JP2008111041A - Printing liquid, liquid cartridge, liquid-jetting cartridge, liquid-jetting device, and liquid-jetting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent non-jetting caused by kogation, and to correct jet-point deviations even if jet frequency increases. <P>SOLUTION: A printing liquid-jetting device is provided, being such that a liquid cartridge 32 furnished with a plurality of exothermic resistors 28a and 28b on a silicon substrate 27 and furnished with a jet port 31a at a position facing on the plurality of exothermic resistors 28a and 28b is fed with a recording liquid via a flow channel part of which is made up of an edge face 27b where a silicon material of the silicon substrate 27 is exposed, and the recording liquid is jetted via the jet port 31a by making a heat generation of the exothermic resistors 28a and 28b; wherein the recording liquid contains hydrophobic colloid, whose concentration is 3-100 ppm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, a plurality of heating resistors are provided for one liquid chamber, and an end surface of the silicon substrate on which the plurality of heating resistors are exposed constitutes a part of the flow path. The present invention relates to a recording liquid ejected by generating heat from a plurality of heating resistors, a liquid cartridge containing the recording liquid, a liquid ejection cartridge for ejecting the recording liquid, a liquid ejection apparatus, and a liquid ejection method.

  In the method of discharging the liquid, the liquid is supplied to the liquid chamber provided with the discharge port and the heating resistor through the flow path, and the liquid is pressed by the energy generated by the heating resistor and provided in the liquid chamber. There is a method of discharging liquid from the discharge port. As this method, there is an ink jet printer apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a printer apparatus) that prints images and characters by ejecting ink from nozzles and landing ink on recording paper.

  The printer apparatus includes an ejection port and a heating resistor, and an ink ejection head including a liquid chamber that ejects ink with the heating resistor and a flow path that supplies ink from the ink cartridge to the liquid chamber. Yes. In the printer device, the ink discharge head is moved in the width direction of the recording paper, and a serial type printer device that prints one line in the width direction of the recording paper, and the ink discharge head is almost the same as the width of the recording paper. There is a line type printer that is formed in a width and prints one line in the width direction of the recording paper without moving the ink discharge head in the width direction of the recording paper P. In a serial type printer device, the ink ejection head is driven back and forth in the width direction of the recording paper to print one line in the width direction of the recording paper, and then the recording paper is displaced by a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction. Feed the chart paper and print the next line. In the serial type printer device, after the ink ejection head moves over the width of the recording paper P, one line is printed, the recording paper is fed, and these operations are repeated, whereby an image or image is printed on one recording paper. Print characters.

  In the line type printer device, nozzles for ejecting ink are provided over the width of the recording paper, and one line can be printed at a time. After printing one line, the recording paper is placed in a predetermined direction. Then, the recording paper is fed by being displaced by a predetermined distance, and the next line is printed. Since the line type printer device can print one line without moving the ink discharge head in the width direction of the recording paper, it prints one line by moving the ink discharge head in the width direction of the recording paper. The printing speed is faster than the serial type printer.

  In such a line type printer apparatus, for example, an ink discharge head 100 as shown in FIG. 21 is provided. The ink discharge head 100 includes a silicon substrate 101 provided with a heater 101a for heating ink, a resin film 102 surrounding the heater 101a on the silicon substrate 101, and a nozzle sheet 103 provided with a nozzle 103a for discharging ink. It consists of and. In the ink discharge head 100, a liquid chamber 104 having a heater 101a surrounded by a silicon substrate 101, a resin film 102, and a nozzle sheet 103 is formed. As shown in FIG. 21, the ink discharge head 100 is configured such that the heater 101a and the nozzle 103a face each other so that the center line L1 of the heater 101a coincides with the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a. The sheet 103 is formed by being bonded together.

  In this ink discharge head 100, only one liquid chamber 104 is shown in FIG. 21, but a plurality of liquid chambers 104 are arranged in a substantially straight line in the width direction of the recording paper. That is, since the ink discharge head 100 is used in a line-type printer apparatus, it has a width corresponding to the width of the recording paper, and a plurality of heaters 101a are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the recording paper. A nozzle 103a is formed opposite to 101a.

  The ink discharge head 100 is provided with a flow path (not shown) that connects the ink cartridge and the liquid chamber 104 so that ink can be supplied. In the ink discharge head 100, ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the liquid chamber 104 through the flow path, and the heater 101a is driven and controlled by a drive circuit provided on the silicon substrate 101 based on the print data. By generating heat, bubbles are generated on the heater 101a in the liquid chamber 104, the surrounding ink is pressed by the generated bubbles, and the ink droplets D are ejected from the nozzle 103a. Images and characters are formed by a collection of dots formed by ink droplets D landing on the recording paper.

  In this ink discharge head 100, as shown in FIG. 21, the center line L1 of the heater 101a and the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a should ideally coincide with each other. Therefore, strictly speaking, the center line L1 of the heater 101a and the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a do not always coincide with each other. In the ink discharge head 100, if the center line L1 of the heater 101a and the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a are deviated, the trajectory of the ejected ink droplet D is deviated from the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a. The landing position of the droplet D is shifted. The landing position deviation of the ink droplet D is caused by the positional deviation between the heater 101a and the nozzle 103a due to the sticking error when the nozzle sheet 103 is stuck on the resin film 102, the presence of dust attached to the nozzle 103a, or the opening of the nozzle 103a. This is due to the roundness of the aperture, the angular deviation with respect to the vertical direction, or the like.

  In this ink ejection head 100, as shown in FIG. 22, when the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a is displaced by X (deviation amount X) with respect to the center line L1 of the heater 101a, the ink ejected due to this deviation. The trajectory of the droplet D is deviated from the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a, resulting in an angle deviation θ with respect to the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a. In this ink ejection head 100, the center line L1 of the heater 101a and the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a coincide, the deviation amount X is 0, and the angular deviation θ of the ejection trajectory is 0, that is, the landing position is the target. , The ink droplet D ′ shown in FIG. 22 is obtained. In such an ink discharge head 100, when the center line L1 of the heater 101a and the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a do not coincide with each other, the deviation amount X and the angular deviation θ actually exist, and the ink droplet D is landed as in the ink droplet D. The position will deviate from the target position.

  The relationship between the deviation amount X and the angular deviation θ is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 23, the horizontal axis represents the amount of displacement between the center line L1 of the heater 101a and the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a, that is, the displacement amount X (μm), and the vertical axis represents the displacement of the ink droplet ejection angle. That is, the angle deviation θ (deg). Further, when examining the relationship between the deviation amount X and the angular deviation θ shown in FIG. 23, the conditions of the ink ejection head 100 are as follows: the heater 101a has an outer shape of 18 μm × 18 μm, the nozzle 103a has an outer diameter of 17 μm, and water-based ink. The applied power of the heater 101a was 500 mW, the repetition frequency was 1.2 kHz, and the pulse width was 1.5 μS.

  From the actually measured values shown in FIG. 23, the angular deviation θ is 0.0029X−0.4878, and θ / X = 0.21 deg / μm. Therefore, under the condition of the ink discharge head 100 described above, if the center line L1 of the heater 101a and the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a are shifted by 1 μm, an angle shift θ of 0.21 deg is generated.

  In the ink discharge head 100, as shown in FIG. 22, when the distance from the position of the heater 101a (discharge position of the ink droplet D) to the landing surface of the recording paper is R, the ink droplet is caused by the angle deviation θ. The landing position of D is shifted by R × tan θ from the target position of the landing position (the landing position of the ink droplet D ′). In such an ink discharge head 100, when the deviation amount X between the center line L1 of the heater 101a and the center line L2 of the nozzle 103a is small, the angular deviation θ is also small, so the deviation of the landing position of the ink droplet D is small. It will not be a problem. However, in the line type printer device, when the amount of deviation of the landing position of the ink droplet D is large during printing, unlike the serial type printer device, white streaks occur. This is because in a line type printer, ink is ejected from a plurality of nozzles 103a provided over the width of the recording paper to print one line at a time, and the recording paper is displaced by a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction. Thus, since the next line is printed, a landing position shift occurs at the same position in a line shape in the running direction of the recording paper. For this reason, in the line-type printer device, when the entire image or character is viewed after printing, the landing position deviation becomes noticeable in a streak shape.

  As a method for solving the positional deviation of the landing position of the ejected ink droplet D, there is an ink ejection head 110 as shown in FIG. 24 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The ink discharge head 110 includes a plurality of heaters 111a and 111b that can be individually driven on a silicon substrate 111, a resin film 112 surrounding the heaters 111a and 111b on the silicon substrate 111, and nozzles that discharge ink. The nozzle sheet 113 is provided with a 113a. The ink discharge head 110 is formed with a liquid chamber 114 having heaters 111 a and 111 b surrounded by a silicon substrate 111, a resin film 112, and a nozzle sheet 113.

  In the ink discharge head 110, a plurality of heaters 111a and 111b that can be individually driven are arranged at different positions in the liquid chamber 114 with respect to one nozzle 113a. In the ink discharge head 110, one of the plurality of heaters 111a and 111b is driven for each line to change the discharge direction of the ink droplets D1 and D2, or the plurality of heaters 111a and 111b. By driving both 111a and 111b and providing a thermal energy difference between the heaters 111a and 111b, the force pressing the ink in the liquid chamber 114 is biased toward the side where the driving force of the heaters 111a and 111b is small, and the ink liquid The ejection direction of the droplets D1 and D2 can be changed, and the ejection direction of the ink droplets D1 and D2 can be changed even with the same nozzle 113a. Therefore, in such an ink discharge head 110, the landing position on the recording paper can be changed like the ink droplets D1 and D2. Thereby, in such an ink discharge head 110, even if the landing position deviation occurs in each nozzle 113a and the degree of the landing position deviation differs for each nozzle 113a, the ink droplets D1 and D2 are discharged for each nozzle 113a. Since the direction can be changed, it is possible to make the landing position shift unique to the nozzle 113a as described above inconspicuous.

  Here, in the ink discharge head 110 using the heaters 111a and 111b, for example, the end surface where the silicon material of the silicon substrate on which the heaters 111a and 111b are provided is connected so that ink can be supplied from the ink cartridge to the liquid chamber 114a. A portion of the path is formed, and when the ink comes into contact with the end surface, the silicon material is eluted from the end surface, and the eluted silicon material may accumulate on the heaters 111a and 111b, thereby causing kogation.

  For this reason, in the ink discharge head 110, as described in Patent Document 2 below, the ink contains a hydrophobic colloid, and the hydrophobic colloid adheres to the end surface, thereby preventing the elution of the silicon material. , Preventing the occurrence of kogation.

  However, as described in Patent Document 2, the ink ejection head 110 contains a hydrophobic colloid, and when the content of the hydrophobic colloid increases, the ejection of the ink droplets D1 and D2 increases as the number of ejections increases. It was confirmed that the range of motion in which the angle could be changed would be narrowed. In the ink discharge head 110, when the movable range in which the discharge angle of the ink droplets D1 and D2 can be changed becomes narrow, the range in which the landing position deviation of the ink droplets D1 and D2 can be corrected becomes narrow, and the landing position deviation can be sufficiently reduced. You can't make it inconspicuous.

  The phenomenon in which the movable range in which the ejection angles of the ink droplets D1 and D2 can be changed in this way becomes narrow is due to, for example, kogation conventionally known for the ink ejection head 110 using the heaters 111a and 111b. 111b is shortened and the ink droplets D1 and D2 are not ejected. In other words, in the ink ejection head 110, the ejection angle of the ink droplets D1 and D2 may be hardly bent before non-ejection due to kogation. On the other hand, there are cases where the ejection angle of the ink droplets D1 and D2 can be sufficiently bent until the moment when the ink droplets D1 and D2 are not ejected. Therefore, the ink ejection head 110 not only prevents non-ejection, but also does not narrow the movable range in which the ejection angle of the ink droplets D1 and D2 can be changed even if the number of ejections increases, and the heater 111a. , 111b and the nozzle 113a, the presence of dust adhering to the nozzle 113a, or the landing position deviation due to the roundness of the opening diameter of the nozzle 113a or the angular deviation with respect to the vertical direction can be corrected. It is necessary to be able to print high-quality images and characters without white stripes.

JP 2002-240287 A JP 2004-244620 A

  The present invention relates to a recording liquid that can prevent non-ejection due to kogation and can correct landing position deviation even if the number of ejections increases, a liquid cartridge that contains the recording liquid, and a liquid ejection cartridge that ejects the recording liquid An object is to provide a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid ejection method.

  The recording liquid according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is provided on the discharge port and the silicon substrate, and the silicon material of the silicon substrate is exposed to a liquid chamber having a plurality of heating resistors opposed to the discharge port. Hydrophobic colloid, which is supplied through a flow path partially formed by an end face, is discharged from the discharge port by bubbles generated by generating heat energy by providing a plurality of heat generating resistors and generating heat. And the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.

  In addition, the liquid cartridge according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object includes a silicon substrate in a liquid chamber that is provided on a silicon substrate and has a plurality of heating resistors opposed to the discharge port. The recording liquid is supplied through a flow path partially formed by the exposed end face of the silicon material, and heat is generated by providing a thermal energy difference to a plurality of heating resistors, and the recording liquid in the liquid chamber is heated to generate the recording liquid. The recording liquid discharged from the discharge port is accommodated by the generated bubbles, and the recording liquid contains a hydrophobic colloid, and the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.

  A liquid discharge cartridge according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is provided in a liquid chamber having a discharge port for discharging a recording liquid and a plurality of heating resistors provided on the silicon substrate and facing the discharge port. The recording liquid is supplied through a flow path partially formed by the exposed end surface of the silicon material of the substrate, and heat is generated by providing a thermal energy difference to a plurality of heating resistors, and is discharged by bubbles generated in the liquid chamber. The recording liquid is discharged from the outlet, and the recording liquid contains a hydrophobic colloid, and the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.

  In addition, a liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object includes a liquid ejection port that is provided on a silicon substrate and has a plurality of heating resistors provided on a silicon substrate and facing the ejection port. The recording liquid is supplied to the chamber through a flow path partially formed by the end surface where the silicon material of the silicon substrate is exposed, and heat is generated by providing a thermal energy difference between the plurality of heating resistors to be generated in the liquid chamber. A liquid discharge cartridge for discharging the recording liquid from the discharge port by the bubbles is provided, and the recording liquid contains a hydrophobic colloid, and the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less. And

  In addition, the liquid discharge method according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is a liquid having a discharge port for discharging a recording liquid and a plurality of heating resistors provided on the silicon substrate and facing the discharge port. The recording liquid is supplied to the chamber through a flow path partially formed by the end surface where the silicon material of the silicon substrate is exposed, and heat is generated by providing a thermal energy difference between the plurality of heating resistors to be generated in the liquid chamber. Is a method of ejecting liquid from a liquid ejection apparatus provided with a liquid ejection cartridge that ejects recording liquid from an ejection port by air bubbles. The recording liquid contains a hydrophobic colloid, and the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more. 100 ppm or less.

  In the present invention, by setting the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid in the recording liquid to 3 ppm or more, it is possible to prevent the silicon material from eluting from the end surface of the silicon substrate where the silicon material is exposed, and the silicon material is deposited on the heating resistor. Therefore, non-ejection of the recording liquid due to kogation can be prevented. Further, in the present invention, since the elution of the silicon material can be prevented, the silicon material can be prevented from clogging the discharge port, the liquid chamber, and the flow path, and the non-ejection due to the clogging of the silicon material can also be prevented. .

  In the present invention, by setting the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid in the recording liquid to 100 ppm or less, the amount of the hydrophobic colloid in the recording liquid does not increase too much, and the discharge angle of the recording liquid is changed even if the number of discharges increases. The movable range is not narrowed, the discharge angle can be controlled, and the landing position deviation of the recording liquid can be corrected.

  Hereinafter, an ink, an ink cartridge, a head cartridge, a printer apparatus, and an ink ejection method using the printer apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. The ink i to which the present invention is applied is used in, for example, the ink jet printer apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter referred to as the printer apparatus 1), and forms images and characters. First, prior to the description of the ink i to which the present invention is applied, the line type printer apparatus 1 using the ink i will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer apparatus 1 is an ink jet printer, and ink discharge ports (nozzles) are arranged in parallel in a substantially line shape for each color in the width direction of the recording paper P, that is, the arrow W direction in FIG. This is a so-called line type printer apparatus. The printer apparatus 1 includes a head cartridge 2 that is a liquid ejection cartridge that ejects ink i, and an apparatus main body 3 to which the head cartridge 2 is mounted. The head cartridge 2 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 3. ing.

  First, the head cartridge 2 constituting the printer apparatus 1 will be described. The head cartridge 2 causes the ink i to be ejected using a heating resistor, and the ink i is landed 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 11 containing ink i to which the present invention is applied. The ink cartridge 11 includes a yellow ink cartridge 11y, a magenta ink cartridge 11m, a cyan ink cartridge 11c, and a black ink cartridge 11k for each color of yellow ink, magenta ink, cyan ink, and black ink. Has been.

  Each ink cartridge 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape having substantially the same dimension as the width direction (W direction in FIG. 2) of the recording paper P, and the ink i stored in the head cartridge 2 is provided at the approximate center of the bottom surface. An ink supply unit 12 for supplying the ink is formed. The ink supply unit 12 is configured to be able to supply the ink i to the head cartridge 2 by fitting the tip of the ink supply unit 12 into a connection unit 25 of the head cartridge 2 described later. The ink cartridge 11 may be formed integrally with the head cartridge 2.

  The head cartridge 2 to which the ink cartridge 11 is attached has a cartridge body 21 as shown in FIGS. The cartridge body 21 is provided with a mounting portion 22 to which the ink cartridge 11 is mounted, an ink discharge head 23 for discharging the ink i, and a head cap 24 for protecting the ink discharge head 23.

  The attachment portion 22 to which the ink cartridge 11 is attached is provided with a connection portion 25 that is connected to the ink supply portion 12 of the ink cartridge 11 attached to the attachment portion 22 at the approximate center in the longitudinal direction. The connection portion 25 is connected to the ink supply portion 12 of the ink cartridge 11 attached to the attachment portion 22 and becomes a part of an ink supply path for supplying the ink i to the ink discharge head 23, and supplies the ink i by a valve mechanism. The ink i is supplied from the ink cartridge 11 to the ink discharge head 23 while adjusting the amount.

  The ink discharge head 23 to which the ink i is supplied from the connection portion 25 is disposed on the bottom surface of the cartridge main body 21. In the ink discharge head 23, nozzles 31a for discharging the ink i supplied from the connection portion 25 are formed in parallel with each other in a substantially line shape in the width direction of the recording paper P, that is, the arrow W direction in FIG. ing. The ink discharge head 23 moves in the width direction (W direction) of the recording paper P in order to discharge the ink i for each nozzle line without moving in the width direction of the recording paper P when discharging the ink i. Thus, there is no need to move the head cartridge 2 as in the case of a serial type printer that prints in this way, and this can greatly reduce the printing time.

  The ink discharge head 23 has a head chip 26 composed of a semiconductor substrate or the like on which a heating resistor or the like shown in FIG. 4 is formed. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the head chip 26 corresponds to the ink i of each color on the silicon substrate 27 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the running direction of the recording paper P, that is, in the width direction (W direction) of the recording paper P. A pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b arranged side by side are formed. On the silicon substrate 27, a film 29 for preventing leakage of the ink i and a nozzle sheet 31 provided with a large number of nozzles 31a for discharging the ink i in the form of droplets are laminated. In the region surrounded by the silicon substrate 27, the film 29 and the nozzle sheet 31, an ink liquid chamber 32 to which ink i is supplied and an ink flow path 33 for supplying ink i to the ink liquid chamber 32 are formed. .

  The silicon substrate 27 is a semiconductor substrate such as silicon, and a pair of heat generating resistors 28a and 28b that generate bubbles for ejecting the ink i are formed on one main surface 27a thereof. The pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b are connected to a discharge control unit 52 formed of a logic IC (Integrated Circuit), a driver transistor or the like provided on the silicon substrate 27. The pair of heating resistors 28 a and 28 b generate heat when supplied with a pulse current, and are heated by applying thermal energy to the ink i in the ink liquid chamber 32 to generate bubbles. By increasing the internal pressure, the ink i is pressed with bubbles and discharged from the nozzle 31a provided on the nozzle sheet 31 in the form of droplets.

  Further, since the silicon substrate 27 is formed into a predetermined size by being cut, the end surface 27b on the ink flow path 33 side is a cut surface cut out by dicing. Since this cut surface is difficult to be oxidized in the assembly process, the silicon material constituting the silicon substrate 27 is exposed. As shown in FIG. 6, the end surface 27 b constitutes a part of the ink flow path 33 that supplies the ink i to the ink liquid chamber 32, and thus is in direct contact with the ink i that flows in the ink flow path 33. Become.

  A film 29 is laminated on one main surface 27a of the silicon substrate 27 on which a pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b are formed at positions corresponding to the ink liquid chambers 32. The film 29 is made of, for example, an exposure-curing type dry film resist, and is laminated on substantially the entire main surface 27a of the silicon substrate 27, and then unnecessary portions are removed by a photolithography process. As shown in FIG. The heating resistors 28a and 28b are formed so as to surround the substantially concave shape. In the film 29, a portion surrounding each of the pair of heating resistors 28 a and 28 b forms a part of the ink liquid chamber 32.

  The nozzle sheet 31 is a sheet-like member having a thickness of about 10 μm to 15 μm on which nozzles 31 a for ejecting ink droplets i are formed, and is laminated on a film 29 laminated on a silicon substrate 27. The nozzle 31a is a minute hole having a diameter of about 15 μm to 18 μm opened in a circular shape in the nozzle sheet 31, and is formed to face the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b. The nozzle sheet 31 constitutes the bottom surface of the ink liquid chamber 32 as shown in FIG.

  The ink liquid chambers 32 formed by laminating the film 29 and the nozzle sheet 31 on the silicon substrate 27 serve as space portions for storing the ink i supplied from the ink flow path 33 and face the nozzles 31a. The internal pressure is increased by heating the ink i by the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b provided, and the ink i pushed out by the increase in the internal pressure from the nozzle 31a is ejected in the form of droplets. The ink flow path 33 is connected to a connection portion 25 provided in the mounting portion 22 where the ink cartridge 11 is mounted, and ink i is supplied from the ink cartridge 11 connected to the connection portion 25. The ink i is supplied to each ink liquid chamber 32 communicating with 33.

  In the head chip 26 described above, a pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b are provided for each ink liquid chamber 32, and the ink liquid chamber 32 provided with such a pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b is set to 100 for each color. About 5,000 pieces are provided. The head chip 26 appropriately selects each of the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b based on a command from the control unit 56 of the printer apparatus 1 to be described later to generate heat, and the pair of generated heating resistors 28a and 28b generate heat. The ink i in the provided ink liquid chamber 32 is ejected in the form of droplets from a nozzle 31 a provided in the ink liquid chamber 32.

  Specifically, the ink liquid chamber 32 is always filled with the ink i supplied from the ink flow path 33, and when the pair of heating resistors 28 a and 28 b rapidly generate heat with a pulse current of, for example, 1 μsec to 3 μsec, The portions of the ink i in contact with the heating resistors 28a and 28b are heated to generate bubbles, and the expanded volume of the ink i is pressed by the expansion of the bubbles. As a result, the ink droplet i is ejected from the nozzle 31a.

  In the head chip 26, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b are arranged in a single ink liquid chamber 32 substantially parallel to each other in the width direction of the recording paper P indicated by the arrow W in FIG. It is installed side by side. When the ink droplet i is discharged from the nozzle 31a, the ink i in the ink chamber 32 is heated by the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b until bubbles are generated. When the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b are driven and controlled so that the time, that is, the bubble generation time is the same, the nozzles 31a are discharged almost directly below. Further, when a time difference is generated in the bubble generation time of the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b, bubbles larger than the other are generated on one of the heating resistors 28a and 28b. As a result, a pressure difference is generated in the pressure for pressing the ink i in the ink liquid chamber 32, and the ink droplet i is ejected in one of the directions in which the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b are arranged. Will be.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, when a pulse current having the same current value is supplied to the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b, the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b are rapidly heated in the same manner. Bubbles B1 and B2 are generated in the ink i in the portion in contact with the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b. As shown in FIG. 8, when the bubbles B1 and B2 grow in the same manner, the ink i having a predetermined volume is pressed by the expansion of the bubbles B1 and B2. As a result, the ink i is ejected from the nozzle 31a substantially in the form of a droplet and is landed on the recording paper P.

  In the head chip 26, as shown in FIG. 9, when pulse currents having different values are supplied to the pair of heating resistors 28a, 28b, the pair of heating resistors 28a, 28b Bubbles B1 and B2 of different sizes are generated in the portion in contact with 28b. As shown in FIG. 10, the bubbles B1 and B2 grow and the bubbles B1 and B2 expand to press the ink i having a predetermined volume. As a result, the ink i is ejected from the nozzle 31a in the state of the ink droplet i, shifted in the width direction of the recording paper P indicated by the arrow W in FIG. 10, toward the smaller volume (B2) of the bubbles B1 and B2. Then, it is landed on the recording paper P. Similarly, when the volume of the bubble B2 is large and the volume of the bubble B1 is small, the bubble B1 is displaced toward the bubble B1 and discharged.

  Note that the number of the heating resistors 28a and 28b is not limited to two as described above, and may be three or more. Further, the direction in which the heating resistors 28a and 28b are arranged may be a direction perpendicular to the W direction in FIG. Thereby, the ejection direction of the ink droplet i can be bent in the running direction of the recording paper P.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a head cap 24 that protects the ejection surface 23a provided with the nozzles 31a is attached to the ink ejection head 23 having the head chip 26 as described above. As shown in FIG. 2, the head cap 24 does not eject the ink i and blocks the ejection surface 23a of the ink ejection head 23 to protect the nozzle 31a from drying or the like while printing is not performed.

  When performing printing, the head cap 24 moves from the bottom surface of the head cartridge 2 to the front side of the apparatus body 3 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, and the ejection surface 23a of the ink ejection head 23 is exposed to the outside. Let The head cap 24 is provided with a cleaning roller 24a for wiping off excess ink i adhering to the ejection surface 23a. The head cap 24 cleans the ejection surface 23a with the cleaning roller 24a when opening the ejection surface 23a.

  Next, the apparatus main body 3 to which the head cartridge 2 configured as described above is mounted will be described with reference to FIG. The apparatus body 3 is assembled inside an outer casing 41 composed of an upper casing 41a and a lower casing 41b, and the upper casing 41a can be opened and closed with respect to the lower casing 41b by hinge means (not shown). It has become. On the front surface of the outer casing 41, a paper supply / discharge port 42 through which the recording paper P is supplied / discharged is provided. A storage tray 43 for storing the recording paper P before printing is attached to the lower side of the paper supply / discharge port 42, and a discharge tray 44 for discharging the recording paper P after printing onto the storage tray 43. It is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper housing 41a is provided with a head mounting portion 46 to which the above-described head cartridge 2 is mounted. When the head cartridge 2 is mounted on the head mounting portion 46, the ejection surface 23a of the head cartridge 2 faces a printing position in the lower housing 41b described later.

  In the casing 41, the head cap 24 of the head cartridge 2 mounted on the head mounting section 46 is moved to the closed position where the ejection surface 23a is closed by facing the ejection surface 23a and the upper side of the upper casing 41a. A head cap moving mechanism (not shown in detail) is provided for moving between the open position for opening the discharge surface 23a and opening and closing the discharge surface 23a. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the housing 41 is provided with a transport mechanism that transports the recording paper P from the storage tray 43 to a position facing the discharge surface 23 a of the ink discharge head 23.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the printer apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  The printer apparatus 1 includes a printer driving unit 51 that controls driving of the head cap opening / closing mechanism and driving of the paper supply / discharge mechanism of the apparatus main body 3 and a current supplied to the head chip 26 corresponding to each color ink i. A discharge control unit 52 for controlling the operation, an input / output terminal 53 for inputting / outputting signals to / from an external device, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 54 in which a control program and the like are recorded, and a read control program and the like are loaded. RAM (Random Access Memory) 55 and a control unit 56 for controlling each unit.

  Based on a control signal from the control unit 56, the printer driving unit 51 drives and controls a drive motor that constitutes a head cap opening / closing mechanism to open and close the head cap 24 with respect to the ejection surface 23a. Further, the printer drive unit 51 controls the drive motor constituting the paper supply / discharge mechanism based on the control signal from the control unit 56 to feed the recording paper P from the storage tray 43 of the apparatus main body 3, and after printing. The recording paper P is discharged to the paper discharge tray 44.

  The input / output terminal 53 transmits information such as the above-described printing conditions, printing state, ink remaining amount, and the like to an external information processing device 57 or the like via an interface. The input / output terminal 53 receives a control signal for outputting information such as the above-described printing conditions, printing state, ink remaining amount, print data, and the like from an external information processing device 57 or the like. Here, the information processing apparatus 57 described above is an electronic device such as a personal computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  The control unit 56 controls each unit based on the print data input from the input / output terminal 53. The control unit 56 reads a processing program for controlling each unit from the ROM 54 based on the input control signal and the like, stores the processing program in the RAM 55, and controls and processes each unit based on the processing program.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the discharge controller 52 includes power supplies 61a and 61b for supplying a pulse current to the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b of the head chip 26, a pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b, and a power supply 61a. , 61b, switching elements 62a, 62b, 62c for turning on / off electrical connection, a variable resistor 63 for controlling a pulse current supplied to the pair of heating resistors 28a, 28b, and a switching element 62b , 62 c and switching control circuits 64 a and 64 b for controlling switching, and a resistance value control circuit 65 for controlling the resistance value of the variable resistor 63.

  The power source 61a is connected to the heating resistor 28b, and the power source 61b is connected to the variable resistor 63 via the switching element 62c and supplies a pulse current to each. The switching element 62a is disposed between the heating resistor 28a and the ground, and controls on / off of the entire ejection control unit 52. The switching element 62b is disposed between the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b and the variable resistor 63, and controls the pulse current supplied to the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b. The switching element 62c is disposed between the variable resistor 63 and the power source 61b, and controls the ejection direction of the ink droplet i. The switching elements 62a, 62b, and 62c are controlled to be supplied to the heating resistors 28a and 28b by switching on / off.

  The variable resistor 63 changes the current value of the pulse current supplied to the heating resistor 28a by changing the resistance value. That is, the current value of the pulse current supplied to the heating resistor 28a is varied according to the change in the resistance value of the variable resistor 63. The switching control circuit 64a switches on / off of the switching element 62b to connect the variable resistor 63 and the pair of heating resistors 28a, 28b, or the variable resistor 63 and the pair of heating resistors 28a, 28b. And turn off. The switching control circuit 64b switches on / off the switching element 62c to switch on / off the connection of the power source 61b. The resistance value control circuit 65 changes the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 to adjust the pulse current value supplied to the heating resistor 28a.

  In the discharge controller 52 as described above, when the switching element 62b is turned off and the variable resistor 63 and the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b are not connected, when the switching element 62a is turned on, a pulse is generated from the power supply 61a. A current is supplied to a pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b connected in series (current does not flow through the variable resistor 63). At this time, if the resistance values of the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b are substantially the same, the amount of heat generated by the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b when the pulse current is supplied is substantially the same. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14A, the amount of heat generated by the pair of heating resistors 28a, 28b is substantially the same, and the time for generating the bubbles B1, B2, that is, the bubble generation time is substantially the same. Bubbles B1, B2 having the same volume are formed on the pair of heating resistors 28a, 28b, respectively. As a result, the ink droplet i is ejected from the nozzle 31a so that the ejection angle is substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the recording paper P.

  When the switching element 62b shown in FIG. 13 turns on the connection between the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b and the variable resistor 63, turns on the switching element 62a, and connects the switching element 62c to the ground, FIG. As shown in FIG. 14B, the ink droplet i discharged from the head chip 26 is discharged in a state where the discharge direction is changed to the heating resistor 28a side in the width direction W of the recording paper P shown in FIG. Is done. That is, when the switching element 62c is connected to the ground, the current value of the pulse current supplied to the heating resistor 28a decreases according to the resistance value of the variable resistor 63, and the volume of the bubble B1 is the volume of the bubble B2. Since the bubbles B1 and B2 are formed on the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b in a smaller state, the ink droplet i is changed from the nozzle 31a by changing the discharge angle toward the heating resistor 28a. The ink is discharged substantially obliquely. In the discharge controller 52, the current value of the pulse current supplied to the heating resistor 28b is unchanged, and the current value of the pulse current supplied to the heating resistor 28a is changed.

  In this case, if the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 is large, the current flowing from the power source 61a to the ground via the switching element 62c decreases, and the amount of decrease in the current value of the pulse current supplied from the power source 61a to the heating resistor 28a. Therefore, the difference between the pulse currents supplied to the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b is reduced, the difference in the amount of heat generated between the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b is also reduced, and the discharge surface 23a is used as a reference. As a result, the ejection angle of the ink droplet i ejected from the nozzle 31a increases. That is, as the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 is larger, the ink droplet i is closer to the landing point D when the ink droplet i is ejected substantially directly below the nozzle 31a on the heating resistor 28a side. It is discharged so as to land.

  On the other hand, if the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 is small, the current flowing from the power source 61a to the ground via the switching element 62c increases, and the amount of decrease in the current value of the pulse current supplied from the power source 61a to the heating resistor 28a. Therefore, the difference between the pulse currents supplied to the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b is increased, the difference in the amount of heat generated between the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b is also increased, and the discharge surface 23a is used as a reference. Thus, the ejection angle of the ink droplet i ejected from the nozzle 31a is reduced. That is, as the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 is smaller, the ink droplet i is located farther on the side of the heating resistor 28a than the landing point D when the ink droplet i is ejected substantially directly below the nozzle 31a. It is discharged so as to land.

  In the discharge control unit 52 shown in FIG. 13, the switching element 62b turns on the connection between the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b and the variable resistor 63, turns on the switching element 62a, and turns the switching element 62c on the power source 61b. When connected, as shown in FIG. 14C, the ink droplets i ejected from the head chip 26 are ejected in the width direction W of the recording paper P shown in FIG. The ink is discharged in a variable state. That is, by connecting the switching element 62c to the power supply 61b, the current value of the pulse current supplied to the heating resistor 28a increases according to the resistance value of the variable resistor 63, and the volume of the bubble B2 is the bubble B1. Since the bubbles B1 and B2 are respectively formed on the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b in a state of being smaller than the volume, the ink droplet i is changed from the nozzle 31a by changing the discharge angle toward the heating resistor 28b. Is discharged substantially obliquely. In other words, the heat generation state of the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b is opposite to the discharge direction when the switching element 62c is connected to the ground.

  In this case, if the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 is large, the pulse current supplied to the heating resistor 28a from the power source 61b in addition to the power source 61a is reduced, so that the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b The difference in the supplied pulse current is reduced, the difference in the amount of heat generated between the pair of heating resistors 28a, 28b is also reduced, and the ejection angle of the ink droplet i ejected from the nozzle 31a with reference to the ejection surface 23a. Will grow. That is, as the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 is larger, the ink droplet i is closer to the landing point D when the ink droplet i is ejected just below the nozzle 31a on the side of the heating resistor 28b. It is discharged so as to land. On the other hand, if the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 is small, the pulse current added to the heating resistor 28a from the power source 61b and supplied to the heating resistor 28a in addition to the power source 61a becomes large. The difference between the pulse currents generated increases, the difference in the amount of heat generated between the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b also increases, and the discharge angle of the ink droplet i discharged from the nozzle 31a with reference to the discharge surface 23a is Get smaller. That is, as the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 is smaller, the ink droplet i is located farther on the side of the heating resistor 28b than the landing point D when the ink droplet i is ejected substantially directly below the nozzle 31a. It is discharged so as to land.

  As described above, in the ejection control unit 52, the switching elements 62a, 62b, and 62c are switched and the resistance value of the variable resistor 63 is changed to change the ejection direction of the ink droplet i from the nozzle 31a. It can be changed in the direction in which the bodies 28a and 28b are arranged in parallel, that is, in the width direction (W direction) of the recording paper P.

  As described above, the head chip 26 is provided with a plurality of heating resistors 28a and 28b that can be individually driven, and the ejection direction of the ink droplet i is changed by controlling the thermal energy of the heating resistors 28a and 28b. be able to. In this head chip 26, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, when the nozzle sheet 31 is attached to the film 29 in the manufacturing process, the center line L3 of the nozzle 31a is shifted to the heating resistor 28a side. The ink droplet i is ejected to the side of the heating resistor 28a from the center line L4 between the heating resistors 28a and 28b targeted for the recording paper P. Therefore, in the head chip 26, as shown in FIG. 14C, the thermal energy of the heating resistor 28a is made larger than the thermal energy of the heating resistor 28b, and the ink droplet i is applied to the heating resistor 28b side. Discharge. As a result, in this head chip 26, the ink droplet i is ejected and landed at the target position on the center line L4 of the heating resistors 28a and 28b of the recording paper P, and the positions of the heating resistors 28a and 28b and the nozzle 31a. It is possible to correct the landing position shift due to the shift and land the ink droplet i at the target position. Therefore, in the head chip 26, it is possible to prevent white streaks or the like from being generated in an image or characters after printing due to a deviation in the landing position of the ink droplet i.

  Similarly, in the head chip 26, when the center line L3 of the nozzle 31a is shifted to the heating resistor 28b side from the center line L4 of the heating resistors 28a and 28b, as shown in FIG. The thermal energy of the heating resistor 28b is made larger than the thermal energy of the heating resistor 28a, the ink droplet i is ejected to the heating resistor 28a side, and the target position on the center line L4 of the heating resistors 28a, 28b. Ink droplets i can be discharged and landed. Thereby, in this head chip 26, even if the center line L3 of the nozzle 31a is shifted to the heating resistor 28b side with respect to the center line L4 of the heating resistors 28a and 28b, the ink droplet i is applied to the target position of the recording paper P. Can be landed.

  In the head chip 26, in addition to the positional deviation between the heating resistors 28a, 28b and the nozzle 31a, ink generated by dust attached to the nozzle 31a, the roundness of the opening diameter of the nozzle 31a, the angular deviation with respect to the vertical direction, and the like. The landing position deviation of the ink droplet i is corrected by changing the ejection direction of the ink droplet i as shown in FIGS. 14 (b) and 14 (c). The ink droplet i can be landed at the position.

  Next, a series of operations until the printing start of the printer apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The printing operation of the printer apparatus 1 is started by pressing a print start button or the like on the operation unit 41c shown in FIG. When the printing start operation is performed by the user, first, the control unit 56 determines whether or not the ink cartridge 11 of a predetermined color is mounted on each mounting unit 22 in step S1. Then, the control unit 56 proceeds to step S2 when the ink cartridge 11 of a predetermined color is properly mounted on all the mounting units 22, and proceeds to step S2 when the ink cartridge 11 is not properly mounted on the mounting unit 22. In step S4, the printing operation is prohibited.

  In step S2, the control unit 56 determines whether or not the ink i in the ink cartridge 11 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, that is, whether the ink is out. If it is determined that there is no ink, the control unit 56 determines in step S4. Prohibits printing. On the other hand, the control unit 56 permits the printing operation when the ink i in the ink cartridge 11 is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, that is, when the ink i is filled.

  In step S3, the control unit 56 drives the drive motor of the head cap opening / closing mechanism to move the head cap 24 to the front side of the upper housing 41a, open the ejection surface 23a, and to move the recording paper P to the head. A printing process corresponding to the input print data is performed by facing the nozzle 31a of the chip 27. The control unit 56 controls the drive of the paper supply / discharge mechanism by the printer driving unit 51 to move the recording paper P to a printable position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 56 pulls out the recording paper P from the storage tray 43 by the paper feed roller 71 and pulls out only one sheet by the pair of separation rollers 72a and 72b that rotate in the same direction. The recording sheet P is transported to the reversing roller 73 to reverse the transport direction, and the recording sheet P is transported to a transport belt 74 provided at a position facing the ejection surface 23a of the ink ejection head 23. In the printer apparatus 1, the recording paper P conveyed to the conveying belt 74 is supported at a predetermined position by the platen plate 75, and the recording paper P is opposed to the ejection surface 23a.

  Then, the control unit 56 controls the ejection control unit 52 so that the ink droplet i is ejected from the nozzle 31 a of the head chip 26 toward the recording paper P. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14A, when the ejection controller 52 ejects the ink droplet i substantially directly below the nozzle 31a, the pulse current supplied to the pair of heating resistors 28a and 28b. Are controlled so that their current values are substantially the same. Further, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the ejection controller 52 ejects ink droplets i by changing the ejection direction from the nozzle 31a toward the heating resistor 28a, the pulse supplied to the heating resistor 28b. Control is performed so that the current value of the pulse current supplied to the heating resistor 28a is smaller than the current. Further, as shown in FIG. 14C, when the ejection controller 52 ejects ink droplets i by changing the ejection direction from the nozzle 31a toward the heating resistor 28b, the pulse supplied to the heating resistor 28b. Control is performed so that the current value of the pulse current supplied to the heating resistor 28a is larger than the current. Thus, images and characters corresponding to the print data are printed on the recording paper P. In the printer apparatus 1, a conveyance belt 74 that rotates the printed recording paper P in the direction of the paper supply / discharge port 42, and a paper discharge roller 76 that faces the conveyance belt 74 and is provided on the paper supply / discharge port 42 side. As a result, the recording paper P is sent out to the paper discharge tray 44.

  In the printer apparatus 1 as described above, a plurality of heating resistors 28a and 28b are provided in each ink liquid chamber 32, and a thermal energy difference is provided in each heating resistor 28a and 28b, whereby the ink droplet i is ejected in the direction of discharge. Can be changed. Thereby, in the printer apparatus 1, the landing position deviation of the ink droplet i due to the positional deviation of the nozzle 31a, the presence of dust attached to the nozzle 31a, or the roundness of the opening diameter of the nozzle 31a or the angular deviation with respect to the vertical direction is caused. It can be corrected, the ink droplet i can be landed at the target landing position, and a high-quality image or character without white stripes can be printed.

  Next, the ink i to which the present invention is applied that is used in the printer apparatus 1 as described above will be described.

  The ink i contains a dye as a colorant, a solvent in which the colorant is dispersed, and a hydrophobic colloid that has a positive zeta potential.

  Examples of the dye include water-based dyes represented by direct dyes and acid dyes. Specifically, examples of yellow direct dyes include C.I. I. Direct Yellow 1, 8, 11, 12, 24, 26, 23, 24, 28, 31, 33, 37, 39, 44, 46, 62, the same 63, 75, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89, 95, 99, 113, 27, 28, 33, 39, 44, 50, 58, 85, 86, 88, 89, 98, 100, 110, etc. The yellow direct dye is used by mixing one or more of them.

  Examples of the magenta direct dye include C.I. I. Direct Red 1, 2, 2, 4, 9, 13, 17, 20, 20, 197, 201, 218, 220, 224, 225, 226, 227, same 228, 229, 230, 321 and the like. The magenta direct dye is used by mixing any one or more of them.

  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. The cyan direct dye is used by mixing one or more of them.

  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. The black direct dye is used by mixing any one or more of them.

  Examples of yellow acid dyes include C.I. I. Acid Yellow 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. The yellow acid dye is used by mixing any one or more of them.

  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. In addition, the magenta acid dye is used by mixing any one or more of them.

  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, 117, 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. The cyan acid dye is used by mixing any one or more of them.

  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. The black acid dye is used by mixing any one or more of them.

  Examples of the solvent in which these dyes are dispersed include water or a mixed solvent of water and a water-soluble organic solvent. Here, deionized water is preferably mentioned as water. Preferable examples of the water-soluble organic solvent include alcohols having an effect of preventing ink drying.

  Examples of the water-soluble organic solvents include aliphatic monohydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, and polyhydric alcohol derivatives.

  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.

  Examples of the polyhydric alcohol include alkyl 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 derivatives include lower alkyl ethers of the above-described polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, cellosolve, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and lower carboxylic acid esters of the above-described polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol diacetate. It is done.

  As the solvent, when at least one of the above-mentioned water-soluble organic solvents and water are added, alcohol amines such as monotriethanolamine and ditriethanolamine, amides such as dimethylformamide and dimethylketoneamide, acetone , Ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, or ethers such as dioxane can be used as appropriate.

  The ink i is positively charged in a solvent in which a dye or the like is dissolved or dispersed in addition to the dye or the like, as described in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-244620) described above. Hydrophobic colloids are contained. This hydrophobic colloid is a sol or the like using water as a dispersion medium. Specifically, it has a low affinity with water, and the zeta potential is positive when the pH of the ink is in the range of 4 to 6. It is charged. The ink i is neutral or weakly alkaline so that the portion of the head chip 26 using the metal material or the like is not oxidized.

  The zeta potential here is a portion that effectively acts on the electrokinetic phenomenon, for example, of the potential difference at the interface between the solid and the liquid. Specifically, since an electric double layer is formed at the solid-liquid interface, and the potential distribution in the ink moves when the relative movement occurs between the liquid and the solid, the fixing layer moves together with the solid. It is the potential difference between the fixed layer and the liquid that dominates the electrokinetic phenomenon at this time, and this potential difference is called the zeta potential.

  Examples of the hydrophobic colloid include metal oxide dispersions such as aluminum oxide and cerium oxide, metal hydroxide dispersions such as cesium oxide, and metal sulfide dispersions such as barium sulfate and magnesium sulfate. These are used alone or in combination.

  In the ink i, even when the silicon material of the silicon substrate 27 comes into contact with the exposed end surface 27b, when the pH is in the range of 4 or more and 6 or less, the zeta potential is positively charged as shown in FIG. The colloid adheres to the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27 that is negatively charged. Thereby, in the head chip 26, it is possible to prevent the silicon material from further eluting from the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27 due to the hydrophobic colloid attached to the end surface 27b. In FIG. 17, a positively charged hydrophobic colloid is indicated by C.

  In addition, in the case of the ink i, for example, even if it shows weak alkalinity, the ink i is acidic around the end surface 27b from which the silicon material is eluted, so the pH of the ink i is in the range of 4 or more and 6 or less. In this case, it is possible to prevent the hydrophobic colloid having a positive zeta potential from adhering to the negatively charged end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27 and further eluting the silicon material from the silicon substrate 27.

Here, when the pH of the ink i falls within the range of 4 or more and 6 or less, aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ), cerium oxide (CeO), barium sulfate (as a hydrophobic colloid in which the zeta potential is positively charged. BaSO ₄ ) and silica (SiO ₂ ) are taken as examples of hydrophobic colloids that are difficult to suppress the elution of silicon materials from those containing silicon materials, and these hydrophobic colloids are used as a dispersion medium. FIG. 18 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the zeta potential and the pH of the dispersion medium when dispersed.

  The results shown in FIG. 18 indicate that aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, and barium sulfate are positively charged with a zeta potential when the pH of the dispersion medium is 6 or less. It can also be seen that silica is not positively charged with a zeta potential when the pH of the dispersion medium is 4 or more and 6 or less.

  For this reason, in silica, elution of the silicon material starts from the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27 exposed to, for example, weakly alkaline ink i, and the ink i becomes acidic due to elution of the silicon material around the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27. However, it does not adhere to the negatively charged end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27, and the silicon material continues to elute from the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27, making it difficult to prevent the silicon material from eluting. Become.

  For such silica, in the case of aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, and barium sulfate, elution of the silicon material starts from the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27 exposed to the weak alkaline ink i, for example, and the periphery of the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27 When the ink i shows acidity due to the elution of the silicon material and the pH is in the range of 4 to 6, the zeta potential is appropriately positively charged around the end face 27b, so that it is negatively charged. It can adhere to the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27 as appropriate, and the silicon material can be prevented from being eluted from the end surface 27b.

  In such ink i, the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.

  In the ink i, when the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more, when the pH is in the range of 4 or more and 6 or less, the hydrophobic colloid adheres to the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27 as shown in FIG. In addition, it is possible to prevent the silicon material from eluting from the end face 27b, and the silicon material is not deposited on the heating resistors 28a and 28b, thereby preventing kogation. In addition, in the ink i, the elution of the silicon material is prevented by setting the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid to 3 ppm or more. Therefore, the silicon material is clogged in the nozzle 31 a, the ink liquid chamber 32, and the ink flow path 33. Can be prevented. Thereby, in the ink i, since the kogation of the heating resistors 28a and 28b and the clogging by the silicon material can be prevented, it is possible to prevent the ejection failure.

  Further, since the ink i does not contain excessive hydrophobic colloid by setting the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid to 100 ppm or less, when the ejection angle of the ink droplet i is changed as described above, the hydrophobic colloid is changed to the hydrophobic colloid. Even if the number of times of ejection increases without being influenced, the movable range in which the ejection angle can be changed can be maintained unchanged from the initial stage. As a result, even if the number of ejections increases with ink i, the positional deviation between the heating resistors 28a and 28b and the nozzle 31a, the dust adhering to the nozzle 31a, the roundness of the opening diameter of the nozzle 31a and the angular deviation with respect to the vertical direction. It is possible to correct the landing position deviation of the ink droplet i due to the above, and to discharge the ink droplet i to the target landing position.

  Furthermore, in the ink i, additives such as various surfactants, antifoaming agents, pH adjusters, or fungicides can be added to the solvent.

  The ink i having the above-described configuration can be produced by mixing a hydrophobic colloid and an additional component such as another surfactant in a solvent such as water or an organic solvent according to a conventional method.

  In the printer device 1 described above, the hydrophobic colloid adheres to the end surface 27b of the silicon substrate 27 of the head chip 26 where the silicon material is exposed by using the ink i in which the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more. Since the elution of the silicon material can be prevented, the occurrence of kogation can be prevented. Further, in the printer device 1, since the hydrophobic colloid adheres to the end surface 27b, the elution of the silicon material can be prevented, so that the nozzle 31a, the ink liquid chamber 32, and the ink flow path 33 can be prevented from being clogged with the silicon material. For these reasons, the printer apparatus 1 can prevent the ink droplets i from being ejected.

  Moreover, in the printer apparatus 1, since the hydrophobic colloid does not contain excessively by using the ink i whose hydrophobic colloid density | concentration is 100 ppm or less, as shown to FIG. 14 (B) and (C). In addition, when changing the discharge angle of the ink droplet i, even if the number of discharges increases, the movable range in which the discharge angle of the ink droplet i can be changed until just before it can no longer be discharged due to the lifetime etc. becomes narrower. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a movable range that is the same as the initial range. Thereby, in the printer apparatus 1, the ejection angle can be changed to a desired angle until the ink droplet i cannot be ejected from the nozzle 31a, the positional deviation of the nozzle 31a, and the presence of dust attached to the nozzle 31a. Alternatively, it is possible to correct the landing position deviation due to the roundness of the opening diameter of the nozzle 31a, the angular deviation with respect to the vertical direction, and the like, the ink droplet i can be landed on the target landing position, and the landing position deviation is made inconspicuous. Can and can maintain this. For this reason, in the printer apparatus 1, as the number of ejections increases, the landing position deviation does not stand out until just before the head chip 26 can no longer eject the ink droplet i without adjusting the ejection angle of the ink droplet i as needed. can do.

  For these reasons, in the printer apparatus 1, the ink droplet i is not ejected, and by changing the ejection angle of the ink droplet i, white streaks due to the landing position deviation of the ink droplet i do not occur. High-quality images and characters can be printed. Further, in the printer apparatus 1, the movable range in which the ejection angle of the ink droplet i can be changed is not narrowed, and can be set to the same range as the initial movable range. The same landing position can be corrected by the driving method 28a, 28b.

  In the above description, the line type printer device 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention may be applied to a serial type printer device in which the head cartridge 2 moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction of the recording paper P, for example. Applicable.

  Hereinafter, examples and comparative examples of the ink to which the present invention is applied will be described.

<Example 1>
In Example 1, an ink was prepared as follows. 3 ppm of aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less), 3% by weight of the direct dye 132 of commercial dye, 10% by weight of glycerin, and 10% of 2-pyrrolidone based on the whole ink %, Surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) 0.5% by weight, and the remaining amount is ion-exchanged water. Yellow, glycerin, 2-pyrrolidone and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether were mixed to prepare an aqueous solution. Next, this aqueous solution was filtered through a filter having a pore diameter of 2 μm to prepare an ink. The resulting ink has a pH of 6.

<Example 2>
In Example 2, an ink was prepared as follows. Aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less) 20 ppm, direct yellow 132 3% by weight, glycerin 10% by weight, 2-pyrrolidone 10% by weight, surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) Was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 so that the remaining amount was 0.5% by weight and the remaining amount was ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 6.

<Example 3>
In Example 3, an ink was produced as follows. Aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less) 100 ppm, direct yellow 132 3% by weight, glycerin 10% by weight, 2-pyrrolidone 10% by weight, surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) Was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 so that the remaining amount was 0.5% by weight and the remaining amount was ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 6.

<Example 4>
In Example 4, an ink was produced as follows. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO ₄ ) 20 ppm, direct yellow 132 3% by weight, glycerin 10% by weight, 2-pyrrolidone 10% by weight, surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) 0.5% by weight, remaining amount Ink was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 so that became ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 6.

<Example 5>
In Example 5, an ink was produced as follows. Barium sulfate (BaSO ₄ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less) is 20 ppm, direct yellow 132 is 3% by weight, glycerin is 10% by weight, 2-pyrrolidone 1 is 10% by weight, surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) is An ink was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 so that 0.5% by weight and the remaining amount was ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 6.

<Example 6>
In Example 6, an ink was prepared as follows. Aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less) 20 ppm, Direct Blue 199 3% by weight, glycerin 10% by weight, 2-pyrrolidone 10% by weight, surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) Was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 so that the remaining amount was 0.5% by weight and the remaining amount was ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 8.

<Example 7>
In Example 7, an ink was produced as follows. Aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less) 10 ppm, direct yellow 132 3% by weight, glycerin 10% by weight, 2-pyrrolidone 10% by weight, surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) Was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 so that 0.5% by weight of triethanolamine was 0.5% by weight, and the remaining amount was ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 9.

<Comparative example 1>
In Comparative Example 1, an ink was prepared as follows. Aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less) is 1000 ppm, direct blue 199 is 3 wt%, glycerin is 10 wt%, 2-pyrrolidone is 10 wt%, surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) Was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 so that the remaining amount was 0.5% by weight and the remaining amount was ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 8.

<Comparative example 2>
In Comparative Example 2, an ink was produced as follows. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO ₄ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less) is 10000 ppm, Direct Blue 199 is 3 wt%, glycerin is 10 wt%, 2-pyrrolidone is 10 wt%, and the surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) is 0 An ink was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 so that the remaining amount was 5% by weight and the remaining amount was ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 8.

<Comparative Example 3>
In Comparative Example 3, an ink was produced as follows. Aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less) is 1000 ppm, direct yellow 132 is 3% by weight, glycerin is 10% by weight, 2-pyrrolidone is 10% by weight, surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) Was made in the same manner as in Example 1 so that 0.5% by weight and the remaining amount was ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 6.
<Comparative example 4>
In Comparative Example 4, an ink was produced as follows. Aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (particle size: 1 μm or less) 400 ppm, direct yellow 132 3% by weight, glycerin 10% by weight, 2-pyrrolidone 10% by weight, surfactant (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) Was made in the same manner as in Example 1 so that 0.5% by weight and the remaining amount was ion-exchanged water. The resulting ink has a pH of 6.

  In the head chip described above, the ink of each of the examples and comparative examples produced as described above has a heating resistor size of 20 μm × 20 μm (two heating resistors of 20 μm × 10 μm) and a nozzle diameter of 17 μm. The head cartridge having the head chip is filled, and this head cartridge is provided in the printer apparatus, and a continuous discharge test is performed.

  The conditions of the continuous discharge test were driven with a pulse current having a pulse width of 1.3 μsec and a frequency of 10 kHz while changing the discharge angle of the ink droplet on one of the two heating resistors. Specifically, it was driven at a discharge interval at which ink droplets were discharged from a single nozzle about 10,000 times per second. In the continuous discharge test, the discharge speed maintenance and the discharge angle decrease were evaluated. The test results are shown in Table 1 below.

  In Table 1, in the case of maintaining the discharge speed, ink droplets are discharged, and the initial discharge speed is maintained and discharged with no trouble over 200 million times continuously for all nozzles. The case where the ink non-ejection occurred less than 200 million times and the initial speed could not be maintained is indicated by x, and the number of times the ink non-ejection occurred is also shown in Table 1. Further, in Table 1, regarding the decrease in the ejection angle, after repeating the ejection of the ink droplet with respect to the initial bending angle (ejection angle) θ of the ink droplet, the ejection angle θ of the ink droplet is measured, The number of discharges when it decreased by 30% or more was described. The discharge angle of the ink droplets was measured with an optical microscope by strobe photography for the deflection amount at a distance of 1000 mm from the discharge surface. The ejection angle (θ) was determined from the deflection amount (μm) / 1000 μm = tan θ. Taking the ink of Example 1 and the ink of Comparative Example 1 as examples, FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 show the relationship between the number of ejections and the decrease in the ejection speed maintenance rate and ejection angle.

  From the results shown in Table 1, in Example 1, since 3 ppm of hydrophobic colloidal aluminum oxide was contained, it was possible to prevent the silicon material from eluting from the end surface of the silicon substrate of the head chip and to prevent kogation. . In Example 1, since the elution of the silicon material could be prevented, the nozzle clogging with the silicon material could be prevented. For these reasons, in Example 1, as shown in FIG. 19, even when ink droplets were ejected 200 million times, no ejection occurred and the ejection speed could be maintained. In Example 1, since the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm and appropriately contained, the ink droplet ejection angle is narrow even when ejected 200 million times or more as shown in Table 1 and FIG. The initial discharge angle could be maintained.

  Similarly, in Examples 2 to 7, since the concentrations of hydrophobic colloidal aluminum oxide, magnesium sulfate, and barium sulfate are 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less, kogation and clogging are caused as in Example 1. Even if ink droplets were ejected 200 million times, no ejection occurred and the ejection speed could be maintained. Further, in Examples 2 to 7, since the concentrations of the hydrophobic colloid aluminum oxide, magnesium sulfate, and barium sulfate are 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less, the hydrophobic colloid is excessively contained as in Example 1. Therefore, even when ejected 200 million times or more, the ejection angle of the ink droplet was not narrowed, and the initial ejection angle could be maintained.

  In contrast to these examples, Comparative Example 1 contains hydrophobic colloidal aluminum oxide, which prevents the silicon material from eluting from the end surface of the silicon substrate of the head chip, thereby preventing kogation and clogging. I was able to prevent it. As a result, in Comparative Example 1, as shown in Table 1 and FIG. 20, even when ink droplets were ejected 200 million times, no ejection occurred and the ejection speed could be maintained. However, in Comparative Example 1, the concentration of the aluminum oxide in the hydrophobic colloid is 1000 ppm, which is higher than 100 ppm. Therefore, when ejected 40 million times, the ejection angle of the ink droplet is reduced by 30% or more with respect to the initial angle. I have. Therefore, it can be seen from Comparative Example 1 that the decrease in the discharge angle occurs regardless of the speed decrease due to kogation in which deposits adhere to the conventionally known heating resistor. That is, in Comparative Example 1, although the discharge speed was maintained at 200 million times or more, the discharge angle decreased by 30% or more when discharged 40 million times.

  In Comparative Example 2, the concentration of magnesium sulfate in the hydrophobic colloid is 10000 ppm, more than 100 ppm, and excessively contained. Therefore, this hydrophobic colloid is deposited on the heating resistor, causing kogation, When ejected 50 million times, a non-ejection nozzle was generated, and the ejection speed could not be maintained. However, in Comparative Example 2, the ink droplet ejection angle could be maintained at a reduction rate of less than 30% with respect to the initial angle up to 50 million times. Therefore, even in the case of ink that is not ejected when the kogation is remarkably ejected 50 million times from Comparative Example 2, the ejection angle is reduced only within a range of less than 30% of the initial ejection angle until just before the ejection is not performed. The discharge angle could be maintained.

  In Comparative Example 3, as in Comparative Example 1, since it contains hydrophobic colloidal aluminum oxide, kogation and clogging can be prevented, and even when ink droplets are ejected 200 million times, no ejection occurs. The discharge speed could be maintained. However, in Comparative Example 3, the concentration of the aluminum oxide of the hydrophobic colloid is 1000 ppm, which is higher than 100 ppm. Therefore, when ejected 60 million times, the ejection angle of the ink droplet is reduced by 30% or more with respect to the initial angle. I have.

  In Comparative Example 4, since the hydrophobic colloidal aluminum oxide is contained, kogation and clogging can be prevented, and even when ink droplets are ejected 200 million times, no ejection occurs and the ejection speed is maintained. I was able to. However, in Comparative Example 4, the concentration of the aluminum oxide of the hydrophobic colloid is 400 ppm, which is higher than 100 ppm. Therefore, when ejected 140 million times, the ejection angle of the ink droplet is 30% or more with respect to the initial angle. It has fallen.

  From the examples and comparative examples, as in comparative example 1, comparative example 3, and comparative example 4, although the ejection speed can be sufficiently maintained, the ejection angle is reduced to half or less of the initial stage. In the embodiment, even when the number of ink droplet ejection increases, the ink droplet ejection angle always shows a change of less than 10%. In other words, it can be seen that with the ink of the embodiment, the correction of the landing position always operates normally.

  From the above, the silicon material is exposed to the portion of the silicon chip of the head chip that comes into contact with the ink, and the driving of the plurality of heating resistors is controlled to change or drive the heating resistors to be driven for each line. In a printer that changes the force, changes the discharge direction, and changes the landing position of the ink on the recording paper, the discharge angle can be changed stably, so that the landing position can always be corrected. It can be seen that it is important that the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid in the ink is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a printer apparatus to which the present invention is applied. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a head cartridge to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the same head cartridge. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the head chip | tip of a head cartridge. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a head chip provided with a pair of heating resistors. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5 of the head chip. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the head chip, which is a part of a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5 and shows a state in which bubbles having substantially the same size are formed in the ink liquid chamber. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the head chip, which is a part of a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5 and shows a state in which ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles almost directly by two bubbles. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the head chip, which is a part of a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5 and shows a state in which bubbles having different sizes are formed in the ink liquid chamber. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the head chip, which is a part of a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5 and shows a state in which ink droplets are ejected from a nozzle in a substantially oblique direction by two bubbles. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a part of the printer device in a printable state. It is a block diagram of a printer apparatus. It is a circuit diagram which shows a discharge control part. (A) is a cross-sectional view showing when ink droplets are ejected in a substantially downward direction, and (B) is when ink droplets are ejected in a substantially oblique direction in the width direction of the recording paper around the nozzle. (C) is a cross-sectional view when ink droplets are ejected in the other substantially oblique direction in the width direction of the recording paper with the nozzle as the center. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a plurality of heating resistors and nozzles are displaced in the head chip. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement until a printing start. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the head chip, which is a part of a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5 and shows a state in which a hydrophobic colloid is attached to the end surface of the silicon substrate where the silicon material is exposed. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between pH of a hydrophobic colloid, and a zeta potential. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the number of ejections and a ejection angle and a relationship between the number of ejections and the ejection speed in the ink of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows about the relationship between the discharge frequency in the ink of the comparative example 1, and a discharge angle, and the relationship between discharge frequency and discharge speed. It is sectional drawing of the conventional head chip. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ejection direction of ink droplets is bent in a conventional head chip. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a displacement amount of a positional deviation between a nozzle and a heater and a discharge angle of an ink droplet in a conventional head chip. It is sectional drawing which shows the other conventional head chip which can change the discharge angle of an ink droplet.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer apparatus, 2 head cartridge, 3 apparatus main body, 11 ink cartridge, 21 cartridge main body, 22 mounting part, 23 ink discharge head, 23a discharge surface, 24 head cap, 25 connection part, 26 head chip, 27 silicon substrate, 27a One main surface, 27b end surface, 28a, 28b heating resistor, 29 film, 31 nozzle sheet, 31a nozzle, 32 ink liquid chamber, 33 ink flow path, 41 outer casing

Claims (15)

A plurality of heat generating resistors are provided on the silicon substrate, and a part of the liquid chamber is provided with an end face where the silicon material of the silicon substrate is exposed in a liquid chamber provided with a discharge port at a position facing the plurality of heat generating resistors. In the recording liquid that is supplied through the flow path and generates heat from the heating resistor and is discharged from the discharge port,
A recording liquid comprising a hydrophobic colloid, wherein the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.   2. The recording liquid according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic colloid contains one or more of a metal oxide dispersion, a metal hydroxide dispersion, and a metal sulfide dispersion.   3. The recording liquid according to claim 2, wherein the metal oxide dispersion is aluminum oxide. A plurality of heating resistors are provided on the silicon substrate, and an end surface of the silicon substrate on which the silicon material is exposed is provided in a liquid chamber provided with a discharge port for discharging a recording liquid at a position facing the plurality of heating resistors. In the liquid cartridge containing the recording liquid that is supplied through the flow path that is partially configured and that heats the heating resistor and is discharged from the discharge port,
A liquid cartridge, wherein the recording liquid contains a hydrophobic colloid, and the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.   5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the hydrophobic colloid contains one or more of a metal oxide dispersion, a metal hydroxide dispersion, and a metal sulfide dispersion.   6. The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the metal oxide dispersion is aluminum oxide. A plurality of heating resistors are provided on the silicon substrate, and an end surface of the silicon substrate on which the silicon material is exposed is provided in a liquid chamber provided with a discharge port for discharging a recording liquid at a position facing the plurality of heating resistors. In the liquid ejection cartridge, in which the recording liquid is supplied through a partially formed flow path, the heating resistor is heated and the recording liquid is discharged from the discharge port.
The liquid discharge cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the recording liquid contains a hydrophobic colloid, and the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.   8. The liquid discharge cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the hydrophobic colloid contains one or more of a metal oxide dispersion, a metal hydroxide dispersion, and a metal sulfide dispersion. .   The liquid discharge cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the metal oxide dispersion is aluminum oxide. In the apparatus body, a plurality of heating resistors are provided on a silicon substrate, and a silicon material of the silicon substrate is provided in a liquid chamber in which a discharge port for discharging a recording liquid is provided at a position facing the plurality of heating resistors. A liquid ejection apparatus provided with a liquid ejection cartridge that is supplied with the recording liquid through a channel partially formed by an exposed end surface, and that heats the heating resistor to eject the recording liquid from the ejection port. In
The liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the recording liquid contains a hydrophobic colloid, and the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.   11. The liquid ejection according to claim 10, wherein the hydrophobic colloid contains one or more of a metal oxide dispersion, a metal hydroxide dispersion, and a metal sulfide dispersion. apparatus.   The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the metal oxide dispersion is aluminum oxide. In the apparatus body, a plurality of heating resistors are provided on a silicon substrate, and a silicon material of the silicon substrate is provided in a liquid chamber in which a discharge port for discharging a recording liquid is provided at a position facing the plurality of heating resistors. A liquid ejection apparatus provided with a liquid ejection cartridge that is supplied with the recording liquid through a channel partially formed by an exposed end surface, and that heats the heating resistor to eject the recording liquid from the ejection port. In the liquid discharge method of
A liquid discharge method, wherein the recording liquid contains a hydrophobic colloid, and the concentration of the hydrophobic colloid is 3 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less.   14. The liquid ejection method according to claim 13, wherein the hydrophobic colloid contains one or more of a metal oxide dispersion, a metal hydroxide dispersion, and a metal sulfide dispersion. .   The liquid discharge method according to claim 14, wherein the metal oxide dispersion is aluminum oxide.

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