JP2014172310A - Liquid jetting device and channel unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate adverse effect on wiping to contribute to downsizing and improving in precision of location.SOLUTION: There are provided a nozzle plate containing a nozzle train in which a plurality of nozzles are arrayed, a channel member containing a channel which supplies liquid to a nozzle, and a wiper which contacts to a nozzle opening surface of the nozzle plate and wipes the nozzle opening surface by changing a position relative to the nozzle plate. The nozzle plate includes a first location hole different from a nozzle, at a position not overlapping with a nozzle constituting one nozzle train when projected on a cross section vertical to a surface of the nozzle plate, in a direction parallel to at least one nozzle train. The channel member includes a second location hole at a position corresponding to the first location hole. The wiper changes a position relative to the nozzle plate to a side where nozzle is not present before the first location hole, between one end side and the other end side of a trajectory crossing the nozzle train and passing the first location hole.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a flow path unit.

  A flow path unit constituting a liquid ejecting head such as an ink jet recording head includes a nozzle plate having a nozzle for ejecting ink and a flow path member having a flow path for supplying ink to the nozzle. In such an assembly process of the flow path unit, the product is completed by adhering the parts while aligning the parts such as the nozzle plate and the flow path member with the required accuracy. The alignment is realized, for example, by temporarily fixing the positional relationship between components through a pile in a positioning hole that penetrates each component.

  In addition, the liquid transfer which provides a cylindrical positioning projection at a position corresponding to the center of each piezoelectric ceramic layer on the jig substrate, laminates a green sheet on the jig substrate, divides it with a laser or the like, and fires it. A device manufacturing method is known (see Patent Document 1). According to the document 1, by providing the positioning protrusions, it is possible to prevent displacement due to shrinkage during firing of the piezoelectric ceramic layer.

JP 2005-119289 A

  An ink jet printer equipped with a liquid ejecting head may have a wiper for wiping (wiping) a nozzle opening surface where a nozzle opens. By wiping the nozzle opening surface, excess ink remaining in the nozzle opening after ink ejection is wiped off, and thereafter, a state in which ink droplets are appropriately ejected from the nozzle is maintained.

  Here, the positioning hole is required for a product assembling process, but there is a risk of causing inconvenience in relation to the wiping. Specifically, when a positioning hole is formed in the nozzle plate, when the wiper passes through the opening surface of the positioning hole, the ink wiped upstream of the positioning hole in the wiping direction is in the positioning hole. May accumulate. The ink collected in this way is dried and becomes a foreign substance at the opening periphery of the positioning hole. Thereafter, when the wiper passes through the opening surface of the positioning hole in this state, the wiper rides on the foreign ink mass or carries the ink mass to the nozzle on the downstream side in the wiping direction. In some cases, wiping of the nozzles may not be performed properly.

  As a technique for eliminating such an adverse effect on wiping due to the presence of the positioning hole, it is conceivable to provide the positioning hole at a position completely outside the range through which the wiper passes during wiping. However, in order to provide the positioning hole at a position completely deviated from the range through which the wiper passes, the size of the nozzle plate and other components positioned with the nozzle plate is increased. In addition, if the positioning holes are provided only at positions outside the range where the wiper passes, positioning between the parts using the positioning holes becomes difficult due to variations in shrinkage when the parts are fired and generated. There is a fear. Note that the above document does not solve various problems caused by the position of the positioning hole of the nozzle plate as described above.

  The present invention has been made to solve at least one of the above-described problems, eliminates the adverse effect on wiping, and contributes to the realization of product miniaturization and improved positioning accuracy. I will provide a.

  One aspect of the present invention is that the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a nozzle plate having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid are arranged, a flow path member having a flow path for supplying liquid to the nozzle, A wiper that is in contact with a nozzle opening surface where the nozzle of the nozzle plate is opened and wipes (wipes) the nozzle opening surface by changing a position relative to the nozzle plate; A first positioning hole different from the nozzle is provided at a position that does not overlap with a nozzle constituting the nozzle row when projected onto a cross section of one nozzle row and perpendicular to the nozzle plate. The road member has a second positioning hole at a position corresponding to the first positioning hole, and the wiper crosses the nozzle row and passes through the first positioning hole. That trajectory to a side where the nozzle is not present between the first positioning hole of the one end and the other end of, to change the position relative to the nozzle plate, it is constituted. The nozzle plate is positioned in a direction parallel to at least one nozzle row and at a position that does not overlap with the nozzles constituting the one nozzle row when projected onto a cross section perpendicular to the surface of the nozzle plate. Can be said to have different first positioning holes.

  According to this configuration, when wiping is performed on the nozzle opening surface, since the wiper that has passed through the first positioning hole does not pass through the nozzle, wiping cannot be appropriately performed on some nozzles. Such inconvenience does not occur. Also, since the first positioning hole is not provided at a position outside the range where the wiper passes, it does not lead to an increase in the size of the product, and parts using positioning holes (first positioning hole and second positioning hole) Positioning between them is also performed accurately.

In one aspect of the present invention, the second positioning hole may be sealed at an opening opposite to the side communicating with the first positioning hole.
According to the said structure, it is prevented that the liquid adhering to the nozzle opening surface leaks from the opening on the opposite side to the side communicating with the 1st positioning hole of a 2nd positioning hole.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member may include a plurality of common liquid chambers that supply liquid in common to the plurality of nozzles, and the second positioning hole may be provided between the common liquid chambers. Good.
According to this configuration, the second positioning hole is provided between the common liquid chambers. This avoids interference of the second positioning hole with the wiring portion connecting the piezoelectric element and the circuit, etc., and contributes to improving the strength of the flow path member.

In one aspect of the present invention, the nozzle plate has a third positioning hole different from the nozzle on the outside of the nozzle row, and the flow path member is fourth at a position corresponding to the third positioning hole. You may have a positioning hole.
According to this configuration, the nozzle plate and the flow path member are positioned by the first positioning hole and the second positioning hole at a position near the center of the plate or member, and the third positioning hole at a position near the outside of the plate or member. And it is positioned by the fourth positioning hole. Therefore, the positioning of both the flow path substrate and the nozzle plate including the relative inclination adjustment is accurately executed while suppressing the enlargement as much as possible.

  The channel member may be made of ceramics. When the flow path member is produced by firing ceramics, the size of the flow path member may vary due to shrinkage during firing. According to the configuration of the present invention, the first positioning hole is not provided at a position (outside the nozzle row) outside the range through which the wiper passes. Positioning between parts using the positioning hole and the second positioning hole) is performed accurately.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzle groups divided in the nozzle row direction and ejecting different liquids in at least one nozzle row. The first positioning hole may be provided at a position that fits between nozzle groups constituting the nozzle row when projected onto a cross section that is perpendicular to the nozzle plate.
According to the said structure, a 1st positioning hole can be reliably provided using the area | region ensured between the nozzle groups which inject a mutually different liquid.

  The technical idea according to the present invention is not realized only in the form of the liquid ejecting apparatus, but may be embodied by other things. For example, a flow path unit that is a part of the configuration of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be regarded as one invention. As an example, the nozzle unit includes a nozzle plate having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid are arranged, and a flow path member having a flow path for supplying liquid to the nozzle. The plate has a first positioning hole different from the nozzle at a position that does not overlap with the nozzle constituting the nozzle row when projected onto a cross section of at least one nozzle row and perpendicular to the nozzle plate. The flow path member has a second positioning hole at a position corresponding to the first positioning hole, and the position of the first positioning hole crosses the nozzle row and passes through the first positioning hole. A configuration in which the nozzle is not present on at least one of the one end side from the first positioning hole and the other end side from the first positioning hole of the locus to be performed can be regarded as one invention. Can. The inventions of the method for manufacturing the liquid ejecting apparatus and the flow path unit described above can also be regarded as one invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a part of the main configuration of the liquid ejecting head. It is a figure which illustrates the arrangement | positioning aspect of the flow path in a flow path plate. It is a figure which illustrates the arrangement | positioning aspect of the nozzle in a nozzle plate. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section of the liquid ejecting head along the line AA ′. It is a figure which illustrates the positional relationship of a liquid ejecting head and a wiper. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section of the liquid ejecting head along line BB ′. FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the arrangement | positioning aspect of the nozzle in a nozzle plate. It is the schematic which shows an example of an inkjet printer.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 exemplifies a part of the main configuration of the liquid jet head 10 according to the present embodiment in an exploded perspective view. The liquid jet head 10 includes a flow path unit according to the present invention. Here, the liquid ejecting head 10 is described as an ink jet recording head that ejects (discharges) ink. The liquid ejecting head 10 includes members such as a vibration plate 20, a flow path plate 30, a compliance plate 40, and a nozzle plate 50. Each of these members may be individually generated and laminated or the like (or a part thereof) may be generated integrally.

  The diaphragm 20 seals one surface of the flow path plate 30. The diaphragm 20 and the flow path plate 30 are made of, for example, ceramics or a silicon single crystal substrate. In the present embodiment, the vibration board 20 and the flow path plate 30 are made by firing zirconia which is a kind of ceramic. It is assumed that they are integrally generated by The flow path plate 30 has a plurality of liquid flow paths 31. The flow paths 31 are juxtaposed in the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction with the longitudinal direction parallel to the X direction. A partition wall 38 is provided between the flow channel 31 and the flow channel 31. In the present specification, even if the directions, positions, shapes, and the like of the components of the liquid ejecting head 10 are expressed as parallel, orthogonal, vertical, or the same, they are strictly parallel, orthogonal, vertical, or the same. It is meant to include errors that are acceptable in terms of product performance and errors that may occur during product manufacturing. In addition, in this specification, the term “in contact with” an object includes both a state where an adhesive or the like is interposed between the object and an object, and a state where there is no intervening object.

  Each flow path 31 includes an upstream chamber 34, a constricted portion 35, a pressure chamber 36, and a communication hole 37. The upstream chamber 34, the constricted portion 35, and the pressure chamber 36 communicate with each other in the longitudinal direction of the flow path 31 in this order while being opened on the one surface of the flow path plate 30. The communication hole 37 communicates with the pressure chamber 36 on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the flow path 31 and opens on the other surface of the flow path plate 30. The flow path plate 30 includes a first layer 301 having an upstream chamber 34, a constricted portion 35, a pressure chamber 36 and a common supply hole 32, and a second layer 302 having a communication hole 37 and a reservoir 33.

  The first layer 301 is a layer in contact with the diaphragm 20, and the second layer 302 is located on the opposite side of the first layer 301 from the diaphragm 20 side. The common supply hole 32 opens on the one surface of the flow path plate 30, and the reservoir 33 opens on the other surface of the flow path plate 30. The common supply hole 32 is a groove formed in a slit shape at a position away from the upstream chamber 34 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the flow path 31, and its longitudinal direction is parallel to the Y direction. Ink is supplied to the common supply hole 32 from an ink supply path (not shown). The common supply hole 32 communicates with the reservoir 33. The reservoir 33 has a shape that is as long as the common supply hole 32 in the Y direction, and communicates with the upstream chambers 34 of the plurality of flow paths 31 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the flow paths 31. doing. The reservoir 33 can also be called a common ink chamber.

  The diaphragm 20 has a piezoelectric element 80 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) mounted on the surface opposite to the flow path plate 30 side. As will be described later, the piezoelectric element 80 is a pressure generating unit configured to include a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer in contact with the first electrode on one side, and a second electrode in contact with the other side of the piezoelectric layer. In FIG. 1, a piezoelectric layer 81 constituting the piezoelectric element 80 is illustrated, and the piezoelectric layer 81 is disposed corresponding to the pressure chamber 36 of each flow path 31.

  The nozzle plate 50 has a plurality of nozzles 51 as through holes for ejecting ink. Each communication hole 37 for each flow path 31 connects each pressure chamber 36 and each nozzle 51 in a one-to-one relationship. However, in the example of FIG. 1, a compliance plate 40 is interposed between the other surface of the flow path plate 30 and the nozzle plate 50. The compliance plate 40 has one surface in contact with the other surface of the flow path plate 30 and the other surface opposite to the surface exposed to the outside of the nozzle plate 50 (nozzle opening surface). Touch.

  For example, the compliance plate 40 and the nozzle plate 50 may be made of ceramics, a silicon single crystal substrate, or the like, but in the present embodiment, the compliance plate 40 and the nozzle plate 50 are made of stainless steel. In the example of FIG. 1, the nozzle plate 50 includes a nozzle row 52 in which a plurality of nozzles 51 are formed at predetermined intervals along the Y direction. In the nozzle plate 50, a plurality of nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles 51 are formed along the Y direction are arranged side by side in the X direction, and one nozzle row and the other nozzle row are arranged so as to be shifted in the Y direction. A configuration (so-called staggered arrangement) may be adopted.

  The compliance plate 40 has a plurality of second communication holes 41 and a thin film portion 42. The second communication hole 41 passes through the compliance plate 40. Each second communication hole 41 is disposed at a position communicating with each nozzle 51 on a one-to-one basis. Each second communication hole 41 communicates with each communication hole 37 on a one-to-one basis. The compliance plate 40 seals the surface of the reservoir 33 on the side opposite to the surface communicating with the common supply hole 32 and the upstream chamber 34. The portion of the compliance plate 40 that seals the reservoir 33 corresponds to the thin film portion 42. The thin film portion 42 is formed thinner than the other portions of the compliance plate 40, and therefore a space is secured between the thin film portion 42 and the nozzle plate 50. The thin film part 42 has elasticity. The thin film portion 42 plays a role of relieving the pressure fluctuation in the reservoir 33 by bending toward the nozzle plate side 50 according to the pressure fluctuation in the reservoir 33.

  In such a configuration, at least the flow path plate 30 corresponds to an example of a flow path member having a flow path for supplying a liquid to the nozzle in the claims. The compliance plate 40 also corresponds to an example of the flow path member. In addition, the diaphragm 20 and the flow path plate 30 on which the piezoelectric element 80 is mounted can be collectively referred to as an actuator substrate 11, and the actuator substrate 11 may be regarded as an example of a flow path member. The liquid ejecting head 10 may have a configuration that does not include a part of the members illustrated in FIG. 1, or may include a member other than the members illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, the compliance plate 40 may be omitted and the nozzle plate 50 may be joined to the flow path plate 30, or another plate may be used instead of the compliance plate 40 (or together with the compliance plate 40). You may interpose between. Further, the other plate may have a function of a reservoir or a common supply hole.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the one surface (surface on the vibration plate 20 side) of the flow path plate 30. The flow path plate 30 has a plurality of flow path rows in which a plurality of flow paths 31 are arranged in the Y direction. In FIG. 2, the flow path row 311 and the flow path row 312 are shown. Here, a common supply hole 32 for supplying common ink to all the flow paths 31 included in the flow path array 312 is provided for the flow path array 312. On the other hand, in the flow path row 311, the flow paths 31 are divided into a plurality of groups in the row direction (Y direction), and a common supply hole 32 is provided for each group. For example, the flow path row 311 is divided into groups G1, G2, and G3. A common supply hole 32 for supplying common ink to each flow path 31 of the group G1, a common supply hole 32 for supplying common ink to each flow path 31 of the group G2, and each flow path of the group G3 A common supply hole 32 for supplying common ink to 31 is provided.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the surface of the nozzle plate 50 on the flow path plate 30 side (surface opposite to the nozzle opening surface). The nozzle plate 50 has a plurality of nozzle rows 52 (nozzle rows 520 and 521). That is, in the relationship between FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, each nozzle 51 communicates with each flow path 31 of the flow path array 311 in the nozzle array 520, and each nozzle 51 corresponds to each flow path of the flow path array 312 in the nozzle array 521. Communicate with 31. Accordingly, the nozzle row 520 is divided into a plurality of groups in the row direction (Y direction) as in the flow channel row 311 and is divided into groups G1, G2, and G3 according to the example of FIG.

  FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of the liquid ejecting head 10 along the line AA ′ (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The cross section is a plane perpendicular to the Y direction. A direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction is represented as a Z direction. The Z direction is also a direction in which the actuator substrate 11 and the nozzle plate 50 are stacked. In the example of FIG. 4, the flow path 31 and the like connected to the nozzle 51 belonging to the nozzle row 520 and the group G1, and the flow path 31 and the like connected to the nozzle 51 belonging to the nozzle row 521 are arranged in a symmetrical shape in the X direction. Yes. As shown in FIG. 4, one pressure chamber 36 communicates with one nozzle 51 through a communication hole 37 and a second communication hole 41. In addition, the piezoelectric element 80 is joined to a surface corresponding to the pressure chamber 36 on the surface opposite to the surface in contact with the flow path plate 30 of the vibration plate 20. The piezoelectric element 80 is configured by laminating a first electrode 82, a piezoelectric layer 81, and a second electrode 83 in this order. For example, the first electrode 82 is an individual electrode provided for each piezoelectric element 80 corresponding to the pressure chamber 36. On the other hand, the second electrode 83 is a common electrode provided in common to the plurality of piezoelectric elements 80 (shared by the plurality of piezoelectric elements 80).

  A control circuit board 100 is connected to the first electrode 82 via a conductive film (ACF: Anisotropic Conductive Film) 70, cables (flexible board, etc.) 90, and the like, and a drive voltage is applied from the control circuit board 100. . The conductive film 70 has adhesiveness, and electrically connects the first electrode 82 and the flexible substrate 90. The potential of the second electrode 83 is held at a predetermined level (for example, the ground level). With this configuration, the piezoelectric element 80 is deformed according to the drive voltage. Ink is supplied to the reservoir 33 from the common supply hole 32 that communicates therewith. The ink supplied to the reservoir 33 is supplied to each upstream chamber 34 that communicates. The ink in the upstream chamber 34 passes through the constricted portion 35 and is supplied to the pressure chamber 36. When the diaphragm 20 is bent along with the deformation of the piezoelectric element 80 as described above, the pressure is increased in the pressure chamber 36, and the ink in the pressure chamber 36 is ejected from the nozzle 51 in accordance with the increase in the pressure. In such a flow path from the common supply hole 32 to the nozzle 51, the common supply hole 32 side is the upstream side, and the nozzle 51 side is the downstream side. The constricted portion 35 is configured such that the cross-sectional area of the flow path is narrower than the cross section of each flow path upstream of the pressure chamber 36, the upstream chamber 34, and the upstream chamber 34. By increasing the resistance to the ink flow in the constricted portion 35, the amount of ink flowing backward from the pressure chamber 36 toward the upstream chamber 34 is suppressed to a certain amount or less.

  The plurality of common supply holes 32 shown in FIG. 2 receive different types of ink from ink supply paths (not shown). For example, the common supply holes 32 corresponding to the flow path rows 312 are supplied with black ink, and the common supply holes 32 corresponding to the groups G1, G2, and G3 are inks having different chromatic colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, etc.). Receive the supply. Accordingly, different types of ink are ejected from the nozzles 51 of the nozzle row 521, the nozzles 51 of the group G1, the nozzles 51 of the group G2, and the nozzles 51 of the group G3. In FIG. 2, a reservoir 33 that connects each flow path 31 belonging to the group G1 and the common supply hole 32 and a reservoir 33 that connects each flow path 31 belonging to the group G2 and the common supply hole 32 are illustrated. The other reservoirs 33 are not shown. FIG. 1 is a drawing including a part of the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (for example, each flow path 31 and each nozzle 51 corresponding to the group G1).

  FIG. 5 illustrates the positional relationship between the liquid ejecting head 10 and the wiper 110, and the liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid ejecting head 10 includes the wiper 110. The wiper 110 is a component that is in contact with the nozzle opening surface 50 a of the nozzle plate 50 and wipes the nozzle opening surface 50 a by changing the position relative to the nozzle plate 50. The wiper 110 is made of an elastic member such as rubber or elastomer. The liquid ejecting head 10 is mounted on a carriage (not shown) and can move (main scan) as the carriage reciprocates along the X direction. The wiper 110 is provided at, for example, an end position within the main scanning range of the liquid ejecting head 10. The wiper 110 is capable of moving back and forth in the movement direction MD with respect to the nozzle opening surface 50a of the liquid jet head 10 at the end position. That is, the wiper 110 advances along the moving direction MD to a position where the tip can contact the nozzle opening surface 50a when performing wiping, and does not contact the nozzle opening surface 50a when not performing wiping. Retreat to the position along the movement direction MD.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, when the liquid ejecting head 10 moves in a certain direction SD (forward direction or backward direction of the carriage) with the wiper 110 in contact with the nozzle opening surface 50a, the wiper 110 moves to the nozzle opening surface. Wiping is achieved by wiping 50a. At this time, if the position of the wiper 110 is considered based on the position of the liquid ejecting head 10, it can be said that the position of the wiper 110 changes in the direction opposite to the constant direction SD with the execution of wiping. In FIG. 5 (and FIGS. 3, 6, and 7), this direction is shown as a wiping direction WD. Note that the wiping may be executed by moving the wiper 110 in the wiping direction WD at the timing when the movement of the liquid jet head 10 is stopped. For a mechanism related to wiping, JP 2011-778 A may be referred to as appropriate.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of the liquid ejecting head 10 along the line BB ′ (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The cross section is a plane perpendicular to the Y direction as in FIG. As is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the line BB ′ indicates the nozzles 51 belonging to the nozzle row 520 between the groups G 1 and G 2 (and the flow path 31, the reservoir 33 communicating with the nozzles 51, and the common supply). The nozzles 51 belonging to the nozzle row 521 pass through the positions where the holes 32) do not exist. Therefore, in FIG. 6, the flow paths 31 and the like connected to the nozzles 51 belonging to the nozzle row 521 are shown, but the flow paths 31 and the like connected to the nozzles 51 belonging to the nozzle row 520 are not shown.

  Here, FIG. 6 shows the positioning holes 12 and 53. The positioning hole 53 penetrates the nozzle plate 50 in the Z direction, and the positioning hole 12 penetrates the flow path member (here, the diaphragm 20, the flow path plate 30, and the compliance plate 40) in the Z direction. The positioning hole 53 corresponds to an example of a first positioning hole in the claims, and the positioning hole 12 corresponds to an example of a second positioning hole in the claims. See FIG. 2 for the positioning hole 12 and FIG. 3 for the positioning hole 53. The positioning holes 12 and 53 are holes used for positioning (passing a pile or the like) when the nozzle plate 50 and each component stacked on the nozzle plate 50 are joined in the assembly process of the liquid jet head 10.

  That is, in this embodiment, the nozzle plate 50 does not overlap with the nozzles 51 constituting the nozzle row (520) when projected onto a cross section of at least one nozzle row (520) and perpendicular to the nozzle plate 50. A positioning hole 53 different from the nozzle is provided at the position. Specifically, the position of the positioning hole 53 is a position belonging to a range R (between the group G1 and the group G2 or between the group G2 and the group G3) surrounded by a chain line in FIG. is there. That is, the nozzle plate 50 is a cross section of at least one nozzle row (520) and is projected onto a cross section perpendicular to the nozzle plate 50, the nozzle group (nozzle 51, group G1 of group G1) constituting the nozzle row (520). A positioning hole 53 is provided at a position that fits between the nozzle 51 of G2 and the nozzle 51) of group G3. In addition, the position of the positioning hole 53 is such that the nozzle 51 exists at least one of the one end side and the other end side of the locus of the wiper 110 traversing the nozzle row direction (Y direction) and passing through the position. It is a position that does not. That is, the positioning hole 53 is formed at a position where the nozzle 51 does not exist on the downstream side of the locus of the wiping direction WD passing through the position. The positioning hole 12 on the flow path member side communicates with the positioning hole 53 in a state where the nozzle plate 50 and the flow path member are laminated.

  In the assembly process of the liquid ejecting head 10, positioning when joining the nozzle plate 50 and the components stacked on the nozzle plate 50 needs to be performed at two or more locations. Therefore, the nozzle plate 50 has a positioning hole 54 penetrating the nozzle plate 50 in the Z direction separately from the positioning hole 53 (see FIG. 3). In addition, the flow path member has a positioning hole 13 that passes through the flow path member (here, the diaphragm 20, the flow path plate 30, and the compliance plate 40) in the Z direction and communicates with the positioning hole 54 to be used for positioning. (See FIG. 2). The positioning hole 54 corresponds to an example of a third positioning hole in the claims, and the positioning hole 13 corresponds to an example of a fourth positioning hole in the claims.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the liquid ejecting apparatus, the position of at least one positioning hole 53 of the positioning holes 53 and 54 penetrating the nozzle plate 50 is set between the nozzles 51 and 51 constituting the nozzle row 52. A position where the nozzle 51 does not exist on the downstream side in the wiping direction WD. Therefore, the portion of the wiper 110 that has passed through the positioning hole 53 does not pass through the nozzle 51 when wiping the nozzle opening surface 50a. Therefore, an event that the wiping of the nozzle 51 on the downstream side in the wiping direction WD is not properly executed due to the presence of the ink that has become a foreign substance at the opening periphery of the positioning hole 53 does not occur in the first place.

  Further, the positioning hole 53 is provided between the nozzle 51 and the nozzle 51 and is not provided at a position outside the range through which the wiper 110 passes in the nozzle opening surface 50a. Therefore, compared with the case where all the positioning holes are provided at positions outside the range through which the wiper 110 in the nozzle opening surface 50a passes, the enlargement of the nozzle plate 50 and each component laminated thereon can be suppressed, and the product Contributes to downsizing and cost reduction.

  Moreover, it can be said that the position of each positioning hole in this embodiment is preferable also in improving the positioning accuracy between the nozzle plate 50 and the flow path member. As described above, when the flow path member is generated by firing ceramics, the flow path member is generated with a size different from the design planned size due to variation in shrinkage rate of the material at the time of firing. There is. For example, the length of the flow path member in the Y direction may be longer than the length planned in design. In such a case, when the nozzle plate 50 and the flow path member are aligned, the amount of positional displacement between the end portions of the respective members (for example, end portions in the Y direction) increases, while in the central region of the member The amount of displacement is small. Therefore, in order to increase the accuracy of alignment between members, it is preferable to provide one positioning hole in the central region of each member to be aligned. From this point of view, in this embodiment, the positioning hole 53 is not located outside the nozzle row 52 (outside in the Y direction from the nozzle 51 at the end of the nozzle row 52) but between the nozzles 51 and 51 constituting the nozzle row 52. Provided in between. Therefore, the positioning hole 53 and the positioning hole 12 communicating with the positioning hole 53 are easily formed near the center of each member. As a result, the positioning holes 53 and 12 can be used for highly accurate positioning.

  Moreover, it can be said that the position of each positioning hole in this embodiment is preferable also when adjusting the relative inclination of the nozzle plate 50 and the flow path member. The inclination adjustment means that one of the nozzle plate 50 and the flow path member is rotated with respect to the other while keeping the surfaces parallel to each other, and the sides of the members are slightly crossed. By such inclination adjustment, the positional relationship between each nozzle 51 and each flow path connected to them is adjusted so as to be comprehensively good. The distance between the two positioning holes (the distance between the positioning hole 53 and the positioning hole 54. Alternatively, the distance between the positioning hole 12 and the positioning hole 13) is easier to adjust. Work in favor of. From this point of view, in this embodiment, the positioning hole 54 is provided outside the nozzle row 52 (outside in the Y direction from the nozzle 51 at the end of the nozzle row 52). Therefore, a long distance between the two positioning holes is easily ensured, and the tilt adjustment can be easily and accurately performed.

  3 and 2, the positioning holes 53 and 12 are formed between the group G1 and the group G2, but may be formed between the group G2 and the group G3. In that case, the position of the positioning holes 54 and 13 is not outside the end of the group G3 as shown in the figure, but outside the end of the group G1, thereby increasing the distance between the two positioning holes. Shall be kept. As for the shape of the positioning hole, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shape of the positioning hole is a long hole (positioning holes 54 and 13) so that the inclination can be adjusted.

Further, characteristic items in this embodiment will be described.
As described above, the nozzle plate 50 is provided with the positioning hole 53 at a position belonging to the range R illustrated in FIG. 3. Particularly in the range R, the positioning hole 12 has the reservoir 33 and the reservoir 33 in the X direction. Positioning holes 53 and 12 are provided so as to be positioned between the two. As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 6, if the positioning holes 53 and 12 are provided near the pressure chamber 36 and the communication hole 37, interference between the positioning hole 12 and the wiring portion of the piezoelectric element 80 and the control circuit board 100. May be difficult to avoid. Therefore, by providing the positioning hole 12 so as to be positioned between the reservoir 33 and the reservoir 33 in the X direction, it is possible to avoid such difficulty and complexity of wiring. Further, avoiding the vicinity of the pressure chamber 36 that receives a strong pressure change accompanying deformation of the piezoelectric element 80 and providing the positioning hole 12 in the vicinity of the reservoir 33 leads to an improvement in the strength of the flow path member.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the positioning hole 12 is sealed with an opening 12 a opposite to the side communicating with the positioning hole 53. Various materials can be considered for sealing the opening 12a. As an example, the material is sealed with the same material as the conductive film 70 having adhesiveness. With this configuration, when the conductive film 70 is formed on the diaphragm 20, the opening 12a can be sealed in the same process, which is efficient. Further, by sealing the opening 12a, the ink attached to the nozzle opening surface 50a is prevented from leaking to the diaphragm 20 side through the positioning hole 53 and the positioning hole 12. Of course, the opening of the positioning hole 13 opposite to the side communicating with the positioning hole 54 may be sealed in the same manner as the opening 12a.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following embodiments are also possible. The contents of the embodiments described so far and the combinations of the embodiments described below are also included in the disclosure scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a surface of the nozzle plate 50 on the flow path plate 30 side (surface opposite to the nozzle opening surface), which is an example different from FIG. 3. The nozzle plate 50 has a plurality of nozzle rows 52 and 52. The nozzle rows 52 and 52 are each divided into a plurality of groups in the row direction (Y direction). For example, one nozzle row 52 is divided into groups G1 and G2, and the other nozzle row 52 is Are divided into groups G3 and G4. In such a configuration, different types of ink are ejected for each of the groups G1, G2, G3, and G4. In the example of FIG. 7, a positioning hole 53 is formed at a position belonging to the range R between the group G1 and the group G2 and between the group G3 and the group G4. According to such a configuration, the position of the positioning hole 53 (and the second positioning hole communicating with the positioning hole 53) can be further provided at the center position of the nozzle plate 50 (and the flow path member stacked with the nozzle plate 50). , Positioning accuracy can be improved.

  The liquid ejecting head 10 constitutes a part of an ink jet recording head unit having an ink supply path communicating with an ink cartridge or the like, and is mounted on the ink jet printer 200. The ink jet printer 200 is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the inkjet printer 200. In the ink jet printer 200, for example, ink cartridges 202 </ b> A and 202 </ b> B are detachably provided in an ink jet recording head unit (hereinafter, head unit 202) having a plurality of liquid ejecting heads 10. A carriage 203 on which the head unit 202 is mounted is provided on a carriage shaft 205 attached to the apparatus main body 204 so as to be movable in the axial direction. Then, the driving force of the driving motor 206 is transmitted to the carriage 203 via a plurality of gears and a timing belt 207 (not shown), so that the carriage 203 moves along the carriage shaft 205.

  The apparatus main body 204 is provided with a platen 208 along the carriage shaft 205, and the print medium S supplied by a roller or the like (not shown) is conveyed on the platen 208. Then, ink is ejected from the nozzle 61 of the liquid ejecting head 10 onto the transported print medium S, and an arbitrary image is printed on the print medium S. The ink jet printer 200 is not limited to the head unit 202 that moves as described above. For example, a so-called line head type printer that performs printing only by moving the print medium S with the liquid ejecting head 10 fixed. It may be.

  The present invention can also be applied to a liquid ejecting head or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid other than ink. For example, as liquid ejecting heads, color material ejecting heads used for manufacturing color filters such as liquid crystal displays, electrode material ejecting heads used for forming electrodes such as organic EL displays and FEDs (electrolytic emission displays), and biochip manufacturing Examples include a bio-organic material ejecting head used, and the present invention can be applied to a liquid ejecting apparatus equipped with such a liquid ejecting head.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Liquid jet head, 11 ... Actuator board | substrate, 12, 13 ... Positioning hole, 12a ... Opening, 20 ... Vibration plate, 30 ... Channel plate, 31 ... Channel, 32 ... Common supply hole, 33 ... Reservoir, 34 ... Upstream chamber, 35 ... Constriction part, 36 ... Pressure chamber, 37 ... Communication hole, 40 ... Compliance plate, 41 ... Second communication hole, 42 ... Thin film part, 50 ... Nozzle plate, 51 ... Nozzle, 52, 520, 521 ... Nozzle array, 53, 54 ... positioning hole, 70 ... conductive film, 80 ... piezoelectric element, 81 ... piezoelectric layer, 82 ... first electrode, 83 ... second electrode, 90 ... cables (flexible substrate), 100 ... control Circuit board, 110 ... wiper, 200 ... inkjet printer

Claims (7)

A nozzle plate having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid are arranged;
A flow path member having a flow path for supplying a liquid to the nozzle;
A wiper for wiping the nozzle opening surface by changing the position relative to the nozzle plate in contact with the nozzle opening surface where the nozzle of the nozzle plate opens,
The nozzle plate is different from the nozzle at a position that is parallel to at least one nozzle row and does not overlap with the nozzles constituting the one nozzle row when projected onto a cross section perpendicular to the surface of the nozzle plate. Having a first positioning hole,
The flow path member has a second positioning hole at a position corresponding to the first positioning hole,
The wiper crosses the nozzle row and passes through the first positioning hole to the side where the nozzle does not exist between the one end side and the other end side of the locus to the nozzle plate. Change position,
A liquid ejecting apparatus.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second positioning hole has an opening on a side opposite to a side communicating with the first positioning hole sealed.   The flow path member has a plurality of common liquid chambers for supplying liquid in common to a plurality of nozzles, and the second positioning hole is provided between the common liquid chambers. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to 2.   The nozzle plate has a third positioning hole different from the nozzle on the outside of the nozzle row, and the flow path member has a fourth positioning hole at a position corresponding to the third positioning hole. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow path member is made of ceramics.   The nozzle plate has a plurality of nozzle groups divided in the nozzle row direction and ejecting different liquids in at least one nozzle row, and is a cross section of the nozzle row and perpendicular to the nozzle plate. 6. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first positioning hole is provided at a position that fits between nozzle groups constituting the nozzle row when projected onto a simple cross section. A nozzle plate having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid are arranged;
A flow path member having a flow path for supplying a liquid to the nozzle,
The nozzle plate is different from the nozzle at a position that is parallel to at least one nozzle row and does not overlap with the nozzles constituting the one nozzle row when projected onto a cross section perpendicular to the surface of the nozzle plate. Having a first positioning hole,
The flow path member has a second positioning hole at a position corresponding to the first positioning hole,
Furthermore, the position of the first positioning hole is at least on one end side of the trajectory crossing the nozzle row and passing through the first positioning hole on one end side with respect to the first positioning hole and on the other end side with respect to the first positioning hole. A flow path unit characterized in that the nozzle is not present on one side.

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