JP2009132135A - Liquid ejecting head, method for manufacturing the same and liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid ejecting head capable of reducing the size of a head and, at the same time, reducing the cost by reliably preventing leakage of liquid, to provide a method for manufacturing the liquid ejecting head, and to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the liquid ejecting head. <P>SOLUTION: A supply member 30 comprises: a filter attaching member 31 on which a liquid supply path 36 is disposed; a supply body 32 which is disposed on one edge side of the liquid supply path 36 of the filter attaching member 31 and supplies liquid to the filter attaching member 31; and a filter 33 disposed between the filter attaching member 31 and the supply body 32. On the outer circumference of the filter attaching member 31 and supply body 32, while the filter 33 is held between the filter attaching member 31 and supply body 32, an outer part 34 formed by integral molding so as to fix the filter attaching member 31, the supply body 32 and filter 33 is disposed and the outer part 34 is disposed around an area held by the filter attaching member 31 of the filter 33 and the supply body 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, a method for manufacturing the same, and a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes the liquid ejecting head, and more particularly to an ink jet recording head that ejects ink as liquid, a method for manufacturing the same, and an ink jet recording apparatus.

  In an ink jet recording head, which is a typical example of a liquid ejecting head, generally, an ink supply needle serving as an ink supply body that is detachably inserted into an ink cartridge from a liquid storage means filled with ink. Ink is supplied to the head body via an ink flow path formed in a supply member such as a cartridge case that holds the ink cartridge, and the head is driven by driving pressure generating means such as a piezoelectric element provided in the head body. The ink supplied to the main body is ejected from the nozzle.

  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, there is one in which a filter for removing bubbles, dust, etc. in ink is provided between an ink supply needle inserted into an ink cartridge and a supply member (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

Further, such a filter and the supply member are fixed by thermal welding or the like, and the ink supply needle and the supply member are fixed by ultrasonic welding or the like.
JP 2000-2111130 A

  However, in the configuration as disclosed in Patent Document 1, since a filter is provided in a region where the ink supply needle of the supply member is fixed, a region corresponding to the area of the filter is required, and the ink supply needle is provided in the supply member. In addition, since areas for individually welding the filters are necessary, there is a problem in that the interval between the ink supply needles adjacent to each other cannot be shortened, and the head becomes large.

  Further, in the configuration as in Patent Document 1, if the area of the filter is excessively reduced in order to reduce the size of the head, the dynamic pressure increases. Therefore, a driving voltage for driving pressure generating means such as a piezoelectric element or a heating element is set. There is a problem that it must be raised.

  Further, when the ink supply needle and the supply member are fixed by thermal welding, there is a possibility that a gap is generated, and there is a problem that ink leaks from the gap. Furthermore, if the filter and the ink supply needle are individually fixed to the supply member, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost becomes high.

  Such a problem exists not only in an ink jet recording head but also in a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid other than ink.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a liquid ejecting head, a method for manufacturing the same, and a liquid ejecting apparatus that can reduce the size of the head and reliably prevent liquid leakage. This is the issue.

  An aspect of the present invention that solves the above-described problems includes a head body having a nozzle opening that ejects liquid supplied from a liquid storage unit that stores liquid, and a plurality of nozzle opening groups of the head body from the liquid supply unit. A supply member provided with a plurality of liquid supply passages for supplying the liquid, wherein the supply member is a filter attachment member provided with the liquid supply passage, and one end of the liquid supply passage of the filter attachment member. And a filter provided between the filter mounting member and the supply body, and an outer periphery of the filter mounting member and the supply body. The filter mounting member, the supply body, and the filter are integrally molded to fix the filter with the filter sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body. With the outer portion is provided, the outer portion is a liquid-jet head, characterized in that provided on the periphery of the filter mounting member and a region sandwiched between the feed of the filter.

  In such an aspect, the filter mounting member, the filter, and the supply body are fixed and integrated by the outer portion, so that a region for individually welding the supply body and the filter to the filter mounting member becomes unnecessary, and the filter is effective. The space between adjacent supply bodies can be shortened by expanding the area, and the head can be miniaturized. Further, it is not necessary to reduce the area of the filter in order to reduce the size of the head, and it is not necessary to increase the driving voltage for driving the pressure generating means such as the piezoelectric element and the heating element by preventing the dynamic pressure from increasing. Furthermore, it is possible to reliably prevent a gap from being generated between the supply body and the supply member by the outer portion, and to reliably prevent liquid from leaking from the gap. Further, it is not necessary to individually fix the filter and the supply body to the filter mounting member, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Here, the filter is provided to protrude to the outside of the region sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body, and projects to the outside of the region sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body of the filter. It is preferable that a part of the region is sandwiched between the outer portions. According to this, it is possible to reliably hold the filter by the outer portion and reliably prevent the filter from being relied upon or peeled off.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a plurality of through holes are provided in a region sandwiched by the outer portion of the filter. According to this, when the outer part is formed by integral molding, the outer part can be reliably formed in a state of penetrating the through hole of the filter, the liquid flow path can be reliably sealed, and liquid leakage can be prevented. Can be prevented.

  In addition, in a region corresponding to an outer portion of at least one peripheral portion of the filter mounting member and the supply body, a through hole is provided to communicate the surface on the side sandwiching the filter with the surface on the opposite side. Is preferred. According to this, the integration of the outer part with at least one of the filter mounting member and the supply body is reinforced, and since it acts as an air vent hole during molding, the outer part can be molded well.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a plurality of through holes are provided in the filter so as to be discontinuous in the circumferential direction from an area sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body to an outer area. . According to this, by providing the through hole in the filter, when the outer part is formed by integral molding, the outer part can be reliably formed over the periphery of the liquid flow path, and the liquid flow path can be reliably Sealing can be performed and liquid leakage can be prevented.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the peripheral part of the said filter is clamped by the said filter attachment member and the said supply body. According to this, even the peripheral part of the filter is securely clamped, and the peripheral part and the peeling of the peripheral part of the filter are prevented.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said filter is independently provided in each of several liquid supply path. According to this, even if it is a filter provided individually, the function as a filter can be obtained.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said filter is provided continuously over several liquid supply paths. This eliminates the need for a process of cutting the filter with the same size, and simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of components.

  According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid ejecting head according to the above aspect. According to this, it is possible to realize a liquid ejecting apparatus that is reduced in size and cost.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head body having a nozzle opening for ejecting a liquid supplied from a liquid storage means for storing a liquid, and a plurality of liquids for supplying the liquid for each of a plurality of nozzle opening groups of the head body. A supply member provided with a liquid supply path, and the supply member is provided on one end side of the liquid supply path of the filter mounting member provided with the liquid supply path and the filter mounting member. A supply body for supplying a liquid to the filter mounting member; a filter provided between the filter mounting member and the supply body; and an outer portion provided on an outer periphery of the filter mounting member and the supply body. A method of manufacturing a liquid jet head, wherein the filter is sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body, and the outer portion is attached to the filter mounting portion of the filter. And the filter mounting member, the supply body, and the filter are integrally fixed to be integrally formed so as to be continuous over a region sandwiched between the liquid supply body and the supply body. There is a method for manufacturing a head.

  In such an aspect, the filter mounting member, the filter, and the supply body are fixed and integrated by the outer portion, so that a region for individually welding the supply body and the filter to the filter mounting member becomes unnecessary, and the filter is effective. The space between adjacent supply bodies can be shortened by expanding the area, and the head can be miniaturized. Further, it is not necessary to reduce the area of the filter in order to reduce the size of the head, and it is not necessary to increase the driving voltage for driving the pressure generating means such as the piezoelectric element and the heating element by preventing the dynamic pressure from increasing. Furthermore, it is possible to reliably prevent a gap from being generated between the supply body and the supply member by the outer portion, and to reliably prevent liquid from leaking from the gap. Further, it is not necessary to individually fix the filter and the supply body to the filter mounting member, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

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 also 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. 13 are fixed so that attachment or detachment is possible respectively.

  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. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording head which is an example of the liquid ejecting head according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 11 is fixed to a supply member 30 such as a cartridge case to which an ink cartridge 13 as a liquid storage unit is fixed, and a surface of the supply member 30 opposite to the ink cartridge 13. The head main body 220 and the cover head 240 provided on the liquid ejecting surface side of the head main body 220 are provided.

  First, the supply member 30 will be described in detail. 3 is a top view of the supply member, FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of the main part of the supply member, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the supply member 30 includes a filter attachment member 31 corresponding to the filter attachment member in the present embodiment, a supply needle 32 as a supply body provided on one side of the filter attachment member 31, and a supply A filter 33 provided between the member main body 31 and the supply needle 32 and an outer portion 34 provided on the outer periphery of the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32 are provided.

  The supply member 30 has supply body forming portions 35 to which the above-described ink cartridges 13 (corresponding to “liquid storage means” described in claims) are respectively attached. Needless to say, the ink cartridge 13 is not directly attached to the supply body forming section 35, but the ink may be guided from the liquid storage means to the supply body forming section 35 via a tube.

  Further, the supply member main body 31 is on the downstream side of the filter 33 described later, and one end opens to each supply body forming portion 35 and the other end opens to the head main body 220 side. A liquid supply path 36 for supplying ink to the head main body 220 is provided. A plurality of liquid supply paths 36 are provided side by side in the longitudinal direction of the supply member main body 31, and the liquid supply paths 36 are independent of the ink cartridges 13 provided for the respective ink colors. Is provided.

  In addition, the supply body forming portion 35 of the supply member main body 31 is provided with a protrusion 37 around the area where each liquid supply path 36 opens. The filter 33 is sandwiched between the projection 37 and the supply needle 32.

  The supply needle 32 serving as a supply body is fixed to the surface of the supply member main body 31 (supply body forming portion 35), and has a through passage 38 communicating with the liquid supply passage 36. The supply needle 32 is a member for supplying the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 13 to the supply member main body 31.

  The supply needle 32 has a flange portion 39 in the vicinity of the end portion on the supply member main body 31 side. The flange portion 39 is provided with a convex portion 40 in a region corresponding to the protruding portion 37 of the supply member main body 31, and a filter is provided between the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32 and the protruding portion 37 of the supply member main body 31. Pinch.

  In the present embodiment, by integrating the two supply needles 32, one member in which the two supply needles 32 are integrated with respect to the two liquid supply paths is provided. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, five members are provided for ten liquid supply paths 36 (not shown).

  Further, a space having a larger inner diameter than other regions, that is, a filter chamber 41 that is a wide portion is provided in a connection region between the penetrating passage 38 of the supply needle 32 and the liquid supply passage 36. In this embodiment, for example, the filter chamber 41 is formed so that the inner diameter becomes larger toward the supply member main body 31 side. The filter chamber 41 is formed with an inner diameter larger than that of the other region of the through path 38 in order to increase the area of the filter 33 and reduce the resistance when ink passes through as much as possible.

  The filter 33 is, for example, a sheet of finely woven metal, and is sandwiched between the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32. In the present embodiment, the filter 33 has a size that protrudes to the outside of the region sandwiched between the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32. In other words, the filter 33 is provided so as to protrude into the outer concave portion 42 defined by the protruding portion 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32.

  Such a filter 33 may be provided independently for each liquid supply path 36, or one continuous filter 33 may be provided for each of the plurality of liquid supply paths 36. In the present embodiment, by providing one filter 33 so as to be continuous with all the liquid supply paths 36, the filter 33 is defined by the protruding portion 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32. It protruded into the outer recess 42. In this way, by providing the filter 33 so as to protrude into the recess 42, the protruding region is sandwiched by the outer portion 34, which will be described in detail later, thereby preventing the filter 33 from being relied upon or peeled off. can do.

  Further, the filter 33 is provided with a plurality of through-holes 43 so as to be discontinuous over a region sandwiched between the protruding portion 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32. . In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a liquid is supplied to the through-hole 43 that opens between the region A sandwiched between the protrusion 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32 and the outside thereof. Four are provided so as to be equidistant around the circumference of the path 36.

  By providing the through hole 43 in the filter 33 in this way, the filter 33 is interposed between the projection 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32 between the two integrated supply needles 32. In detail, the outer region 34 formed by integral molding to be described later can be provided in the sandwiched region A. That is, when the outer portion 34 is integrally formed, the outer portion is located inside the through hole 43 in the region A where the filter 33 is sandwiched between the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32 through the through hole 43 of the filter 33. 34 can be filled. Thereby, the outer part 34 can be arrange | positioned to the place near the limit of an effective area. In addition, when the outer portion 34 is integrally formed, between the adjacent through holes 43 in the region A sandwiched between the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32 in the circumferential direction through the through holes 43 of the filter 33. The outer part 34 can be filled. As a result, the outer portion 34 can be provided continuously around the liquid supply path 36 to reliably seal the liquid supply path 36 and prevent ink leakage.

  Further, when the outer portion 34 is formed by integral molding by providing the filter 33 with the through hole 43 so as to open to the outside of the region A sandwiched between the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32, the outer portion The resin 34 can easily flow through the through-hole 43 in the vertical direction of the filter 33.

  The outer portion 34 is made of a resin formed by integral molding on the outer periphery of the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32. In the present embodiment, one outer portion 34 is provided around the boundary between the plurality of supply needles 32 and the supply member main body 31.

  Such an outer portion 34 is provided on the outer periphery of the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32, on the end surface of the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32, and on the surface opposite to the filter 33 of the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32. Are provided. Thereby, the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32 are fixed and integrated. That is, the outer portion 34 is formed by being filled in a concave portion 42 defined by the protruding portion 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32, and the filter 33 protruding into the concave portion 42. It is provided in the state which pinched | interposed.

  Moreover, the outer part 34 is extended over the area | region A clamped by the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32 of the filter 33, as shown in FIG. That is, since the filter 33 of the present embodiment is made of finely woven metal, the outer portion 34 is filled with resin melted when formed by integral molding into the fine holes of the filter 33. Thus, the filter 33 is provided between the protruding portion 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32.

  Such an outer portion 34 is formed by integral molding over the outer periphery of the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32, thereby fixing the supply member main body 31, the supply needle 32 and the filter 33 to fix the supply member 30. It is integrated.

  Thus, the area | region for welding the supply needle 32 and the filter 33 to the supply member main body 31 by integrating the supply member main body 31, the supply needle 32, and the filter 33 by the outer part 34 formed by integral molding. Is unnecessary, the interval between the adjacent supply needles 32 can be shortened, and the head can be miniaturized. Further, it is not necessary to reduce the area of the filter 33 in order to reduce the size of the head, and it is not necessary to increase the driving voltage for driving the piezoelectric element 300 by preventing the dynamic pressure from increasing.

  Moreover, since the filter 33 and the supply needle 32 can be simultaneously fixed to the supply member main body 31 by using the outer part 34, it is not necessary to fix the filter 33 and the supply needle 32 to the supply member main body 31, respectively. Manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32 are fixed by the outer portion 34, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32 and to prevent ink from leaking from the gap. Can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the outer portion 34 is also filled in the filling hole 44 provided between the two integrated supply needles 32 and the communication hole 45 of the supply member main body 31 communicating with the filling hole 44. The filling hole 44 and the communication hole 45 are provided over the periphery of the liquid supply path 36 between the regions where the protrusion 37 of the supply member main body 31 of the filter 33 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32 face each other. Is. That is, in the case where a plurality of supply needles 32 are integrated and one continuous outer portion 34 is provided as in the present embodiment, the outer portion 34 is provided with the supply member main body by providing the filling hole 44 and the communication hole 45. The protruding portion 37 of the 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32 can be formed between the opposing regions.

  Here, a method for manufacturing such an ink jet recording head 11, in particular, the supply member 30 will be described in detail. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views showing a method for manufacturing the supply member.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, the filter 33 is sandwiched between the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32. That is, the protruding portion 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32 are brought into contact with the filter 33 interposed therebetween.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the mold 200 is fitted over the outer periphery of the boundary between the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32. The mold 200 is formed of a member divided into upper and lower portions, and a cavity 201 in which an outer portion 34 is formed is provided. The mold 200 is provided with a gate 202 that communicates the cavity 201 with the outside.

  And as shown in FIG. 7, the outer part 34 is formed by integral molding, and the supply member 30 is formed. Specifically, the outer portion 34 is molded by filling the melted resin into the cavity 201 through the gate 202 of the mold 200. At this time, the melted resin filled in the cavity 201 is also filled in the micropores of the filter 33, and the region between the protrusion 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the protrusion 40 of the supply needle 32, that is, The filter 33 is filled over a region A (see FIG. 4) sandwiched between the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle 32 of the filter 33.

  Thereby, the outer part 34 is provided over the periphery of the liquid supply path 36, and the supply member main body 31, the supply needle 32 and the filter 33 are fixed and integrated.

  Note that, as described above, the filter 33 of the present embodiment is provided with the through hole 43, so that the resin passes through the through hole 43 in the cavity 201 of the mold 200 and flows in the vertical direction of the filter 33. This makes it easy to fill the mold 200 with the molten resin. Further, by providing the through-hole 43 in the filter 33, the resin is filled over the region between the protruding portion 37 of the supply member main body 31 and the convex portion 40 of the supply needle 32, and the liquid supply path is formed by the outer portion 34. 36 can be sealed.

  The supply member 30 thus formed does not require the process of welding the filter 33 and the supply needle 32 to the supply member main body 31, and the supply member main body 31 and the supply needle are formed in a single step of forming the outer portion 34 by integral molding. 32 and the filter 33 can be fixed and integrated. Therefore, the manufacturing process can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, a head body 220 is provided on the other side of the liquid supply path 36 of the supply member 30, that is, on the side opposite to the supply needle 32. Here, the head body 220 will be described. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the head body, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the head body.

  As shown in the figure, the flow path forming substrate 60 constituting the head main body 220 is made of a silicon single crystal substrate in the present embodiment, and an elastic film 50 made of silicon dioxide is formed on one surface thereof. The flow path forming substrate 60 is formed with two rows in which pressure generation chambers 62 partitioned by a plurality of partition walls are arranged in parallel in the width direction by anisotropic etching from the other side. Further, on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the pressure generation chambers 62 in each row, communication is made with a reservoir portion 81 provided on a reservoir forming substrate 80 described later, and constitutes a reservoir 100 serving as a common ink chamber for each pressure generation chamber 62. A portion 63 is formed. The communication portion 63 is in communication with one end portion in the longitudinal direction of each pressure generating chamber 62 through the ink supply path 64. That is, in the present embodiment, the pressure generation chamber 62, the communication portion 63, and the ink supply path 64 are provided as the liquid flow paths formed on the flow path forming substrate 60.

  Further, the nozzle plate 70 in which the nozzle openings 71 are formed is fixed to the opening surface side of the flow path forming substrate 60 via the adhesive 400. Specifically, a plurality of nozzle plates 70 are provided so as to correspond to the plurality of head main bodies 220, and the nozzle plates 70 have a slightly larger area than an exposed opening 241 of the cover head 240 described in detail later. And is fixed by an adhesive or the like in a region overlapping with the cover head 240. In addition, the nozzle openings 71 of the nozzle plate 70 are formed at positions where the pressure generating chambers 62 communicate with each other on the side opposite to the ink supply path 64. In this embodiment, since two rows in which the pressure generating chambers 62 are arranged in parallel are provided on the flow path forming substrate 60, two nozzle rows 71A in which nozzle openings 71 are arranged in parallel are provided in one head body 220. Yes. In this embodiment, the surface on which the nozzle openings 71 of the nozzle plate 70 are opened is the liquid ejection surface A. Examples of such a nozzle plate 70 include a silicon single crystal substrate and a metal substrate such as stainless steel (SUS).

  On the other hand, on the side opposite to the opening surface of the flow path forming substrate 60, on the elastic film 50, a lower electrode film made of metal, a piezoelectric layer made of a piezoelectric material such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), A piezoelectric element 300 is formed by sequentially laminating an upper electrode film made of metal.

  On the flow path forming substrate 60 on which such a piezoelectric element 300 is formed, a reservoir forming substrate 80 having a reservoir portion 81 that constitutes at least a part of the reservoir 100 is joined. In the present embodiment, the reservoir portion 81 is formed across the reservoir forming substrate 80 in the thickness direction and across the width direction of the pressure generating chamber 62, and as described above, the communication portion of the flow path forming substrate 60. The reservoir 100 is connected to the pressure generating chamber 62 and serves as a common ink chamber.

  A piezoelectric element holding portion 82 having a space that does not hinder the movement of the piezoelectric element 300 is provided in a region facing the piezoelectric element 300 of the reservoir forming substrate 80.

  Further, on the reservoir forming substrate 80, a drive circuit 110 made of a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or the like for driving each piezoelectric element 300 is provided. Each terminal of the drive circuit 110 is connected to a lead wiring drawn from the individual electrode of each piezoelectric element 300 via a bonding wire or the like (not shown). Each terminal of the drive circuit 110 is connected to the outside via an external wiring 111 such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC), and receives various signals such as a print signal from the outside via the external wiring 111. Yes.

  In addition, the compliance substrate 140 is bonded onto the reservoir forming substrate 80. An ink introduction port 144 for supplying ink to the reservoir 100 is formed in a region facing the reservoir 100 of the compliance substrate 140 by penetrating in the thickness direction. In addition, the region other than the ink inlet 144 in the region facing the reservoir 100 of the compliance substrate 140 is a flexible portion 143 formed thin in the thickness direction, and the reservoir 100 is sealed by the flexible portion 143. Has been. This flexible portion 143 provides compliance within the reservoir 100.

  A head case 230 is fixed on the compliance substrate 140.

  The head case 230 communicates with the ink introduction port 144 and also communicates with the liquid supply path 36 of the supply member 30, and is provided with an ink supply communication passage 231 that supplies ink from the supply member 30 to the ink introduction port 144. . In the head case 230, a groove portion 232 is formed in a region facing the flexible portion 143 of the compliance substrate 140, and the flexible portion 143 is appropriately deformed. The head case 230 is provided with a drive circuit holding portion 233 penetrating in the thickness direction in a region facing the drive circuit 110 provided on the reservoir forming substrate 80, and the external wiring 111 holds the drive circuit holding The drive circuit 110 is connected through the portion 233.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the head main body 220 held by the supply member 30 via the head case 230 is relative to each other by the cover head 240 having a box shape so as to cover the liquid ejection surface side of the four head main bodies 220. Positioned and held. The cover head 240 has an exposed opening 241 that exposes the nozzle opening 71, an exposed opening 241, and both ends of the nozzle openings 71 arranged in parallel in at least the nozzle row 71 </ b> A on the liquid ejection surface of the head body 220. And a joint portion 242 to be joined.

  In the present embodiment, the joint portion 242 extends between the frame portion 243 provided along the outer periphery of the liquid ejecting surface across the plurality of head main bodies 220 and the adjacent head main body 220 to be exposed opening portions 241. The frame portion 243 and the beam portion 244 are joined to the liquid ejecting surface of the head main body 220, that is, the surface of the nozzle plate 70.

  Further, the cover head 240 is provided with a side wall portion 245 that extends so as to bend over the outer peripheral edge portion of the liquid ejection surface on the side surface side of the liquid ejection surface of the head body 220.

  As described above, the cover head 240 adheres the joint portion 242 to the liquid ejecting surface of the head main body 220. Therefore, the step between the liquid ejecting surface and the cover head 240 can be reduced, and the liquid ejecting surface can be wiped or sucked. Even if the operation is performed, it is possible to prevent ink from remaining on the liquid ejection surface. Further, since the adjacent head main bodies 220 are blocked by the beam portions 244, ink does not enter between the adjacent head main bodies 220, and deterioration due to ink such as the piezoelectric element 300 and the drive circuit 110 and the like. Destruction can be prevented. Further, since the liquid ejection surface of the head main body 220 and the cover head 240 are bonded without any gap by an adhesive, the recording medium S is prevented from entering the gap, and the cover head 240 is deformed and paper jam occurs. Can be prevented. Further, since the side wall 245 covers the outer peripheral edge portions of the plurality of head main bodies 220, it is possible to reliably prevent the ink from flowing into the side surfaces of the head main bodies 220. In addition, since the cover head 240 is provided with the joint portion 242 that is joined to the liquid ejecting surface of the head main body 220, each nozzle row 71A of the plurality of head main bodies 220 is positioned with high accuracy with respect to the cover head 240. Can be joined.

  As such a cover head 240, metal materials, such as stainless steel, are mentioned, for example, A metal plate may be formed by press work and may be formed by shaping | molding. Further, the cover head 240 can be grounded by using a conductive metal material. The joining of the cover head 240 and the nozzle plate 70 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include adhesion using a thermosetting epoxy adhesive or an ultraviolet curable adhesive.

  The ink jet recording head 11 of this embodiment takes in ink from the ink cartridge 13 from the liquid supply path 36 and reaches from the reservoir 100 to the nozzle opening 71 via the ink supply communication path 231 and the ink introduction port 144. After filling the inside with ink, a voltage is applied to each piezoelectric element 300 corresponding to each pressure generating chamber 62 in accordance with a recording signal from the drive circuit 110 to cause the elastic film 50 and the piezoelectric element 300 to bend and deform. The pressure in each pressure generating chamber 62 increases and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle openings 71.

(Embodiment 2)
In FIG. 10, the cross section and upper surface of the supply member which concern on Embodiment 2 are shown. The supply member 30 </ b> A of the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of through holes 46 at the peripheral edge protruding into the outer portion 34 </ b> A of the filter 33 </ b> A. Also, in this embodiment, a plurality of supply needles are integrated and one continuous outer portion 34A is provided, but the region between the liquid supply passages 36 of the filter 33A and the region corresponding to the communication hole 45 are in the form of a strip. A communication part 47 is provided. As a result, the outer portion 34A extends so as to surround the communication portion 47, whereby the space between the liquid supply paths 36 is reliably sealed by the outer portion 34A. Furthermore, a through hole 48 is also provided in the communication portion 47 of the filter 33A. Thereby, the circumference | surroundings of the communication part 47 are sealed more reliably by the outer part 34A.

(Embodiment 3)
In FIG. 11, the cross section of the supply member which concerns on Embodiment 3 is shown. The supply member 30B of the present embodiment is present in a region where the outer portion 34B is sandwiched between the supply member main body 31B and the supply needle 32B and does not have a shape surrounding the outer periphery, but in this case as well, the outer portion 34B The filter 33B is provided around a region sandwiched between the supply member main body 31B and the supply needle 32B.

  Further, a fine through hole 91 and a through hole 92 penetrating from the clamping surface side of the filter 33B to the opposite side are provided in a portion of the peripheral portion of the supply member main body 31B and the supply needle 32B facing the outer portion 34B. Yes. These through holes 91 and 92 are provided separately from the through holes of the resin filling portion, and act as air vent holes when the outer portion 34B is molded, but after molding, the outer portion 34B, the supply member main body 31B, and the supply The integration with the needle 32B is reinforced. Such through holes 91 and 92 may or may not be provided in only one of the supply member main body 31B and the supply needle 32B. Since the outer portion 34B is provided so as to surround the supply member main body 31B and the supply needle 32B, the outer portion 34B is sufficiently integrated with the supply member main body 31B and the supply needle 32B without providing the through holes 91 and 92. Since the outer portion 34B is in direct contact with the mold during molding, it is not always necessary to provide an air vent hole.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the basic composition of this invention is not limited to what was mentioned above.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the entire supply member main body 31 is configured by the filter mounting member. However, the supply member main body 31 is divided into the filter 33 side and the head main body 220 side, and the member on the filter 33 side is used as the filter mounting member. The filter 33 and the supply needle 32 may be integrated. In this case, the supply member 30 is configured by assembling the supply member main body 31 on the head main body 220 side to the integrated member.

  In the above-described embodiment, one member in which the two supply needles 32 are integrated is provided, and one outer portion 34 is provided over the outer periphery of the plurality of supply needles 32 and the supply member main body 31. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the supply member main body 31C and the supply needle 32C are provided independently, and the outer portion 34C is provided on the outer periphery of each of the supply member main body 31C and the supply needle 32C. You may do it. In this case, the outer portion 34C can be easily formed without providing the through hole 43 in the filter 33C as in the first embodiment. Of course, the through hole 46 may be provided as in the second embodiment. In the first to third embodiments described above, the ink jet recording head 11 having the supply member 30 having the plurality of supply needles 32 is exemplified. However, as shown in FIG. 12, the ink jet type having only one supply member 30 is used. A recording head may be used, and the number and arrangement of supply members and supply needles are not limited to those described above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink cartridge 13 that is a liquid storage unit is provided to be detachable from the supply member 30. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. 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. That is, in the embodiment described above, the needle-like supply needle 32 is exemplified as the supply body, but the supply body is not limited to the needle-like one.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which one head main body 220 is provided for the plurality of liquid supply paths 36 is illustrated, but a plurality of head main bodies may be provided for each ink color. In such a case, each liquid supply path 36 communicates with each head body, that is, each liquid supply path 36 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 36 does not have to communicate with each nozzle array, and one liquid supply path 36 may communicate with a plurality of nozzle arrays, and one nozzle array is divided into two. The liquid supply path 36 may be communicated with each other. That is, the liquid supply path 36 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. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. It is a top view of the supply member concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is the upper side figure to which the principal part of the supply member concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention was expanded. It is sectional drawing of the supply member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the manufacturing method of the supply member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the manufacturing method of the supply member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the head main body which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the head main body which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing and the top view of the supply member which concern on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the supply member which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the supply member which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inkjet recording apparatus (liquid ejecting apparatus), 11 Inkjet recording head (liquid ejecting head), 30 Supply member, 31 Supply member main body, 32 Supply needle (Supply body), 33 Filter, 34 Outer part, 35 Supply body formation Part (surface), 200 mold, 220 head body, 240 cover head

Claims (10)

A head body having a nozzle opening for ejecting the liquid supplied from the liquid storage means for storing the liquid, and a plurality of liquid supply paths for supplying the liquid from the liquid storage means for each of a plurality of nozzle opening groups of the head body. Provided supply member,
A filter mounting member provided with the liquid supply path; a supply body provided on one end side of the liquid supply path of the filter mounting member to supply to the filter mounting member; and the filter mounting member. A filter provided between the supply body,
On the outer periphery of the filter mounting member and the supply body, the filter mounting member, the supply body, and the filter are fixed integrally with the filter being sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body. An outer portion formed by molding is provided, and the outer portion is provided around a region sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body of the filter. head.   The filter is provided so as to protrude to the outside of the region sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body, and the filter projects to the outside of the region sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body of the filter. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein a part of the liquid ejecting head is sandwiched between the outer portions.   The liquid ejecting head according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of through holes are provided in a region sandwiched by the outer portion of the filter.   In a region corresponding to the outer portion of the peripheral portion of at least one of the filter mounting member and the supply body, there is provided a through-hole that communicates the surface on the side sandwiching the filter and the surface on the opposite side. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting head is a liquid ejecting head.   In the filter, a plurality of through holes are provided so as to be discontinuous in a circumferential direction from an area sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body to an outer area. The liquid jet head according to claim 1.   The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral portion of the filter is sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body.   The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the filter is provided independently for each of the plurality of liquid supply paths.   The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the filter is provided continuously over a plurality of liquid supply paths.   A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the liquid ejecting head according to claim 1. A head member having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid supplied 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 of the head body And the supply member is provided on one end side of the liquid supply path of the filter mounting member and supplies the liquid to the filter mounting member. And a filter provided between the filter mounting member and the supply body, and a method for manufacturing a liquid jet head comprising an outer portion provided on the outer periphery of the filter mounting member and the supply body. ,
The filter is sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body, and the outer portion is integrally formed so as to be continuous over a region sandwiched between the filter mounting member and the supply body of the filter. A method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head, wherein the filter mounting member, the supply body, and the filter are integrally fixed.