JP2014004710A - Liquid discharge head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid discharge head capable of arranging a pressure chamber of an ink jet nozzle with two-dimensionally high density with an easily manufacturable structure.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge head includes: first plates 10 with a plurality of first grooves 11 and a plurality of second grooves 12 in parallel with the first grooves 11; flat plate-like second plates 20 laminated alternately with the first plates 10; and spacer layers 32 interposing the first plates 10 and the second plates 20 and forming a plurality of air gaps 31 between the first plates 10 and the second plates 20. The first plates 10 and the second plates 20 are formed by piezoelectric bodies. The first grooves 11 and the second grooves 12 are closed with the second plates 20 to form each of pressure chambers 41 and opening sections 42. At least one of two spacer layers 32 adjacent to the first plates 10 includes the air gap 31 at a position displaced from the first grooves 11 in a direction parallel to the lamination direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid by driving a piezoelectric element.

  Several forms are known as an ink jet head that discharges liquid by driving a piezoelectric element. In the first embodiment, one wall surface of a pressure chamber filled with a liquid is used as a vibration plate, and the vibration plate is deformed by a piezoelectric element to pressurize and discharge the liquid. As a second form, a so-called share is formed in which grooves and electrodes are formed in a plate of a piezoelectric element polarized in the thickness direction, and the groove is used as a pressure chamber to apply an electric field in a direction orthogonal to the polarization direction of the piezoelectric element. There is one that pressurizes and discharges liquid depending on the mode. In the case of this form, it is common to drive two of the four walls surrounding the pressure chamber. As a third form, there is one in which a pressure chamber is surrounded by a cylindrical piezoelectric element and liquid is pressurized and discharged by contracting the piezoelectric element.

  In the first embodiment, since there is only one wall that deforms, it is difficult to ensure the amount of displacement, and there is a limit to obtaining a large discharge force. In the second embodiment, the wall to be deformed has two surfaces. However, since the deformation of the shear mode of the piezoelectric element is generally smaller than the deformation in the thickness direction, it is difficult to obtain a large discharge force. In the third embodiment, not only the entire circumference of the pressure chamber is deformed but also an electric field is applied in the polarization direction of the piezoelectric element to deform it, so that a large discharge force can be obtained.

  On the other hand, in order to achieve high-speed and high-resolution image recording in an inkjet head, it is desired to form a large number of nozzles at high density.

  Therefore, a large number of grooves are formed in the plate of the piezoelectric element, and a large number of holes are formed by laminating, and a large number of hollow columnar structures are formed in a matrix shape by cutting around the holes, and this is formed into a nozzle. Ink jet heads have been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-168319 A

  In the structure shown in Patent Document 1, each nozzle has a thin and hollow columnar shape. If the columnar nozzle is lengthened, the strength is lowered. If the columnar nozzle is shortened, the area of the wall to be displaced is insufficient and a large discharge force cannot be obtained. There is a drawback. If the wall of the nozzle is thickened, the strength is ensured. However, not only the nozzle cannot be arranged at a high density, but also the electric field strength applied to the piezoelectric element becomes weak, so that a large discharge force cannot be obtained. Therefore, the tolerance for the optimum value of the nozzle wall thickness is very small. However, the accuracy when machining grooves in the plate, the bonding position accuracy of the plate, and the accuracy of cutting around the hole all affect the thickness of the nozzle wall. As a result, there is a problem that a large number of extremely precise and difficult processing steps are required.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid discharge head that can be easily manufactured and can arrange pressure chambers of inkjet nozzles two-dimensionally at high density.

  The liquid discharge head includes: a first plate having a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second grooves arranged in parallel with the first grooves; and the first groove and the first plate stacked alternately with the first plate. A flat plate-like second plate that closes the second groove, a surface of the first plate opposite to the surface having the first groove and the second groove, and the second plate And a spacer layer that forms a plurality of gaps between the first plate and the second plate, and the first plate and the second plate are piezoelectric bodies. The first groove and the second groove of the first plate are closed by the second plate to form a pressure chamber and an opening for storing liquid, respectively, Four wall surfaces of the pressure chamber, a wall surface on the second groove side of the opening, and the first pre- Electrodes on the spacer layer side surface and the spacer layer side surface of the second plate, and at least one of the two spacer layers adjacent to the first plate is: The gap is provided at a position displaced from the first groove of the first plate in a direction parallel to the stacking direction of the first plate and the second plate.

  Although the liquid discharge head of the present invention has a structure that can be manufactured relatively easily, the pressure chambers of the inkjet nozzles can be two-dimensionally arranged at a high density. Since the wall surface of the pressure chamber can be driven over the entire circumference surrounding the liquid flow direction, a large discharge force can be obtained. As a result, it becomes possible to discharge a liquid having a high viscosity and control the volume of the droplet with high accuracy. The pressure chambers of the first plate are alternately arranged with the openings, and since the air gap is arranged at least one of the upper and lower directions in the stacking direction of the pressure chambers, the crosstalk associated with the propagation of vibration is reduced. Has an effect.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid discharge head having a structure that can be easily manufactured and capable of two-dimensionally arranging the pressure chambers of the ink jet nozzle.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the liquid discharge head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a side view illustrating an overall configuration of a liquid ejection head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the liquid discharge head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a spacer concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of a liquid discharge head according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged view of the principal part of the liquid discharge head which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a main part of the liquid discharge head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a part of a head block 103 in the overall configuration diagram of the liquid discharge head of the present invention shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a side view showing the overall configuration of the liquid ejection head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The disassembled state is shown for easy understanding of the configuration. (A) is a perspective view, (b) is a side view. 101 is an orifice plate made of silicon or polyimide. Reference numeral 102 denotes a nozzle hole through which the liquid in the orifice plate 101 is ejected. Reference numeral 103 denotes a head block in which a pressure chamber in which liquid is stored is formed. A rear diaphragm plate 104 made of a silicon substrate is formed with a throttle hole 105 and a drive circuit for preventing the pressure in the pressure chamber from being released to the common liquid chamber side. A common liquid chamber 106 is supplied with the liquid 107 from the liquid supply unit 108 into the common liquid chamber. Reference numeral 109 denotes a common electrode wiring cable such as an FPC for drawing out the common electrode of the piezoelectric element. Reference numeral 110 denotes a signal wiring cable such as an FPC that transmits a drive voltage signal and a control signal to a drive circuit formed on the rear diaphragm plate.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the head block 103 has a structure in which a first plate 10 made of a piezoelectric material having grooves, a second plate 20 made of a plate-like piezoelectric material, and a spacer layer 32 are repeatedly laminated. Yes. Each layer is arranged such that a spacer layer 32 is interposed between the surface of the first plate 10 opposite to the surface where the groove is formed and the second plate 20. As the grooves of the first plate 10, first grooves 11 and second grooves 12 are alternately formed. By laminating the second plate 20 on the first plate 10, the first groove 11 and the second groove 12 are closed to form a pressure chamber 41 and an opening 42, respectively. Electrodes (not shown) are formed on the four wall surfaces of the pressure chamber 41 and the three wall surfaces of the opening 42 on the second groove side. The spacer layer 32 is composed of a plurality of spacers 30 arranged with gaps 31 therebetween.

  FIG. 3 illustrates the first plate 10, the second plate 20, and the spacer layer 32 in an exploded state with respect to the stacking direction. The inside of the first groove 11 and the inside of the second groove 12 which are the pressure chambers of the first plate 10 are shown hatched. A groove drive electrode 13 is provided on the inner wall of the first groove 11, and a groove common electrode 14 is provided on the inner wall of the second groove 12. Further, a back surface common electrode 15 is provided on the surface of the first plate on the spacer layer side. The first plate 10 is made of a piezoelectric ceramic and is polarized in a direction that substantially connects the groove drive electrode 13, the groove common electrode 14, and the back surface common electrode 15. The thickness of the bottom part of the 1st groove | channel 11 and the 2nd groove | channel 12 is about 90 micrometers as an example. The wall thickness between the first groove 11 and the second groove 12 is about 90 μm.

  The second plate 20 is provided with a second plate driving electrode 21 and a second plate common electrode 22. The second plate 20 is also made of a piezoelectric ceramic like the first plate 10 and is uniformly polarized in the direction connecting the second plate driving electrode 21 and the second plate common electrode 22 or in the thickness direction. The thickness of the second plate 20 is about 90 μm.

  The spacer 30 is provided in a comb-teeth shape so as to avoid a position sandwiched between the first grooves 11 of the two first plates 10 positioned closest to each other along the stacking direction. That is, both of the two spacer layers 32 adjacent to the first plate 10 have the gap 31 at a position displaced from the first groove 11 of the first plate 10 in a direction parallel to the stacking direction. The wall surface surrounding the first groove 11 is deformed with driving. The vibration propagates to other pressure chambers and vibrates the built-in liquid, thereby causing so-called crosstalk, which may adversely affect the stability of the discharge performance. On the other hand, since the air gap 31 is provided at a position between the first grooves 11 of the adjacent first plates, vibration propagation can be prevented. As shown in an example in FIG. 4, the spacer 30 has no problem even if a part of the spacer 30 is located between the grooves 11 as long as the spacer 30 avoids the position between the grooves 11. If the area at such a position is relatively small, the propagation of vibration is small and the adverse effect on performance can be ignored. In particular, if the spacer 30 is formed in a laterally connected shape at the end of the head block 103, the head block end surface has no unnecessary holes and the like, and adverse effects such as intrusion of discharge liquid can be prevented. There are advantages.

  The spacer 30 can also serve as an adhesive that fixes the space between the second plate 10 and the first plate 20 by using a reaction curable resin such as an epoxy resin. The thickness of the spacer 30 only needs to be such that the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 do not contact each other. Since the amount of deformation caused by driving the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 is generally about several tens of nanometers, the thickness should be about several hundred nanometers or more. As a material of the spacer 30, in addition to the reaction curable resin such as the epoxy resin described above, various resins, rubber, metal foil and the like provided with an adhesive layer can be used. It is also effective to use a reaction curable resin having a predetermined thickness in order to obtain a predetermined thickness. Moreover, if it can form by exposing and developing using the adhesive photosensitive film, it can produce with high precision.

  If a material having a Young's modulus lower than the Young's modulus of the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 is used as the material of the spacer 30, the spacer 30 is slightly deformed, so that the deformation caused by driving is not easily transmitted, and crosstalk is caused. It is effective in preventing.

  It is also effective to consider acoustic impedance as the material of the spacer 30. That is, by using a material having an acoustic impedance different from that of the first plate 10 and the second plate 20, high-frequency vibrations are difficult to be transmitted, and crosstalk can be more reliably prevented. The acoustic impedance is a physical quantity represented by the product of the sound speed and density of the material. The acoustic impedance of the spacer 30 is particularly effective when it has a difference of about 10 times or more because it is difficult to transmit high-frequency vibrations whether it is higher or lower than the first plate 10 and the second plate 20. The thicker the spacer 30 is, the more difficult it is to transmit deformation and vibration. However, when the spacer 30 is excessively thick, there is a problem that the size of the ink jet head becomes large, and the thickness is preferably about 100 nm to 100 μm.

  As an example of the dimensions in FIG. 1, the pitch of the first grooves 11 arranged in the horizontal direction (hereinafter referred to as the x direction) is 423 μm, that is, 10 times the pixel pitch of an image of 600 dpi. The first grooves 11 of the first plate 10 adjacent in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as the y direction) are arranged so as to be shifted by 42.3 μm in the x direction, that is, by a pixel pitch of an image of 600 dpi. If ten layers of the first plate 10 are stacked in this way and nozzle holes corresponding to the first grooves 11 are provided, the nozzle pitch in the x direction of the inkjet head can be set to 600 dpi.

  In order to manufacture the head block 103 of the present embodiment, it can be manufactured by the following steps as an example.

  As a material for the second plate 20, a PZT substrate previously polarized in the thickness direction is prepared. A second plate driving electrode 21 is formed on one side of the PZT substrate by plating and photolithography. Next, the surface on the second plate drive electrode 21 side is bonded to a jig substrate provided with a peelable adhesive layer. In this state, the PZT substrate is polished to a predetermined thickness, for example, 90 μm. Next, the second plate common electrode 22 is provided by plating. Next, a thermosetting adhesive is printed on the surface according to the shape of the spacer 30. After adhering this to a thick ceramic substrate serving as the upper end of the head block 103, the aforementioned jig substrate is peeled off.

  As another method, a PZT substrate that has not been subjected to polarization treatment may be used instead of a PZT substrate that has been polarized in the thickness direction in advance, and polarization may be performed after forming an electrode. That is, after the second plate driving electrode 21 and the second plate common electrode 22 are provided, a high voltage can be applied between the second plate driving electrode 21 and the second plate common electrode 22 at the same time as heating to polarize.

  On the other hand, a PZT substrate that is processed in advance to a predetermined thickness is prepared as a material for the first plate 10, and the back surface common electrode 15 is provided on one surface thereof by plating. The PZT substrate is bonded to the jig substrate provided with a peelable adhesive layer on the surface on the back surface common electrode 15 side. In this state, the first groove 11 and the second groove 12 are formed on the PZT substrate using a superabrasive wheel. Next, the groove drive electrode 13 and the groove common electrode 14 are formed by plating and photolithography. More specifically, a film-like resist is attached, and a linear pattern is formed on the upper part of the wall between the first groove 11 and the second groove 12 by exposure and development. Next, after forming a conductive film to be a plating seed layer by sputtering, the film resist is removed. Next, the groove drive electrode 13 and the groove common electrode 14 can be formed by performing electroplating.

  After forming the groove drive electrode 13 and the groove common electrode 14, the PZT substrate is subjected to polarization treatment. By applying a high voltage between the groove common electrode 14 and the back common electrode 15 and the groove drive electrode 13 simultaneously with the heating, it can be polarized in the direction of the electric field between both electrodes.

  Next, the created first plate 10 is bonded to the second plate 20 using an adhesive, and then the jig substrate is peeled off.

  By repeating the process from preparing the PZT substrate to be the second plate 20 to the process of bonding the first plate 10 to the second plate 20 and peeling the jig base, a predetermined number of plates and Spacers 30 can be stacked. A thick ceramic substrate serving as the lower end of the head block 103 is bonded thereto. The head block 103 is completed by polishing the end faces of the stacked PZT blocks and forming terminals for connecting the drive electrodes and the common electrode to the drive circuit by a method such as plating.

  A large number of head blocks can be efficiently produced by creating and cutting the above-described stacked PZT blocks several times larger than the size of the head block 103.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the main part of the liquid discharge head according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A difference from the first embodiment is that the pitch in the x direction of the first grooves 11 is 11 times the nozzle pitch of the entire inkjet head, as in the first embodiment, and the first plate 10 adjacent in the y direction is adjacent. The first groove 11 is shifted in the x direction by 6 times the pixel pitch. If eleven layers of the first plate 10 are laminated in this way and nozzle holes corresponding to the respective first grooves 11 are provided, the nozzle pitch in the x direction of the inkjet head can be set to a predetermined value.

  The spacer 30 is provided in a comb-like shape at a position corresponding to one first groove 11 of the adjacent first plate 10 and corresponding to the other second groove 12. The position corresponding to the first groove 11 of one of the first plates 10 is that the deformation and vibration are easily transmitted to the spacer 30, but the position of the second groove 11 in the other first plate. There is no problem. Further, since the spacer 30 has an effect of supporting the piezoelectric body that deforms in the thickness direction during driving from the back surface at the position corresponding to the first groove 11, the deformation amount of the piezoelectric body deforming in the direction of the pressure chamber is increased. In addition, an effect of obtaining a high discharge capability with a low driving voltage is produced. In order to increase this effect, it is desirable to use a material having a relatively high Young's modulus as the spacer 30. In addition, it is effective to use a material having a larger acoustic impedance than the material of the first plate 10 and the second plate 20. Examples of materials having a higher Young's modulus and a higher acoustic impedance than PZT suitable as the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 include metal materials such as SUS (Steel Use Stainless) and tungsten.

  In general, the pitch in the x direction of the first groove 11 is set to n times the nozzle pitch of the ink jet head, and n layers of the first plate 10 are laminated to form nozzle holes corresponding to the first grooves 11 to perform ink jetting. When configuring the head, the following conditions should be satisfied. That is, the first groove 11 of the first plate 10 adjacent in the y direction is shifted in the x direction by m times the nozzle pitch of the inkjet head. Here, n and m are natural numbers that are relatively prime, and m is the number closest to ½ of n out of the numbers satisfying the above conditions. In this way, the first groove 11 adjacent in the y direction is near the center of the adjacent first groove 11 in one first plate 10. As a result, if the spacer 30 is disposed at a position corresponding to one first groove 11 of the adjacent first plate 10, the spacer 30 is positioned corresponding to the other second groove 11, and crosstalk can be reduced. .

  As described above, in the present embodiment, although the spacer 30 is at a position corresponding to the first groove, it is not a position between the first grooves of the adjacent first plates, so that harmful vibrations are not propagated. And good discharge characteristics can be obtained.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the main part of the liquid discharge head according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As in the second embodiment, the pitch of the first grooves 11 in the x direction is 11 times the nozzle pitch of the entire inkjet head, and the first grooves 11 of the first plate 10 adjacent in the y direction are in the x direction. They are shifted by 6 times the pixel pitch. Although not shown, the first block 10 is laminated in 11 layers to form the head block 103, which is the same as in the second embodiment.

  The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment in that the spacer 30 is provided in the entire region between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20. As shown in the second embodiment, the position of the first groove 11 of the first plate 10 is greatly displaced with respect to the first groove 11 of the adjacent first plate 10 in the x direction, and the second If it arrange | positions so that it may respond | correspond to the position of the groove | channel 12, crosstalk can be reduced significantly. Therefore, if the first grooves of the adjacent first plates are arranged as in this example, the spacer 30 can be provided in the entire region between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20. Since it is not necessary to control the shape of the spacer 30, there is an advantage that the manufacturing is easy. Further, when the spacer 30 is provided in the entire area, deformation in the thickness direction of the head block, deformation in the shear direction, and the like are less likely to occur due to an external force or the like. Can be used. As a result, it is possible to prevent vibrations and deformations associated with driving from being transmitted and to prevent crosstalk. A shearing stress is applied to the spacer 30 as it is driven. The shear stress is not only accompanied by deformation in the x direction in FIG. 4 but also accompanied by deformation in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Therefore, when a flexible material having a large damping action such as a rubber material is applied as the spacer 30, unnecessary residual vibration is attenuated and the effect of preventing crosstalk is great. Further, there is an effect that the frequency dependency of the ejection characteristics can be reduced.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, although the spacers 30 are provided in the entire region, not only the positions of the first grooves of the adjacent first plates are different, but also a material having a low Young's modulus is used. Therefore, there is no propagation of harmful vibrations and good discharge characteristics can be obtained.

10 1st plate 11 1st groove | channel 12 2nd groove | channel 20 2nd plate 30 Spacer

Claims (6)

A first plate having a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second grooves arranged in parallel to the first grooves; and the first grooves and the second grooves stacked alternately with the first plates. A flat plate-like second plate that closes the lid, and a surface opposite to the surface of the first plate opposite to the surface having the first groove and the second groove, and the second plate. And a spacer layer forming a plurality of gaps between the first plate and the second plate,
The first plate and the second plate are formed of a piezoelectric body, and the first groove and the second groove of the first plate are closed by the second plate, respectively. A pressure chamber and an opening for storing the pressure chamber, four wall surfaces of the pressure chamber, a wall surface of the opening on the second groove side, and a surface of the first plate on the spacer layer side An electrode is provided on the surface of the second plate on the spacer layer side, and at least one of the two spacer layers adjacent to the first plate is the first plate of the first plate. A liquid ejection head having the gap at a position displaced from the groove in a direction parallel to the stacking direction of the first plate and the second plate.   The first grooves of the first plates adjacent to each other in the stacking direction are arranged so that at least parts thereof overlap each other in the stacking direction, and the spacer layer between the adjacent first plates is The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the gap is provided between the adjacent first grooves.   3. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the spacer layer is formed of a material having a Young's modulus lower than that of the first plate and the second plate.   4. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic impedance of a material forming the spacer layer is different from an acoustic impedance of a material forming the first plate and the second plate. 5. A first plate having a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second grooves arranged in parallel to the first grooves; and the first grooves and the second grooves stacked alternately with the first plates. A flat plate-like second plate that closes the lid, and a surface opposite to the surface of the first plate opposite to the surface having the first groove and the second groove, and the second plate. And a spacer layer formed of a material having a lower Young's modulus than the first plate and the second plate,
The first plate and the second plate are formed of a piezoelectric body, and the first groove and the second groove of the first plate are closed by the second plate, respectively. A pressure chamber and an opening for storing the pressure chamber, four wall surfaces of the pressure chamber, a wall surface of the opening on the second groove side, and a surface of the first plate on the spacer layer side An electrode is provided on the surface of the second plate on the spacer layer side, and two of the two first plates adjacent to the first plate are both the first plate of the first plate. A liquid ejection head having the second groove at a position displaced from a groove in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the first plate and the second plate.   The liquid ejection head according to claim 5, wherein an acoustic impedance of a material forming the spacer layer is different from an acoustic impedance of a material forming the first plate and the second plate.

Images