JP2009029105A - Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of increasing the area of each of filter and thus enhance the filtering processing with the filter while reducing the size of a supply member. <P>SOLUTION: A liquid ejecting head body 40 including a plurality of nozzle openings ejecting liquid that is supplied from a liquid container containing liquid comprises a liquid-supply member 30 provided with a plurality of liquid-supply passages 32 supplying per group of a plurality of the nozzle openings. The liquid-supply member 30 is composed in such a manner that at least a first and second separate members 33 and 34 separated toward the side of the liquid ejecting head body 40 from the side of the liquid container are joined. Further, the liquid-supply passages 32 is provided at least over the first separate member 33 and the second separate member 34. The liquid-supply passages 32 include a first liquid-supply passage 32A provided with the filter 35 across the liquid-supplying passages 32 on the surface of the first separate member 33; and a second liquid-supply passage 32B provided with the filter 35 across the liquid-supply passages 32 on the surface of the second separate member 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus that eject liquid stored in a storage unit from a nozzle opening, and more particularly to an ink jet recording head and an ink jet recording apparatus that eject ink as liquid.

  In an ink jet recording head, which is a typical example of a liquid ejecting head, generally, ink is supplied from an ink storage means such as an ink cartridge filled with ink to the head body, and the ink supplied to the head body is a piezoelectric element or It is discharged from the nozzle by driving a pressure generating means such as a heating element.

  In such an ink jet recording head, if bubbles that are present in the ink of the ink cartridge or bubbles that are mixed in the ink when the ink cartridge is attached / detached are supplied to the head body, such as dot dropout due to the bubbles. There is a problem that defective discharge occurs. In order to solve such a problem, a filter for removing bubbles or the like in the ink is mounted between the ink supply needle inserted into the ink cartridge and the cartridge case (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-10904 (pages 2 and 3, FIG. 1) JP 2004-106214 A

  However, in the configuration as in Patent Document 1, since a filter is provided in an area where the ink supply needle of the cartridge case is fixed, an area corresponding to the area of the filter is necessary, and the ink supply needle is attached together with the filter. Since an area for welding to the cartridge case is necessary, there is a problem that the interval between the adjacent ink supply needles cannot be shortened.

  Further, in the configuration as in Patent Document 1, if the area of the filter is reduced in order to reduce the size of the head, the dynamic pressure increases, so that the driving voltage for driving the pressure generating means such as the piezoelectric element and the heating element does not increase. There is a problem that must not be.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a filter in which a filter is provided on each of both surfaces of a supply member. For example, when a filter is attached to one surface and then a filter is attached to the other surface, the filter is attached to the other surface. Due to the pressure when attaching the filter, stress is applied to the filter already attached to one side, resulting in damage such as deformation or tearing of the filter, or the shape of the filter chamber where the liquid supply path spreads near the filter. There is a problem in that the pressure loss and the exhaustability vary among the plurality of filter chambers due to the difference depending on the position where the filter is attached.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus that can increase the area of a filter and can perform filtration with a filter more suitably while reducing the size of a supply member. .

An aspect of the present invention that solves the above problem is that a plurality of liquid supplies that supply the liquid for each of a plurality of nozzle opening groups to a head body having a plurality of nozzle openings that eject the liquid from a liquid storage means that stores the liquid. A supply member provided with a path, wherein the supply member is formed by joining at least a first divided member and a second divided member divided from the storage means side toward the head main body side. And the liquid supply path is provided over at least the first divided member and the second divided member, and the liquid supply path is provided on the surface of the first divided member. A first liquid supply path provided with the filter traversing the path; and a second liquid supply path provided with the filter traversing the liquid supply path on the surface of the second dividing member. Features A liquid-jet head.
In this aspect, the supply member can be downsized as compared with the case where the filter is provided on the surface of the supply member. In addition, the area of the filter can be increased. Therefore, the driving pressure of the pressure generating means can be reduced by reducing the dynamic pressure. Furthermore, the path lengths of the liquid supply paths can be made uniform to prevent variations in supply characteristics, and the liquid discharge characteristics can be made uniform. Further, by providing a filter on the surface of each of the divided members such as the first divided member and the second divided member obtained by dividing the supply member, even when pressure is applied when the filter is attached to the divided member, It is possible to prevent damage such as deformation and tearing.

  Here, the first filter is provided on the upstream surface of the first divided member, and the second filter is provided on the upstream surface of the second divided member. It is preferable. Further, the first filter is provided on the downstream surface of the first divided member, and the second filter is provided on the downstream surface of the second divided member. It is preferable. According to this, even when the divided members are coupled with a strong force, no extra force is applied to the filter.

  Further, the liquid supply path is provided with a filter chamber having a wider flow path before and after the filter, and the filter chamber of the first liquid supply path and the filter chamber of the second liquid supply path, Are preferably substantially the same shape. According to this, the pressure loss and exhaustability in the filter chamber are substantially constant regardless of the flow path.

Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention includes a supply member in which a plurality of liquid supply paths for supplying the liquid are provided in a head body having a nozzle opening for ejecting the liquid from the liquid storage means for storing the liquid. The liquid supply path includes a first liquid supply path provided with a first filter that traverses the liquid supply path, and a second liquid supply path provided with a second filter that traverses the liquid supply path. The first filter of the first liquid supply channel and the second filter of the second liquid supply channel are projected at least partially overlapping each other in a direction intersecting the filter surface. The first liquid supply path is provided with a first filter chamber in which the first liquid supply path extends before and after the first filter, and the second liquid supply path. Is the same before and after the second filter. A liquid-jet head, wherein the second filter chamber is a second liquid supply path is spread and the first filter chamber and substantially the same shape are provided.
In this aspect, the supply member can be downsized as compared with the case where the filter is provided on the surface of the supply member. In particular, the first filter of the first liquid supply path and the second filter of the second liquid supply path are provided so that projections in a direction intersecting the filter surface are at least partially overlapped with each other, thereby further reducing the size. Can be achieved. In addition, the area of the filter can be increased. Therefore, the driving pressure of the pressure generating means can be reduced by reducing the dynamic pressure. Furthermore, the path lengths of the liquid supply paths can be made uniform to prevent the supply characteristics from varying, and the liquid discharge characteristics can be made uniform. Further, by providing a filter on the surface of each of the divided members such as the first divided member and the second divided member obtained by dividing the supply member, even when pressure is applied when the filter is attached to the divided member, It is possible to prevent damage such as deformation and tearing. Furthermore, the pressure loss and exhaustability in the filter chamber are almost constant regardless of the flow path.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid ejecting head according to the above aspect.
In this aspect, a liquid ejecting apparatus that is reduced in size and power can be realized.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus which is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 of the present invention has an ink jet recording head (hereinafter referred to as a recording head) 11, which is an example of a liquid ejecting head for ejecting ink droplets, fixed to a carriage 12. The recording head 11 is an ink cartridge that is a liquid storage means in which a plurality of different color inks such as black (B), light black (LB), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are stored. Each 13 is fixed detachably.

  The carriage 12 on which the recording head 11 is mounted is provided on a carriage shaft 15 attached to the apparatus main body 14 so as to be movable in the axial direction. Then, the driving force of the driving motor 16 is transmitted to the carriage 12 via a plurality of gears and a timing belt 17 (not shown), so that the carriage 12 is moved along the carriage shaft 15. On the other hand, the apparatus main body 14 is provided with a platen 18 along the carriage shaft 15, and a recording medium S such as paper fed by a paper feeding device (not shown) or the like is conveyed on the platen 18. ing.

  A capping device 20 having a cap member 19 that seals the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 11 is provided at a position corresponding to the home position of the carriage 12, that is, near one end of the carriage shaft 15. . The cap member 19 seals the nozzle forming surface on which the nozzle openings are formed, thereby preventing the ink from drying. The cap member 19 also functions as an ink receiver during the flushing operation.

  Here, the recording head 11 according to the present embodiment will be described. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording head which is an example of a liquid ejecting head according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a main part thereof, and FIG. It is a principal part top view of a member.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the recording head 11 includes a supply member 30 such as a cartridge case to which an ink cartridge 13 as a liquid storage unit is fixed, and the supply member 30 opposite to the ink cartridge 13. And a head body 40 fixed to the surface.

  The supply member 30 has a cartridge mounting portion 31 on which one of the above-described ink cartridges 13 (corresponding to “liquid storage means” described in the claims) is mounted. The supply member 30 has one end opened to each cartridge mounting portion 31 and the other end opened to the head main body 40 side, and a liquid supply path 32 for supplying ink from the ink cartridge 13 to the head main body 40. Is provided. A plurality of liquid supply paths 32 are provided in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the supply member 30, and the liquid supply paths 32 are provided independently for the ink cartridges 13 provided for each color. .

  Such a supply member 30 is configured by joining divided members 33 and 34 which are divided from the ink cartridge 13 which is a liquid storage means toward the head main body 40 side. In the present embodiment, as the supply member 30, the first split member 33 provided with the cartridge mounting portion 31 and the second split member 34 to which the head main body 40 is fixed are provided. Each liquid supply path 32 provided in the supply member 30 is provided through the first and second divided members 33 and 34 across the first and second divided members 33 and 34. .

  Each liquid supply path 32 of the supply member 30 is provided with a filter 35 for removing bubbles and foreign matters in the ink (liquid) so as to cross the liquid supply path 32. That is, the filter 35 is provided such that the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the ink in the liquid supply path 32 flows is the surface direction. However, since the liquid flowing through the liquid supply path 32 only needs to pass through the filter 35, the direction of ink escape and the surface direction of the filter 35 do not have to be orthogonal.

  Such a filter 35 is provided on any surface 31, 36 of the surface of the supply member 30 (cartridge mounting portion 31) and the joint surface 36 where the first and second split members 33, 34 are joined together. It has been. The filter 35 is provided with at least one filter 35 on a different surface of the cartridge mounting portion (surface) 31 or the joining surface 36. That is, the filter 35 is provided on the upstream side of the liquid supply path 32 on the surface of each of the first dividing member 33 and the second dividing member 34. In the present embodiment, the supply member 30 includes three parts, a first split member 33 and a second split member 34, and a liquid supply needle 50 which will be described in detail later, and the filter 35 is the first split member 33. The cartridge mounting portion 31 that is the surface of the first split member 33 that serves as the joint surface between the liquid supply needle 50 and the joint surface 36 of the first split member 33 and the second split member 34, that is, the second A plurality of pieces are provided on the surface of each of the divided members 34. In addition, the liquid supply needle 50 in FIG. 3 is regarded as the first divided member, and a filter 35 is provided on the cartridge mounting portion 31 that is the surface on the downstream side of the liquid supply path 32 of the liquid supply needle 50 that is the first divided member. The first dividing member 33 in FIG. 3 may be regarded as the second dividing member, and the filter 35 may be provided on the joining surface 36 that is the surface of the member 33 serving as the second dividing member on the downstream side of the liquid supply path 32. Of course, the filter 35 is provided on the cartridge mounting portion 31 that is the surface of the liquid supply needle 50 that is the first split member on the downstream side of the liquid supply path, and the second split member 34 is the surface that is on the upstream side of the liquid supply path 32. A filter 35 may be provided on the surface 36.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the liquid supply path 32 provided with the filter 35 on either one of the surface of the supply member 30 and the joining surface 36 is defined as a first liquid supply path 32A, and the first liquid supply. The liquid supply path 32 provided with the filter 35 on a surface different from the surface provided with the filter 35 of the path 32A is defined as a second liquid supply path 32B. That is, the liquid supply path 32 includes a plurality of first liquid supply paths 32A and a plurality of second liquid supply paths 32B.

  Specifically, the filters 35 are arranged on the cartridge mounting portion 31 of the supply member 30 so as to be provided for every liquid supply path 32. Further, the filter 35 is provided on the joint surface 36 of each liquid supply path 32 where the filter 35 is not provided in the cartridge mounting portion 31. That is, the filters 35 are alternately arranged on the cartridge mounting portion 31 and the joint surface 36 every other liquid supply path 32. Therefore, when the liquid supply path 32 in which the filter 35 is provided on the surface of the supply member 30 is the first liquid supply path 32A, the liquid supply path 32 in which the filter 35 is provided on the joint surface 36 is the second liquid supply path. 32B, and the first liquid supply path 32A and the second liquid supply path 32B are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction (reference direction X) of the supply member 30.

  In other words, as shown in FIG. 3B, the filter 35 includes a filter row 35 </ b> A arranged in parallel with the cartridge mounting portion 31 of the supply member 30 with the longitudinal direction of the supply member 30 as the reference direction X, and a joint surface 36. And a filter row 35B arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction (reference direction X) of the supply member 30.

  Each of the surfaces 31 and 36 is provided with one row of filter rows 35A and 35B. The filter rows 35A and 35B provided on the surfaces 31 and 36 are arranged in the reference direction X (of the supply member 30). It is provided so as to be at the same position in the direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction), that is, in the width direction of the supply member 30.

  The filters 35 are provided so that the filters 35 closest to each other in the surface direction of the filter 35 are different surfaces 31 and 36. That is, the filter row 35A provided on the cartridge mounting portion 31 and the filter row 35B provided on the joining surface 36 are shifted by a half pitch of the interval of the filters 35 in the longitudinal direction of the supply member 30 (reference direction X). Will be provided.

  Further, the filter 35 provided on the cartridge mounting portion 31 and the filter 35 provided on the joining surface 36 are arranged so that the filters 35 closest to each other in the surface direction of the filter 35 partially overlap each other. In other words, the filter 35 (first filter) of the first liquid supply path 32A and the filter 35 (second filter) of the second liquid supply path 32B are mutually projected in the direction intersecting the surface of the filter 35. It is provided so that at least one part may overlap. The distance between the filters 35 provided on the different surfaces 31 and 36 is set to be a minimum distance while securing a region where a liquid supply needle 50 to be described later is welded to the supply member 30.

  As the filter 35, for example, a filter provided with a plurality of fine holes by finely knitting metal can be used.

  A plurality of liquid supply needles 50 are provided at the opening of each liquid supply path 32 of the cartridge mounting portion 31 of the supply member 30. Here, the liquid supply needle 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid supply needle.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the liquid supply needle 50 is provided corresponding to the liquid supply path 32 (first liquid supply path 32A) in which the filter 35 is provided on the surface (cartridge mounting portion 31). The first liquid supply needle 50A and the liquid supply path 32 where the filter 35 is not provided, that is, the second liquid supply path 32 provided corresponding to the liquid supply path 32 (second liquid supply path 32B) opening directly on the surface. The liquid supply needle 50B.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the first liquid supply needle 50A has first through passages 51A communicating with the first liquid supply passage 32A of the supply member 30, and an end portion on the supply member 30 side. A flange portion 52 is provided in the vicinity. Note that the first through path 51A and the first liquid supply path 32A of the first liquid supply needle 50A constitute a liquid supply path that connects the ink cartridge 13 and the head body 40.

  Further, the flange portion 52 of the first liquid supply needle 50 </ b> A is provided with a fusion projection 53 at a position to be a joint surface with the supply member 30. Each first liquid supply needle 50A is fixed to the supply member 30 by melting the fusion projection 53 provided on the flange portion 52, that is, by ultrasonic fusion. A filter 35 is sandwiched between 50 </ b> A and the supply member 30.

  In addition, the first liquid supply needle 50A has a first through passage 51A connected to the first liquid supply path 32A in a region having a larger inner diameter than other regions, that is, a first portion that is a wide portion. A filter chamber 54 is provided. For example, in the present embodiment, the first filter chamber 54 is formed so that the inner diameter becomes larger toward the filter 35 side. The first filter chamber 54 is formed with an inner diameter larger than that of the other region of the first through passage 51A in order to increase the area of the filter 35 and reduce the resistance when ink passes as much as possible. ing.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, the second liquid supply needle 50B includes a second through passage 51B that communicates with each liquid supply passage 32 (second liquid supply passage 32B) of the supply member 30; And a flange portion 52 provided in the vicinity of the end portion on the supply member 30 side.

  The second through passage 51B has substantially the same inner diameter as the second liquid supply passage 32B provided in the supply member 30, and the first filter chamber 54 is not provided.

  Further, the flange portion 52 of the second liquid supply needle 50B is provided with a fusion projection 53 similarly to the first liquid supply needle 50A, and the second liquid supply needle 50B is fused to the supply member 30. The protrusion 53 is fixed by melting, that is, welding.

  Further, in the second liquid supply path 32B in which the filter 35 is provided on the joint surface 36 which is the joint surface between the first split member 33 and the second split member 34, as shown in FIG. A space having a larger inner diameter than other regions, that is, a second filter chamber 37 that is a wide portion is provided. For example, in the present embodiment, the second filter chamber 37 is formed so that the inner diameter increases toward the filter 35 side. In the present embodiment, all the liquid supply paths 32 are provided with filter chambers provided such that the inner diameter is wider on the downstream side of the filter 35 and on the filter 35 side. This is because when the downstream side of the filter 35 in the liquid supply path 32 is formed with an inner diameter smaller than that of the filter 35, the area for removing bubbles and foreign matters in the ink (liquid) by the filter 35 is effectively used. This is because the filter 35 can be practically used only in the opening area of the liquid supply path 32. The first filter chamber 54 upstream of the first liquid supply passage 32A and the second filter chamber 37 upstream of the second liquid supply passage 32B are formed in substantially the same shape. The filter chamber on the downstream side of the first liquid supply path 32A and the filter chamber on the downstream side of the second liquid supply path 32B are formed in substantially the same shape. That is, the upstream and downstream filter chambers of each liquid supply path 32 are formed in substantially the same shape, and the filter chambers are not reversed in shape upstream and downstream.

  As described above, the first liquid supply needle 50A is provided with the first filter chamber 54, and the second liquid supply needle 50B is not provided with the filter chamber. The outer diameter of the needle 50B can be made smaller than that of the first liquid supply needle 50A. Therefore, the first liquid supply needle 50A and the second liquid supply needle 50B can be provided close to each other.

In such a supply member 30, the recording head 11 can be reduced in size by providing the filter 35 on a surface different from the cartridge mounting portion 31 and the joint surface 36. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the configuration is arranged a filter 35 only on the surface of the supply member 130, but becomes longer its length L _0, as shown in FIG. 3, the filter 35 cartridge mounting by arranging the surface different parts 31 and the joint surface 36, it is possible to narrow the interval between the filter 35 between which is provided on different surfaces, it is possible to shorten the length L ₁ of the supply member 30. Note that the plurality of liquid supply paths 32 provided in the supply member 30 have the shortest distance while securing a region where the first liquid supply needle 50A and the second liquid supply needle 50B can be welded to the cartridge mounting portion 31. by arranging so, it can best reduce the length L ₁ of the supply member 30. Incidentally, the outer diameters of the first liquid supply needle 50 </ b> A and the second liquid supply needle 50 </ b> B are appropriately determined according to the inner diameter of the liquid supply path 32 and the area of the filter 35.

  Further, by providing the filters 35 on different surfaces, the interval between the filters 35 provided on the different surfaces can be reduced, so that the area of the filter 35 can be increased. As a result, the driving voltage of the pressure generating means provided in the head body 40 can be reduced by reducing the dynamic pressure. Of course, the supply member 30 can be downsized without increasing the area of the filter 35.

  Thus, since the supply member 30 can be reduced in size, it is not necessary to bend the liquid supply path 32 as shown in FIG. 5, and the ink cartridge 13 as the liquid storage means reaches the head body 40. The path lengths of the liquid supply paths 32 can be made substantially the same. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the supply characteristics such as the flow path resistance from being varied in each liquid supply path 32, and uniform ink discharge characteristics (liquid ejection characteristics) of the ink (liquid) discharged from the nozzle openings of the head body 40. Can be

  In addition, since the supply member 30 can be reduced in size, as a result, the head body 40 fixed to the supply member 30 can be reduced in size. Therefore, the recording head 11 can be reduced in size.

  Further, the force when connecting the first divided member 33 and the second divided member 34 which are the divided members constituting the supply member 30 is compared with the force when attaching the filter 35 to the surface of each divided member. And weak. Therefore, when the filter 35 is provided on the respective surfaces of the divided members such as the divided first divided member 33 and the second divided member 34 constituting the supply member 30, the filter 35 is attached to the divided members 33 and 34. Even when a pressure is applied to the filter 35, it is possible to prevent the filter 35 from being damaged such as deformation or breakage. That is, when the filter 35 is provided on each of both surfaces of the supply member, for example, when the filter 35 is attached to the other surface after the filter 35 is attached to the one surface, the pressure when the filter 35 is attached to the other surface is Stress is applied to the filter 35 already attached to the filter 35, and the filter 35 is damaged such as deformation or breakage. In this embodiment, after attaching the filter 35 to each divided member 33, 34, the divided members 33, 34 are coupled to each other with a force weaker than the force for attaching the filter 35 to the divided members 33, 34. An unreasonable stress can be prevented from being applied.

  The first filter chamber 54 on the upstream side of the first liquid supply path 32A and the second filter chamber 37 on the upstream side of the second liquid supply path 32B are formed in substantially the same shape, and the first By forming the filter chamber on the downstream side of the liquid supply path 32A and the filter chamber on the downstream side of the second liquid supply path 32B in substantially the same shape, regardless of the position of the filter 35 in the liquid supply path 32, Pressure loss and exhaustability in the filter chamber can be made almost constant, ink supply performance can be made uniform, and ink ejection characteristics can be made uniform.

  The head main body 40 includes nozzle rows each having a plurality of nozzle openings (not shown) arranged in parallel, and ink of each color is ejected from each nozzle row. That is, the liquid supply path 32 of the supply member 30 is provided for each nozzle row of the head body 40.

  As the head main body 40, a conventionally known head main body 40 can be used as long as it discharges the liquid supplied from the ink cartridge 13 serving as the liquid storage means via the supply member 30 from the nozzle opening. For example, the head main body 40 includes a pressure generation chamber provided in the middle of a liquid flow path communicating with the liquid supply path 32 of the supply member 30 and communicating with the nozzle opening, and pressure generation that causes a pressure change in the pressure generation chamber. Having the means. As such a pressure generating means, for example, a longitudinal vibration type actuator device in which piezoelectric materials and electrode forming materials are alternately laminated and expanded and contracted in the axial direction, and electrodes and piezoelectric materials are laminated by film formation and lithography. Examples include a thin-film type formed and a bending vibration type actuator device such as a pressure film type formed by attaching a green sheet. Also, as the pressure generation means, a heat generating element is arranged in the pressure generating chamber, and droplets are ejected from the nozzle opening by bubbles generated by the heat generated by the heat generating element, or static electricity is generated between the diaphragm and the electrode. In this case, a so-called electrostatic actuator that discharges droplets from the nozzle openings by deforming the diaphragm by electrostatic force can be used.

  As mentioned above, although Embodiment 1 of this invention was demonstrated, arrangement | positioning of the filter 35 is not specifically limited to this. Here, another example of the supply member in which the filter 35 is arranged differently will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 are top views of the supply member.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the supply member 30 </ b> A is provided with two rows in the width direction Y in which the liquid supply paths 32 are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction (reference direction X). Then, for each row in which the liquid supply passages 32 are arranged in the longitudinal direction, a filter row 35A provided in the cartridge mounting portion 31 similar to that in the first embodiment described above, and a filter row 35B provided in the joint surface 36 are provided. Is provided.

  That is, the cartridge mounting portion 31 is provided with two filter rows 35A and 35C, and the joint surface 36 is provided with two filter rows 35B and 35D.

  Each filter 35 of the filter row 35A provided in the cartridge mounting portion 31 and each filter 35 of the filter row 35B provided on the joint surface 36 are provided in each row of the liquid supply path 32 so as to be alternated. It has been. Similarly, each filter 35 of the filter row 35C provided in the cartridge mounting portion 31 and each filter 35 of the filter row 35D provided on the joint surface 36 are arranged in a row of the liquid supply path 32 so as to be alternated. Is provided. Thus, the cartridge mounting portion 31 is provided with two rows of filter rows 35A and 35C in which a filter 35 is provided for every other liquid supply passage 32, and one of the liquid supply passages 32 is provided on the joint surface 36. Two filter rows 35B and 35D each having a filter 35 are provided. Therefore, if the liquid supply path 32 in which the filter 35 is provided on the surface of the supply member 30A is the first liquid supply path 32A, the liquid supply path 32 in which the filter 35 is provided on the joint surface 36 is the second liquid supply path. 32B, and the first liquid supply path 32A and the second liquid supply path 32B are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction (reference direction X) of the supply member 30. Two rows in which the first liquid supply passages 32A and the second liquid supply passages 32B are alternately arranged are provided in a direction Y orthogonal to the reference direction X.

  In other words, the filter rows 35A and 35C provided in the cartridge mounting portion 31 of the supply member 30A are juxtaposed in the width direction so that the longitudinal direction (reference direction) of the supply member 30A is at the same position. The filter rows 35B and 35D provided on the joint surface 36 of the supply member 30A are arranged in parallel in the width direction so that the longitudinal direction (reference direction) of the supply member 30A is at the same position.

In such a configuration, for example, as compared to juxtaposed filter 35 two rows on the surface of the feed member, it is possible to shorten the length L ₁ of the supply member 30A, to reduce the size of the recording head 11 Can do. Incidentally, the width W ₁ of the supply member 30A is made of, for example, the same width and the juxtaposed filter 35 two rows on the surface of the feed member.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a filter row 35E is provided by arranging the filters 35 in parallel in the longitudinal direction (reference direction X) on the cartridge mounting portion 31 which is the surface of the supply member 30B. Then, the filter 35 is aligned in the longitudinal direction on the joining surface 36 of the supply member 30B at a position shifted in the direction Y (width direction of the supply member) perpendicular to the reference direction X from the filter row 35E provided in the cartridge mounting portion 31. The filter row 35F arranged side by side is provided. That is, the filter row 35E of the cartridge mounting portion 31 and the filter row 35F of the joint surface 36 are provided at positions shifted in the width direction of the supply member 30B.

  Therefore, if the liquid supply path 32 in which the filter 35 is provided on the surface of the supply member 30B is the first liquid supply path 32A, the liquid supply path 32 in which the filter 35 is provided on the joint surface 36 is the second liquid supply path. The first liquid supply path 32A and the second liquid supply path 32B are provided in a row in the reference direction X, and the first liquid supply path 32A and the second liquid supply path 32B are arranged. Are juxtaposed in the direction Y orthogonal to the reference direction X.

By thus arranging the filter 35, as compared to providing the filter 35 two rows on the surface of the feed member, it is possible to shorten the width W ₂ of the supply member, to reduce the size of the ink jet recording head Can do. Incidentally, the length L ₂ of the supply member 30B is, for example, a length similar to the juxtaposed filter 35 two rows on the surface of the feed member.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a filter row 35E is provided in the cartridge mounting portion 31 which is the surface of the supply member 30C, and the filter row 35E is joined to a position shifted by a half pitch in the reference direction X with respect to the filter row 35E. A filter row 35G may be provided on the surface 36. That is, the filters 35 provided on different surfaces may have a staggered arrangement.

  In other words, in the supply member 30C, the first liquid supply path 32A and the second liquid supply path 32B are juxtaposed in the direction Y orthogonal to the reference direction X, and the first liquid supply path 32A and the second liquid are arranged. The supply path 32 </ b> B is provided by being shifted toward the reference direction X by a half pitch of the interval of the filter 35.

By arranging the filter 35 in this way, the distance in the width direction Y between the filter row 35E provided in the cartridge mounting portion 31 and the filter row 35G provided on the joint surface 36 can be further shortened. Therefore, the width _{W 3} of the supply member 30C may be shorter than the width _{W 2} of the supply member 30B of FIG. 7 described above.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the supply member 30 </ b> D has a filter 35 having the same arrangement as that of the first embodiment described above, and a cartridge mounting portion 31 and a joint surface 36 that are opposite to each other. You may make it provide the filter 35 arrange | positioned in this way.

That is, in the cartridge mounting portion 31, two filter rows 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> H are arranged at positions shifted by a half pitch of the interval between the filters 35 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction (reference direction X) of the supply member 30. . In addition, two filter rows 35B and 35I are arranged on the joint surface 36 at positions shifted by a half pitch in the longitudinal direction of the supply member 30 (reference direction X) opposite to the cartridge mounting portion 31. Thus, the supply member 30A shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, 30B, compared to 30C, it is possible to further shorten the length _{L 3} and a width _{W 4.} Incidentally, the length _{L 3} of the supply member 30D is the same length as the length _{L 1} of the supply member 30 shown in FIG.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, the basic composition of this invention is not limited to what was mentioned above. For example, in Embodiment 1 described above, the ink cartridge 13 that is a liquid storage unit is provided so as to be detachable from the supply member 30, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. Etc. may be provided at a position different from the recording head 11, and the liquid storage means and the recording head 11 may be connected via a supply pipe such as a tube.

  In the first embodiment described above, the filter 35 is provided on the upstream surface of each of the first dividing member 33 and the second dividing member 34. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. May be provided on the downstream surface of each of the first split member 33 and the second split member 34.

  Further, in the first embodiment described above, the supply members 30 to 30 </ b> D are configured by two members of the first split member 33 and the second split member 34, and the cartridge mounting portion 31 on the surface of the supply member 30 and the split member. Although the filter 35 is provided on the joint surfaces 36 of 33 and 34, the filter 35 is not particularly limited thereto. For example, the filter 35 may be provided on the surface of the supply member 30 to 30D on the head body 40 side. Alternatively, the supply member may be composed of three or more divided members, and the filter 35 may be provided on each of the surface of the divided member and the two joining surfaces. That is, the filter 35 may be provided on three or more surfaces. Of course, the supply member may be composed of three or more divided members, and the filter 35 may be provided only on the two joining surfaces of the divided members.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the first liquid supply needle 50A and the second liquid supply needle 50B are individually provided in the supply members 30 to 30D. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. A liquid supply needle in which a plurality of second liquid supply needles 50A and a plurality of second liquid supply needles 50B are integrally provided may be provided. By using the liquid supply needle integrally provided in this way, the welding area for welding the liquid supply needle to the supply members 30 to 30D can be reduced, and the filter 35 can be provided in closer proximity, The supply members 30 to 30D can be further downsized.

  Further, in FIGS. 3 and 6 to 9 of the first embodiment described above, the filters 35 that are closest to each other are arranged so as to partially overlap, but the filters of the cartridge mounting portion 31 and the joint surface 36 are arranged. A part of 35 does not need to overlap. This is because an area where the liquid supply needle 50 is welded is necessary on the surface (cartridge mounting portion 31), and the area where the liquid supply needle 50 is welded may overlap with the filter 35 on the joining surface 36. Because.

  In the first embodiment described above, the filter 35 provided on the surface (cartridge mounting portion 31) and the filter 35 provided on the joining surface 36 are arranged so as to partially overlap. For example, you may arrange | position so that the filter 35 of the surface and the joint surface 36 may become the same position in a surface direction. When the filters 35 are arranged in this way, for example, the liquid supply paths may be bent or inclined so that the liquid supply paths 32 avoid the filters 35 of the other liquid supply paths 32. .

  In Embodiment 1 described above, the liquid supply path 32 is exemplified as a straight line having the shortest distance from the liquid storage means side toward the head body 40 side. However, the liquid supply path 32 may be inclined. Further, it may be bent or curved. That is, the present invention is effective even with the liquid supply path 32 that does not have the shortest distance.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the configuration in which one head main body 40 is provided for the plurality of liquid supply paths 32 is illustrated, but a plurality of head main bodies may be provided for each ink color. In such a case, each liquid supply path 32 communicates with each head body, that is, each liquid supply path 32 communicates with each nozzle row in which nozzle openings provided in each head body are arranged in parallel. It may be provided as follows. Of course, the liquid supply path 32 may not communicate with each nozzle array, and one liquid supply path 32 may communicate with a plurality of nozzle arrays, and one nozzle array is divided into two. The liquid supply path 32 may be communicated with each other. That is, the liquid supply path 32 only needs to communicate with a nozzle opening group including a plurality of nozzle openings.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described by exemplifying the ink jet recording head 11 that ejects ink droplets. However, the present invention is widely intended for all liquid ejecting heads. Examples of the liquid ejecting head include a recording head used for an image recording apparatus such as a printer, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and an electrode formation such as an FED (field emission display). Electrode material ejecting heads used in manufacturing, bioorganic matter ejecting heads used in biochip production, and the like.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. 2A and 2B are a cross-sectional view and a top view of main parts of the recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. It is sectional drawing of the liquid supply needle | hook which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a recording head and a top view of a supply member related to the present invention. It is a top view which shows the other example of the supply member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the other example of the supply member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the other example of the supply member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the other example of the supply member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inkjet recording apparatus (liquid ejecting apparatus), 11 Inkjet recording head (liquid ejecting head), 30, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 130 Supply member, 31 Cartridge mounting part (surface), 32, 32A, 32B Liquid Supply path, 33 1st division member, 34 2nd division member, 35 filter, 36 joint surface, 40 head body, 50, 50A, 50B Liquid supply needle

Claims (6)

A head body having a plurality of nozzle openings for ejecting liquid from a liquid storage means for storing liquid, and a supply member provided with a plurality of liquid supply paths for supplying the liquid for each of a plurality of nozzle opening groups;
The supply member is configured by joining at least a first divided member and a second divided member divided from the storage means side toward the head main body side, and the liquid supply path is at least Provided across the first split member and the second split member;
The liquid supply path crosses the liquid supply path on the surface of the first split member, the first liquid supply path provided with the filter that crosses the liquid supply path on the surface of the first split member, and the surface of the second split member. And a second liquid supply path provided with the filter.   The first filter is provided on the upstream surface of the first dividing member, and the second filter is provided on the upstream surface of the second dividing member. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1. The first filter is provided on the downstream surface of the flow path of the first dividing member;
The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the second filter is provided on a surface of the second divided member on the downstream side of the flow path.   The liquid supply path is provided with a filter chamber having a wide flow path before and after the filter, and the filter chamber of the first liquid supply path and the filter chamber of the second liquid supply path are: The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting head has substantially the same shape. A head body having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid from a liquid storage means for storing liquid, and a supply member provided with a plurality of liquid supply paths for supplying the liquid;
The liquid supply path includes a first liquid supply path provided with a first filter traversing the liquid supply path and a second liquid supply path provided with a second filter traversing the liquid supply path. And the first filter of the first liquid supply path and the second filter of the second liquid supply path have projections in a direction intersecting the filter surface at least partially overlapping each other. Provided,
The first liquid supply path is provided with a first filter chamber in which the first liquid supply path extends before and after the first filter,
The second liquid supply path is provided with a second filter chamber that extends in front of and behind the second filter and has substantially the same shape as the first filter chamber. Liquid ejecting head. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the liquid ejecting head according to claim 1.

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