JP2020172050A - Head module, head unit, liquid discharge head and device for discharging liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve joint reliability between a nozzle plate and a cover member while preventing the nozzle plate from being broken.SOLUTION: A head module 100 includes: a head 1 including a nozzle plate 10 of which discharge surface 10 is provided with a liquid repellent film 14; and a cover member 103 for covering a peripheral edge part of a discharge surface 10a of the nozzle plate 10. The cover member 103 is joined to the nozzle plate 10 by an adhesive agent 12. Multiple recess parts 13 are provided in a region joined to the cover member 103 of the nozzle plate 10. Internal wall surfaces 13a of the recess parts 13 are not provided with the liquid repellent film 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a head module, a head unit, a liquid discharge head, and a device for discharging a liquid.

As a liquid discharge head that discharges a liquid, there is one provided with a cover member that covers the peripheral edge of the nozzle surface on which the nozzle is formed.

Conventionally, it is known that a continuous annular groove is formed on the peripheral edge of a nozzle plate and is joined to a cover member via an adhesive provided in the groove (Patent Document 1). Further, it is known that the frame member has a protective portion that covers the surface peripheral edge of the nozzle plate, a plurality of through holes are provided in the peripheral edge of the nozzle plate, and the protective portion is melted and adhered to the peripheral edge of the nozzle plate. (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-034862 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-163303

However, in the configuration in which a continuous annular groove is formed in the nozzle plate, there is a problem that the strength of the nozzle plate is lowered and the nozzle plate is easily damaged. Further, in the configuration in which the protective portion of the frame member is melted and inserted into the through hole provided in the peripheral portion of the nozzle plate to be bonded, there is a problem that the adhesive strength cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the joint reliability between the nozzle plate and the cover member while preventing damage to the nozzle plate.

In order to solve the above problems, the head module according to the present invention
A head including a nozzle plate with a liquid repellent film on the discharge surface,
A cover member that covers at least a part of the peripheral edge of the discharge surface of the nozzle plate is provided.
The cover member is bonded to the nozzle plate with an adhesive.
A plurality of recesses are provided in the region of the nozzle plate to be joined to the cover member.
The inner wall surface of the recess does not have the liquid repellent film.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the joint reliability between the nozzle plate and the cover member while preventing the nozzle plate from being damaged.

It is an exploded perspective explanatory view of the head module which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a further exploded perspective explanatory view of FIG. It is an exploded perspective explanatory view seen from the nozzle surface side of the head module. It is sectional drawing which follows the head short side direction for one head of the head module. It is a plane explanatory view in the state which the part covering one nozzle plate of the cover member in the same embodiment is joined to a nozzle plate. It is sectional drawing explanatory view which follows the A1-A1 line of FIG. It is a plane explanatory view of the nozzle plate in the same embodiment. It is sectional drawing which follows A2-A2 line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the main part of the nozzle plate in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view corresponding to line A3-A3 of FIG. 11 in a state where a portion covering one nozzle plate of the cover member according to the third embodiment of the present invention is joined to the nozzle plate. Similarly, it is a plan view of the main part which shows the cover member in a transparent state. Similarly, it is a plan explanatory view of the joint surface side of a cover member. Similarly, it is a cross-sectional explanatory view in the state before joining the cover member to the nozzle plate. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part similar to FIG. 10 in a state where a portion covering one nozzle plate of the cover member according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is joined to the nozzle plate. Similarly, it is a plan explanatory view of the joint surface side of a cover member. It is a plane explanatory view of the joint surface side of the cover member in 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the main part plane side of the nozzle surface side of the nozzle plate in 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the main part plane side of the nozzle surface side of the nozzle plate in 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a side explanatory view of the liquid discharge head which concerns on 8th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a plan explanatory view of a discharge surface portion of one head according to a different example of the ninth embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic explanatory drawing of an example of the apparatus which discharges a liquid which concerns on this invention. It is a plane explanatory view of an example of the head unit of this apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an exploded perspective of the head module according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a further exploded perspective of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of an exploded perspective of the head module as viewed from the nozzle surface side. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of one head of the head module along the short side direction of the head.

The head module 100 includes a plurality of heads 1 for discharging liquid, a base member 102, a cover member 103, a heat radiating member 104, a manifold 105, a printed circuit board (PCB) 106, and a module case 107. ..

The head 1 includes a nozzle plate 10 on which a nozzle 11 is formed, an individual flow path plate 20 that forms a pressure chamber 21 leading to the nozzle 11, a diaphragm 30 including a piezoelectric element 40, and an intermediate flow laminated on the diaphragm 30. It includes a road plate 50, a common flow path member 70 laminated on the intermediate flow path plate 50, and the like.

The individual flow path plate 20 forms an individual supply flow path 22 leading to the pressure chamber 21 and an individual recovery flow path 24 leading to the pressure chamber 21 together with the pressure chamber 21.

The intermediate flow path plate 50 has an intermediate supply flow path 51 that communicates with the individual supply flow path 22 through the opening 31 of the diaphragm 30, and an intermediate recovery flow path that communicates with the individual recovery flow path 24 through the opening 32 of the diaphragm 30. It forms with 52.

The common flow path member 70 forms a common supply flow path 71 leading to the intermediate supply flow path 51 and a common recovery flow path 72 leading to the intermediate recovery flow path 52. The common supply flow path 71 leads to the supply port 81 via the flow path 151 of the manifold 105. The common recovery flow path 72 leads to the recovery port 82 via the flow path 152 of the manifold 105.

The printed circuit board 106 and the piezoelectric element 40 of the head 1 are connected via a flexible wiring member 90, and a driver IC (drive circuit) 91 is mounted on the flexible wiring member 90.

The plurality of heads 1 are inserted into the opening 121 of the base member 102, and the peripheral edge portion of the nozzle plate 10 of the head 1 is joined and fixed to the cover member 103 joined and fixed to the base member 102 with an adhesive. The cover member 103 is provided with an opening 121 corresponding to the region of the nozzle 11 of the nozzle plate 10, and the cover member 103 covers the peripheral edge of the nozzle plate 10 of the head 1.

Further, in the longitudinal direction of the head 1, a flange portion 70a provided outside the common flow path member 70 is joined to and fixed to the base member 102.

Next, the nozzle plate and the cover member in the first embodiment and their joining will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. FIG. 5 is a plan explanatory view in a state where a portion of one of the cover members covering the nozzle plate in the same embodiment is joined to the nozzle plate, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan explanatory view of the nozzle plate in the same embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line A2-A2 of FIG.

The nozzle plate 10 and the cover member 103 that covers the peripheral edge of the nozzle plate 10 are joined by an adhesive 12.

Here, the nozzle 11 formed on the nozzle plate 10 is composed of an outlet side hole portion 11a on the discharge surface (nozzle surface) 10a side of the nozzle base material 10A and an inlet side hole portion 11b leading to the outlet side hole portion 11a. ing. The diameter of the outlet side hole portion 11a is smaller than the diameter of the inlet side hole portion 11b. The nozzle plate 10 has a liquid repellent film 14 formed on the discharge surface 10a of the nozzle base material 10A.

A plurality of independent recesses 13 are formed in the joint region of the nozzle plate 10 with the cover member 103.

The inner wall surface 13a of the recess 13 does not have the liquid repellent film 14. Further, the depth of the recess 13 is the same as the depth of the outlet side hole portion 11a of the nozzle 11, and the thickness corresponding to the same depth as the inlet side hole portion 11b of the nozzle 11 is left.

In the present embodiment, the cover member 103 is joined over the entire circumference of the peripheral edge of the nozzle plate 10, and the plurality of recesses 13 are arranged over the entire circumference of the joining region with the cover member 103.

With this configuration, when the nozzle plate 10 and the cover member 103 are joined with the adhesive 12, a part of the adhesive 12 enters the recess 13. At this time, since the inner wall surface 13a of the recess 13 does not have the liquid repellent film 14, the adhesive 12 is not repelled.

As a result, the adhesive 12 is held in the recess 13, and the nozzle plate 10 and the cover member 103 are joined with high joining strength, and the joining reliability is improved.

At this time, since the plurality of recesses 13 are independent of each other and the nozzle plate 10 does not have a portion where the thickness is uniformly reduced as in the case where the annular groove is provided, the strength of the nozzle plate 10 is also maintained. It is possible to prevent the nozzle plate 10 from being damaged.

The opening shape of the recess 13 is not limited to a circular shape and is a planar shape, but it is preferably a shape having no corners such as a circular shape or an elliptical shape, or a curved shape at the corners. As a result, it is possible to prevent the concave portion 13 from being cracked and damaged.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a main part of the nozzle plate in the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the nozzle plate 10 is provided with a through hole 15 that leads the inside of the recess 13 to the surface opposite to the discharge surface 10a. Here, the opening area of the through hole 15 is smaller than the opening area of the recess 13.

With such a configuration, the process of removing the liquid repellent film 14 on the inner wall surface of the recess 13 is simplified.

For example, when a silicon material is used as the nozzle base material 10A of the nozzle plate 10, the outlet side hole portion 11a is formed from the nozzle surface side, and the inlet side hole portion 11b is formed and penetrated from the back surface (pressure chamber side). Can form the nozzle 11 with.

A liquid repellent film 14 is formed on the discharge surface 10a of the nozzle base material 10A on which the nozzle 11 is formed, and plasma treatment is performed from the inlet side hole portion 11b (back surface) in a state where the opening of the outlet side hole portion 11a is closed. The liquid repellent film 14 on the inner wall surface of 11 is removed. This is because the meniscus position is not stable when the liquid repellent film 14 is formed on the inner wall surface of the nozzle 11.

Here, by making the opening area of the through hole 15 smaller than the opening area of the recess 13, when the plasma treatment is performed from the back surface side, the plasma reverses and is formed on the inner wall surface 13a of the recess 13. The liquid repellent film 14 can be removed.

As described above, in the liquid repellent film removing process in the nozzle 11 of the nozzle plate 10, the liquid repellent film 14 on the inner wall surface 13a of the recess 13 can also be removed, and there is no liquid repellent film 14 on the inner wall surface of the recess 13. Can be easily formed.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 11. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional explanatory view corresponding to line A3-A3 of FIG. 11 in a state where a portion of one of the cover members covering the nozzle plate in the same embodiment is joined to the nozzle plate, and FIG. 11 also transmits the cover member. The plan view of the main part shown in the state, FIG. 12 is a plan view of the joint surface side of the cover member, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the cover member before being joined to the nozzle plate.

In the present embodiment, the cover member 103 is provided with an uninterrupted continuous annular groove 132 that surrounds the periphery of the opening 131 in the joint region with the nozzle plate 10 that is the periphery of the opening 131.

Here, the annular groove 132 is provided at a position where at least a part of the annular groove 132 faces the recess 13 of the nozzle plate 10. Further, in the present embodiment, the annular groove 132 is provided at a position facing the plurality of adjacent recesses 13 and 13 of the nozzle plate 10.

With this configuration, when the adhesive 12 is used for joining, the adhesive 12 also penetrates into the annular groove 132, so that the excess or deficiency of the adhesive 12 is adjusted, and the nozzle plate 10 is formed on the discharge surface 10a. It is possible to prevent the adhesive 12 from being interrupted.

Further, when the liquid invades between the nozzle plate 10 and the cover member 103, the liquid invades the outer peripheral portion of the nozzle plate 10 and the flow path plate 20 by changing the invasion path in the direction of the annular groove 132. Can be prevented.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a main part similar to FIG. 10 in a state where a portion of the cover member covering one nozzle plate in the same embodiment is joined to the nozzle plate, and FIG. 15 is the joint surface side of the cover member. It is a plan explanatory view.

In the present embodiment, the cover member 103 is provided with two annular grooves 132 (132a, 132b) concentrically in the joint region with the nozzle plate 10. That is, a continuous uninterrupted annular groove 132a surrounding the opening 131 of the cover member 103 is provided, and a continuous uninterrupted annular groove 132b surrounding the annular groove 132a is provided.

By increasing the number of the annular grooves 132 in this way, when the liquid invades between the nozzle plate 10 and the cover member 103, the liquid invades the outer peripheral portion of the nozzle plate 10 and the flow path plate 20. Can be prevented more reliably.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a plan explanatory view of the cover member on the joint surface side in the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the cover member 103 is provided with three annular grooves 132 (132a, 132b, 132c) concentrically in the joint region with the nozzle plate 10. That is, a continuous uninterrupted annular groove 132a surrounding the opening 131 of the cover member 103 is provided, a continuous uninterrupted annular groove 132b surrounding the annular groove 132a is provided, and a continuous uninterrupted annular groove 132c surrounding the annular groove 132b is further provided. Is provided.

By further increasing the number of the annular grooves 132 in this way, when the liquid invades between the nozzle plate 10 and the cover member 103, the liquid invades the outer peripheral portion of the nozzle plate 10 and the flow path plate 20. This can be prevented more reliably.

Next, the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the nozzle plate on the nozzle surface side in the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the nozzle plate 10 is provided with a flat and elliptical recess 13.

As a result, the area of the recess 13 from which the liquid repellent film 14 has been removed can be increased while reducing the number of through holes 15 as compared with the case where the recess 13 has a circular shape. Since the number of through holes 15 is small, it is possible to suppress a decrease in strength of the nozzle plate 10.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the nozzle plate on the nozzle surface side in the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the nozzle plate 10 is provided with planar, circular recesses 13 (13A) and elliptical recesses 13 (13B) alternately.

As a result, the area of the recesses 13 from which the liquid repellent film 14 has been removed can be increased while reducing the number of through holes 15 as compared with the case where all the recesses 13 have a circular shape. Since the number of through holes 15 is small, it is possible to suppress a decrease in strength of the nozzle plate 10.

In the sixth and seventh embodiments, the example in which the through hole 15 is provided is described, but the configuration may not have the through hole as in the first embodiment. In addition, circular or elliptical recesses 13 having different opening areas can be combined.

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a side explanatory view of the liquid discharge head according to the same embodiment.

This embodiment is an example in which one cover member 103 is bonded to one head 1, and in the head 1, the cover member 103 covering the peripheral edge of the nozzle plate 10 is bonded with an adhesive 12. Since the same configurations as those described in the above embodiments can be applied to the nozzle plate 10 and the cover member 103, the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a plan explanatory view of a discharge surface portion of one head of the first example and the second example according to the same embodiment.

In the first example shown in FIG. 21A, a cover member 103 that covers the peripheral edges of the short sides 10b and 10b of the nozzle plate 10 is provided.

In the second example shown in FIG. 21B, a cover member 103 that covers the peripheral edges of the long sides 10c and 10c of the nozzle plate 10 is provided.

That is, in the present embodiment, the cover member 103 is configured to cover the peripheral edges of the pair of opposite sides of the discharge surface 10a of the nozzle plate 10.

Next, an example of the device for discharging the liquid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22. FIG. 21 is a schematic explanatory view of the device, and FIG. 22 is a plan explanatory view of an example of the head unit of the device.

The printing device 500, which is a device for discharging the liquid, guides and conveys the carry-in means 501 for carrying in the continuous body 510 and the continuous body 510 such as the continuous book paper and the continuous sheet carried in from the carry-in means 501 to the printing means 505. Guidance transport means 503, printing means 505 that discharges liquid to the continuum 510 to form an image, drying means 507 that dries the continuum 510, carry-out means 509 that carries out the continuum 510, and the like. It has.

The continuum 510 is sent out from the original winding roller 511 of the carrying-in means 501, guided and conveyed by the rollers of the carrying-in means 501, the guiding and transporting means 503, the drying means 507, and the carrying-out means 509, and is guided and conveyed by the winding roller 591 of the carrying-out means 509. It is wound up at.

The continuum 510 is conveyed in the printing means 505 facing the head unit 550, and an image is printed by the liquid discharged from the head unit 550.

Here, as shown in FIG. 22, the head unit 550 includes three head modules 100A, 100B, and 100C according to the present invention in the common base member 552.

In the present application, when the head is a liquid discharge head, the liquid to be discharged may have a viscosity and surface tension that can be discharged from the head, and is not particularly limited, but at room temperature, under normal pressure, or by heating and cooling. It is preferable that the viscosity is 30 mPa · s or less. More specifically, solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, polymerizable compounds, resins, functionalizing materials such as surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids and proteins, and calcium. , Solvents, suspensions, emulsions, etc. containing edible materials such as natural dyes, etc., for example, inks for inkjets, surface treatment liquids, constituents of electronic elements and light emitting elements, and formation of electronic circuit resist patterns. It can be used for applications such as liquids for three-dimensional modeling.

Further, the device for discharging the liquid includes a device including a head module, a head unit, and the like, and driving the head to discharge the liquid. The device for discharging the liquid includes not only a device capable of discharging the liquid to a device to which the liquid can adhere, but also a device for discharging the liquid into the air or the liquid.

The "device for discharging the liquid" can also include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging paper to which the liquid can adhere, and also includes a pretreatment device, a posttreatment device, and the like.

For example, as a "device that ejects a liquid", an image forming device that is a device that ejects ink to form an image on paper, and a powder is formed in layers in order to form a three-dimensional model (three-dimensional model). There is a three-dimensional modeling device (three-dimensional modeling device) that discharges the modeling liquid into the powder layer.

Further, the "device for discharging a liquid" is not limited to a device in which a significant image such as characters and figures is visualized by the discharged liquid. For example, those that form patterns that have no meaning in themselves and those that form a three-dimensional image are also included.

The above-mentioned "material to which a liquid can adhere" means a material to which a liquid can adhere at least temporarily, such as one that adheres and adheres, and one that adheres and permeates. Specific examples include media such as paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, cloth and other recording media, electronic substrates, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and inspection cells. Yes, including anything to which liquid adheres, unless otherwise specified.

The material of the above-mentioned "material to which liquid can be attached" may be paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like as long as the liquid can be attached even temporarily.

Further, the "device for discharging the liquid" includes, but is not limited to, a device in which the liquid discharge head and the device to which the liquid can adhere move relatively. Specific examples include a serial type device that moves the liquid discharge head, a line type device that does not move the liquid discharge head, and the like.

In addition, as a "device for ejecting a liquid", a treatment liquid coating device for ejecting a treatment liquid to the paper in order to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper, etc. There is an injection granulator that injects a composition liquid in which a raw material is dispersed in a solution through a nozzle to granulate fine particles of the raw material.

In addition, image formation, recording, printing, printing, printing, modeling, etc. in the terms of the present application are all synonymous.

1 Head 10 Nozzle plate 11 Nozzle 12 Adhesive 13 Recession 14 Liquid repellent film 15 Through hole 20 Flow path plate 30 Diaphragm 70 Common flow path member 100 Head module 101 Sub head module 102 Base member 103 Cover member 500 Printing device (Liquid Discharge device)
501 Carry-in means 505 Printing means 510 Continuum 507 Drying means 509 Carry-out means 550 Head unit

Claims (13)

A head including a nozzle plate with a liquid repellent film on the discharge surface,
A cover member that covers at least a part of the peripheral edge of the discharge surface of the nozzle plate is provided.
The cover member is bonded to the nozzle plate with an adhesive.
A plurality of recesses are provided in the region of the nozzle plate to be joined to the cover member.
A head module characterized in that the inner wall surface of the recess does not have the liquid repellent film. The recess leads to a surface opposite to the discharge surface through a through hole.
The head module according to claim 1, wherein the opening area of the through hole is smaller than the opening area of the recess. The head module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the concave portion has a planar shape, a circular shape or an elliptical shape, or a curved corner portion. The cover member is joined over the entire circumference of the peripheral edge of the nozzle plate.
The head module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of recesses are arranged over the entire circumference of a joint region with the cover member. The head module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cover member has a groove formed in a joint region with the nozzle plate. The head module according to claim 5, wherein the groove is an annular groove that is not interrupted. The head module according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the annular grooves are arranged concentrically. The head module according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein at least a part of the annular groove and the recess face each other, and the adhesive has entered the annular groove and the recess. The head module according to claim 8, wherein the annular groove straddles the two adjacent recesses and faces each other. With multiple heads
The head module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cover member is provided with one. A head unit characterized in that a plurality of head modules according to any one of claims 1 to 10 are provided in a common base member. A nozzle plate with a liquid repellent film on the discharge surface and
A cover member that covers at least a part of the peripheral edge of the discharge surface of the nozzle plate is provided.
The cover member is bonded to the nozzle plate with an adhesive.
A plurality of recesses are provided in the region of the nozzle plate to be joined to the cover member.
A liquid discharge head characterized in that the inner wall surface of the recess does not have the liquid repellent film. A device for discharging a liquid, which comprises the head module according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the head unit according to claim 11, or the liquid discharge head according to claim 12. ..

Images