The flow path includes a flow path member connected to a liquid storage cartridge in which the liquid is stored, and a head chip provided on the bottom surface of the flow path member, including the pressure generating element, and a plurality of head chips arranged in parallel. Part formed,
The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein at least the head chips are sealed with the moisture curable resin.   The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the moisture curable resin is a one-component type. In a liquid discharge apparatus comprising a liquid discharge head for supplying liquid to a liquid chamber provided with a nozzle and a pressure generating element through a flow path, and discharging the liquid from the nozzle with the pressure generating element.
A liquid discharge characterized in that a moisture curable resin mainly composed of an organic polymer compound polyisobutylene having an alkoxysilane in the molecular structure is used in a part of the flow path of the liquid discharge head. apparatus. The liquid discharge head is connected to a liquid storage cartridge that stores the liquid,
The flow path of the liquid discharge head is shared by a flow path member connected to the liquid storage cartridge, and a head chip provided on the bottom surface of the flow path member, having the pressure generating element, and arranged in parallel. Part is formed,
6. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least the flow path member and the circuit board are bonded with the moisture curable resin. The liquid discharge head is connected to a liquid storage cartridge that stores the liquid,
The flow path of the liquid discharge head is shared by a flow path member connected to the liquid storage cartridge, and a head chip provided on the bottom surface of the flow path member, having the pressure generating element, and arranged in parallel. Part is formed,
6. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least the adjacent head chips are sealed with the moisture curable resin. And a circulation pump for circulating liquid between the liquid storage cartridge and the liquid discharge head,
The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a connection portion between the liquid discharge head and the circulation pump is coated with the moisture curable resin.   6. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the moisture curable resin is a one-component type.

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