JP2660059B2 - Ink jet unit, ink jet cartridge and ink jet device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet unit for discharging ink, an ink jet cartridge, and an ink jet apparatus provided with the same.

[Background technology]

Conventionally, in order to supply ink from an ink supply source to an ink jet head, a flexible ink supply tube formed using, for example, a resin has been often used.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, this flexible ink supply tube has the following problems.

(1) It is difficult to form a tube that can be bent and has a tight dimensional tolerance.

(2) The price of the molded tube product is high.

(3) If the tube is small, there is no rigidity, so automatic assembly is difficult.

In particular, the flexible ink supply tube is not suitable for a disposable type ink jet head which is manufactured inexpensively and in large quantities.

On the other hand, the ink inlet of the ink supply path for supplying ink from the ink tank to the ink jet head includes:
There is also a configuration in which a filter for preventing the inflow of rubber is attached by welding or bonding. However, with such a head, it is difficult to position the filter when attaching the filter to the ink supply port. As a result, there has been a problem that dust enters and the orifice is clogged and non-ejection occurs.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems, and can provide an ink jet unit having excellent reliability in which a good ink supply is achieved.

Further, it is possible to provide an ink jet cartridge integrally provided with an ink jet unit and an ink tank having excellent reliability.

Further, it is possible to provide an ink jet device having excellent recording characteristics.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above-described object, and an ink path communicating with a discharge port for discharging ink is formed by joining a substrate and an ink path forming member, wherein the ink path is formed. Ink is supplied to the liquid path by an ink conduit through an opening at one end of the ink conduit and an ink receiving port provided in the ink path forming member, and the ink conduit is pressed at one end to the ink path forming member. A cantilever structure, which is a free end, and the other end is a fixed end fixed as a base point of the pressure contact.

Further, an ink path communicating with a discharge port for discharging ink is formed by joining the base and the ink path forming member, and an ink conduit connects the opening at one end of the ink conduit to the ink path. Ink is supplied through an ink receiving port provided in the forming member, and the ink conduit has a cantilever structure in which one end is pressed against the ink path forming member and the other end is fixed as a base point of the pressing. And an ink tank communicating with the other end of the ink conduit.

Further, an ink path communicating with a discharge port for discharging ink is formed by joining the base and the ink path forming member, and an ink conduit connects the opening at one end of the ink conduit with the ink path. Ink is supplied via an ink receiving port provided in the forming member, and the ink conduit has a cantilever structure in which one end is pressed against the ink path forming member and the other end is fixed as a base point of the pressing. An ink cartridge having an ink tank to which the other end of the ink conduit communicates, and a carriage for mounting the ink cartridge are provided.

The ink inlet of the ink supply path for supplying ink from the ink tank to the ink jet head is
A filter is provided inside the end of the ink supply path so that a part of the surface is not exposed.

〔Example〕

2 to 6 show a preferred ink jet unit IJU, ink jet head IJH, ink tank IT, ink jet cartridge I to which the present invention is applied or applied.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining each of a JC, an inkjet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and a carriage HC, and a relationship between each; Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described with reference to these drawings.

As can be seen from the perspective view of FIG. 3, the ink cartridge IJC in this example has a large ink storage ratio, and is slightly higher than the front surface of the ink tank IT. The portion has a protruding shape. The ink cartridge IJC is fixedly supported by positioning means and electrical contacts of a cartridge HC (FIG. 5) mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and is attached to and detached from the cartridge HC. It is a possible disposable type. FIGS. 2 to 6 show configurations to which a number of new technologies achieved in the stage of establishment of the present invention are applied. I will do it.

(I) Description of the configuration of the ink jet unit IJU The ink jet unit IJU is a bubble jet type unit that performs recording using an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling to occur in ink according to an electric signal. It is.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a structure in which a plurality of electrothermal transducers (discharge heaters) arranged on a Si substrate and electric wires such as Al for supplying power thereto are formed by a film forming technique. It is a heater board. Reference numeral 200 denotes a wiring board for the heater board 100, a wiring corresponding to the wiring of the heater board 100 (for example, connected by wire bonding), and a pad 201 located at an end of the wiring and receiving an electric signal from the main unit. have.

1300 is a grooved top plate provided with a partition for distinguishing a plurality of ink flow paths from each other, a common liquid chamber for storing ink for supplying ink to each ink flow path, and the like.
And an orifice plate 400 having a plurality of ejection ports corresponding to each ink flow path. Polysulfone is preferred as these integral molding materials, but other molding resin materials may be used.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a support made of, for example, metal which supports the back surface of the wiring board 200 in a plane, and serves as a bottom plate of the ink jet unit.
Reference numeral 500 denotes a presser spring, which is M-shaped and presses the common liquid chamber with a light pressure at the center of the M-shape, and concentrates a part of the liquid path, preferably an area near the discharge port, with a linear pressure at the front drooping part 501. Press. By pressing the heater board 100 and the top plate 1300 with the foot portions of the holding springs passing through the holes 3121 of the support body 300 and engaging with the back surface side of the support body 300, the two are engaged with each other in a state where they are sandwiched. The heater board 100 and the top plate 1300 are pressed and fixed by the concentrated biasing force of the spring 500 and the front drooping portion 501. The support 300 is provided with two positioning protrusions 1012 of the ink tank IT and positioning and heat fusion holding protrusions 1800, 1801.
In addition to the positioning holes 312, 1900, and 2000, the positioning protrusions 25 for the carriage HC of the apparatus main body IJRA are provided.
00,2600 on the back side. In addition, the support 300 is provided with an ink supply pipe 22 for supplying ink from the ink tank.
It also has a hole 320 that allows 00 (described below) to penetrate. The attachment of the wiring board 200 to the support 300 is performed by sticking with an adhesive. The recesses 2400, 2400 of the support 300 are provided in the vicinity of the positioning projections 2500, 2600, respectively. In the assembled ink cartridge IJC (FIG. 3), three peripheral sides are parallel grooves. It is located at an extension point of the head tip region formed by a plurality of 3000, 3001 so that unnecessary substances such as dust and ink do not reach the projections 2500, 2600. This parallel groove 3000 is formed. As shown in FIG. 5, the lid member 800 forms the outer wall of the ink cartridge IJC, and forms a space for accommodating the ink jet unit IJL with the ink tank. Further, the ink supply member 600 in which the parallel groove 3001 is formed forms an ink conduit 1600 continuous with the above-described ink supply tube 2200 as a cantilever with the supply tube 2200 side fixed, and the ink supply tube 2200 is fixed to the fixed side of the ink conduit. Supply pipe
A sealing pin 602 for ensuring a capillary phenomenon with 2200 is inserted. Reference numeral 601 denotes a packing for sealing the ink tank IT and the supply pipe 2200, and 700 denotes a filter provided at the tank side end of the supply pipe.

Since the ink supply member 600 is molded, it is inexpensive, has high positional accuracy and eliminates a decrease in precision in formation and manufacturing. Ink receptacle 15
The pressure contact state with respect to 00 can be stabilized. In this example, a more complete communication state can be reliably obtained only by pouring the sealing adhesive from the ink supply member side under the pressure contact state. The fixing of the ink supply member 600 to the support 300 is performed by fixing the ink supply member 600 to the holes 1901 and 1902 of the support 300.
600 back side pins (not shown)
This can be easily performed by projecting through the through hole and heat-sealing the portion of the support 300 protruding to the back surface side. The slightly protruding area of the heat-sealed rear part is the ink tank.
Since it is housed in a recess (not shown) in the side wall surface of the IT inkjet unit IJU mounting surface, the positioning surface of the unit IJU can be accurately obtained.

(Ii) Ink tank IT configuration description The ink tank is sealed after inserting the cartridge body 1000, the ink absorber 900, and the ink absorber 900 from the side of the cartridge body 1000 opposite to the unit IJU mounting surface. And a lid member 1100 for stopping.

Reference numeral 900 denotes an absorber for impregnating the ink, which is arranged in the cartridge body 1000. 1200 is the above parts 100
A supply port for supplying ink to a unit IJU consisting of ~ 600, and by injecting ink from the supply port 1200 in a step before the unit is arranged in the portion 1010 of the cartridge body 1000, the absorber 900 It is also an inlet for impregnating the ink.

In this example, the portions that can supply ink are the air communication port and this supply port, but the rib 2300 in the main body 1000 and the lid member for performing good ink supply from the ink absorber.
Since the air presence region in the tank formed by the partial ribs 2500 and 2400 of 1100 is continuously formed from the atmosphere communication port 1401 side and formed over the corner area farthest from the ink supply port 1200, It is important that ink is supplied to the absorber relatively well and uniformly from the supply port 1200 side. This method is extremely effective in practice. The rib 1000 has four ribs parallel to the carriage moving direction on the rear surface of the main body 1000 of the ink tank to prevent the absorber from sticking to the rear surface.
Also, the partial ribs 2400, 2500 are similarly provided on the inner surface of the lid member 1100 which is on the extension corresponding to the rib 1000, but unlike the rib 1000, they are in a divided state and the presence of air The space is larger than the former. In addition, partial rib
2500 and 2400 are distributed on a surface that is less than half of the total area of the cover member 1000. With these ribs, the ink in the corner portion farthest from the tank supply port 1200 of the ink absorber could be more stably guided to the supply port 1200 side by capillary force. Reference numeral 1401 denotes an atmosphere communication port provided in the lid member for communicating the inside of the cartridge with the atmosphere. Reference numeral 1400 denotes a liquid-repellent material disposed inside the air communication port 1401, thereby preventing ink from leaking from the air communication port 1400.

The above-described arrangement of the ribs is particularly effective because the ink storage space of the above-described ink tank IT has a rectangular shape and has long sides on the side surfaces, but has a long side in the moving direction of the carriage. Case or cube, cover member 11
By providing a rib on the whole of 00, the ink absorber
Ink supply from 900 can be stabilized. A rectangular parallelepiped shape is suitable for storing ink in a limited space as much as possible, but in order to use this stored ink for recording without waste, as described above, It is important to provide a rib capable of performing the above-mentioned operation in the two surface regions which are close to each other. Further, the inner ribs of the ink tank IT in this embodiment are arranged with a substantially uniform distribution in the thickness direction of the rectangular parallelepiped ink absorber. This configuration is important because it can make the atmospheric pressure distribution uniform and almost eliminate the remaining amount of ink with respect to the ink consumption of the entire absorber. Further, if the technical idea on the arrangement of the ribs is described in detail, the position where the ink supply port 1200 of the ink tank is projected on the upper surface of the rectangular parallelepiped is centered.
When an arc having a long side as a radius is drawn, the rib is arranged on a surface outside the arc so that an atmospheric pressure state is given to the absorber located outside the arc at an early stage. It is important to: In this case, the atmosphere communication port of the tank is not limited to this example as long as the atmosphere can be introduced into the rib arrangement area.

In addition, in this embodiment, the ink jet cartridge
Flattening the rear surface of the IJC head minimizes the space required when assembled into the device, and minimizes the size of the device by adopting a configuration that maximizes the ink capacity. Not only that, it has an excellent configuration that can reduce the frequency of cartridge replacement. Then, using the rear part of the space for integrating the ink jet unit IJU, there is an air communication port 14 there.
A projecting portion for 01 is formed, and the inside of the projecting portion is hollowed out to form an atmospheric pressure supply space 1402 for the entire thickness of the absorber 900 described above. With such a configuration, an excellent cartridge not seen in the past can be provided. Note that the atmospheric pressure supply space 1402 is a space much larger than the conventional one, and since the air communication port 1401 is located above, even if the ink comes off the absorber due to some abnormality, this atmospheric pressure supply space 1402 does not need to be large. The air pressure supply space 1402 can temporarily hold the ink and can reliably collect the ink in the absorber, so that an excellent cartridge without waste can be provided.

The structure of the mounting surface of the unit IJU of the ink tank IT is shown in FIG. Orifice plate
Through the approximate center of the projection port 400, when L ₁ and a straight line parallel to the mounting reference plane of the surface of the bottom or carriage of the tank IT, the two engaging in the hole 312 of the support 300 positioned protrusion 1012 are on the straight line L _1. The height of the protrusion 1012 is slightly lower than the thickness of the support 300, and the support 300 is positioned. This is on the extension of the straight line L ₁ in the drawing is located pawl 2100 engagement surface 4002 of the 90 ° angle of the positioning hook 4001 of the carriage is engaged, the acting force of the positioning relative to the carriage is the straight line L ₁ And is configured to operate in a plane region parallel to the reference plane. As will be described later with reference to FIG.
These relationships are effective because the positioning accuracy of only the ink tank is equivalent to the positioning accuracy of the head ejection port.

Also, fixing holes 1900,
The protrusions 1800 and 1801 of the ink tank corresponding to 2000 are longer than the protrusions 1012 described above, and are used for fixing the support 300 to the side surface by heat-fusing the portion protruding through the support 300. It is. When a straight line passing through the projection 1800 is perpendicular to the line L ₁ of the above L _3, a straight line passing through the projection 1801 and L _2, a straight line
Since on L ₃ is substantially the center of the supply opening 1200 is located, and the effect of stabilizing the state of bonding between the supply pipe 2200 and a mouth 1200 of the supply unit, a load of even by dropping or impact to these coupling state This is a preferable configuration because it is possible to reduce the amount of light. Also, the straight lines L ₂ and L
₃ does not match, and there are protrusions 1800 and 1801 around the protrusion 1012 on the discharge port side of the head IJH.
This has the effect of reinforcing the positioning with respect to the tank.
Incidentally, the curve indicated by L ₄ represents a outer wall position when mounting of the ink supply member 600. Since the projections 1800 and 1801 are along the curve L _4, which give the position accuracy and sufficient strength against the weight of the distal configuration of the head IJH. Reference numeral 2700 denotes a tip of the ink tank IT, which is inserted into a hole of the front plate 4000 of the carriage and provided for an abnormal time so that the displacement of the ink tank becomes extremely bad. Reference numeral 2101 denotes a retainer for the carriage, which is provided for a bar (not shown) of the carriage HC.The cartridge IJC enters below the bar at a position where the cartridge IJC is pivotally mounted as described later, and is unnecessarily detached from the positioning position. This is a protection member for maintaining the mounted state even when a force acts in the upward direction.

After the ink tank IT has been installed with the unit IJU, the lid 8
By covering with the 00, the unit IJU is surrounded except for the lower opening, but as the inkjet cartridge IJC, the lower opening for mounting on the carriage HC is close to the carriage HC, so it is substantially A four-sided surrounding space is formed. Therefore, the head IJH in this enclosed space
Although the heat generated from this is effective as a heat retaining space in this space, the temperature rises slightly for long-term continuous use. For this reason, in this example, a slit 1700 with a width smaller than this space is provided on the upper surface of the cartridge IJC to help the heat dissipation of the support, and the temperature distribution of the entire unit IJU is uniform while preventing the temperature rise. Was made independent of the environment.

When assembled as an ink cartridge IJC, the ink is supplied from the inside of the cartridge to the supply port 1200 and the support.
After being supplied into the supply tank 600 through the hole 320 provided in the 300 and the introduction port provided on the inside and back side of the supply tank 600, and passing through the inside thereof, an appropriate supply pipe and
It flows into the common liquid chamber via the ink inlet 1500 of 0. A packing made of, for example, silicon rubber or butyl rubber is provided at the connection portion for ink communication described above, whereby sealing is performed to secure an ink supply path.

In this example, the top plate 1300 is made of a resin such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene oxide, or polypropylene having excellent ink resistance,
Together with the orifice plate part 400, it is integrally molded in a mold.

As described above, the integrally molded component is an ink supply member 600,
Top plate and orifice plate integrated, ink tank body 1000
As a result, not only the assembling accuracy becomes high, but also it is extremely effective in improving the quality of mass production. Also, since the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional case, excellent desired characteristics can be surely exhibited.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ink supply member 600 has the upper surface 603 of the slit 17 of the ink tank IT in the assembled shape.
3, a slit S is formed as shown in FIG.
Head side end 401 of the thin plate member to which the lower lid 800 is bonded
Slit similar to slit S above (not shown)
Is formed. The slits between the ink tank IT and the ink supply member 600 substantially perform the function of further promoting the heat radiation of the slit 1700, and
Even if there is unnecessary pressure applied to IT, it is supplied directly to
In other words, it prevents the effect on the inkjet unit IJT.

In any case, the above-described configuration of the present embodiment is a configuration that has not existed in the past, and each has an effective effect alone, and also has an organic configuration due to the complex requirements of each component. ing.

(Iii) Attaching explanation of ink cartridge IJC to carriage HC In FIG. 5, reference numeral 5000 denotes a platen roller, which guides the recording medium P upward from below the sheet. The carriage HC moves along the platen roller 3000. The front plate 4000 (2 mm in thickness) located on the front side of the ink cartridge IJC and the pad of the wiring board 200 of the cartridge IJC are provided on the front platen side of the carriage. Pad 2011 corresponding to 201
And a supporting plate 40 for electrical connection which holds a rubber pad sheet 4007 for generating an elastic force for pressing the flexible sheet 4005 against each pad 2011 from the back side thereof.
03 and a positioning hook 4001 for fixing the ink cartridge IJC to the recording position. The front plate 4000 has two positioning projections 4010 corresponding to the positioning projections 2500 and 2600 of the cartridge support 300, respectively.
Receive a vertical force towards. For this reason, the reinforcing rib has a plurality of ribs (not shown) on the platen roller side of the front plate that are oriented in the direction of the vertical force. The ribs are slightly (approximately than the front position L ₅ of Katoritsuji IJC when mounted
(Approximately 0.1 mm) A head protection projection protruding toward the platen roller is also formed. Support plate for electrical connection 4003
Has a plurality of reinforcing ribs 4004 not in the direction of the ribs but in the vertical direction, and the proportion of protrusion from the platen side toward the hook 4001 side is reduced. This also serves the function of tilting the position when the cartridge is mounted as shown in the figure. Further, in order to stabilize the electrical contact state, the support plate 4003 is provided with a positioning surface 4006 on the hook side for applying an acting force to the cartridge in a direction opposite to the acting direction of the two positioning projecting surfaces 4010 on the cartridge. The protruding surface 4010
Rubber sheet with a boss corresponding to pad 2011 and having pad contact areas between them
Uniquely defines the amount of deformation of the button of 4007. When these positioning surfaces are fixed at positions where the cartridge IJC can record, they come into contact with the surface of the wiring board 300.
In this example, the pad 201 of the wiring board 300 is
Since then distributed to be symmetrical with respect to L _1, and equalize the amount of deformation of each Botsuchi of the rubber sheet 4007 pads 201
The contact pressure of 1,201 is more stabilized. Pad 201 in this example
Are two rows above and two rows below and two rows vertically.

The hook 4001 has a long hole that engages with the fixed shaft 4009, and after rotating counterclockwise from the position shown in the drawing using the moving space of the long hole, moves leftward along the platen roller 5000. By moving, the inkjet cartridge IJC is positioned with respect to the carriage HC. Although the hook 4001 can be moved in any manner, a configuration in which the hook 4001 can be moved by a lever or the like is preferable. In any case, when the hook 4001 rotates, the cartridge IJC moves to the platen roller side while the positioning projections 2500 and 2600 move to positions where the positioning protrusions 2500 and 2600 can contact the positioning surface 4010 of the front plate, and the hook 4001 moves to the left. The 90 ° hook surface 4002 is brought into close contact with the 90 ° surface of the cartridge IJC claw 2100 while rotating the cartridge IJC in the horizontal plane around the contact area between the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010 and finally the pads 201 and 20.
Contact of 11 comrades begins. And hook 4001 is in the predetermined position,
That is, when held at the fixed position, the pads 201 and 2011 have a complete contact state, the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010 have a complete contact, the 90-degree surface 4002 and the 90-degree surface of the claw have two contact surfaces, and 30
0 and the surface contact with the positioning surface 4006 are simultaneously formed, and the holding of the cartridge IJC with respect to the carriage is completed.

(Iv) Schematic description of apparatus main body FIG. 6 shows an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In the outline view of IJRA, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 50111 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013
Has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region by photocouplers and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member for supporting a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and recovering the suction of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. 50
Numeral 17 denotes a cleaning blade, and numeral 5019 denotes a member which enables the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form, and a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this embodiment. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and controls the movement of the drive force from the drive motor by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. Is done.

These capping, cleaning and suction recovery
When the carriage comes to the home position side area, it is configured so that the desired processing can be performed at the corresponding position by the action of the lead screw 5005, but if the desired operation is performed at a known timing, Either can be applied to this example. Each of the configurations described above is an excellent invention when viewed alone or in combination, and shows preferred configuration examples for the present invention.

In order to describe in detail the present invention which is technically related to FIGS. 2 to 6, the following description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1 and 7.

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the ink jet unit of the present invention. In FIG.
Reference numeral 400 denotes a top plate (ink path forming member) having a groove that forms an ink path communicating with the ink discharge port 11, and reference numeral 100 denotes a part of the ink path and energy used to discharge the ink. A heater board having a heater 100A as a generated energy generating element. Reference numeral 1600 denotes an ink conduit having a cantilever structure integrally formed with an ink supply pipe 2200 that supplies ink from an ink tank to an ink receiving port 1500 of a top plate 400. is there. The top plate 400 and the heater board 100 are in close contact with each other by a leaf spring. The ink conduit 1600 and the ink supply pipe 2200 are attached to an ink supply member 600 (FIG. 2), which is an exterior part of the ink jet head, and are integrally formed.

FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view of the ink jet unit of the present invention. An elastic force due to the deflection of the rigid ink conduit 1600 acts on the ink receiving portion 1500 of the assembled top plate 400, and one end of the ink conduit 1600 is in close contact with the ink receiving portion 1500. As an example, the pressure due to deflection is on the order of about 100-200 g. As described above, the ink conduit has a cantilever structure in which one end is a free end pressed against the ink path forming member, and the other end is a fixed end fixed to the ink supply member as a starting point of the pressure contact.

The ink conduit 1600, the ink supply pipe 2200, and the ink supply member 600 are integrally molded products of a resin (for example, polysulfone), and it is impossible to form a complete ink supply path only by molding. 602 is pressed into the ink supply pipe 2200 to form an ink supply path. Ink supply member 60
When 0 is incorporated into the ink cartridge, one end of the ink conduit 1600 and the top plate 400 come into close contact with each other. In order to further improve the adhesion, a sealant (for example, TSE399Black
(Trade name, manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.) may be applied to the contact portion. This sealant may be used to simultaneously protect the wire bonding pad for making electrical connection to the heater board 100.

The end of the ink supply pipe 2200 provided with the filter 700 is pressed against a foam impregnated with ink in the ink tank, and can be taken into the ink in the ink tank.

 FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the supply tank.

In this example, the supply tank 600 is obtained by molding using a resin material having excellent ink resistance, like the top plate 400. Supply tank 60
A filter 700 heat-welded to the ink inlet port 600a from the ink cartridge 0 is positioned and fixed to the recording head body described above. In this example, when positioning, the positioning pins 600b are formed in the supply tank 600 in advance, and the support 3
The positioning pins are inserted through the through holes provided in the support member 300, and are thermally welded from the back side of the support 300. In this embodiment, the supply tank 600 and the filter 700 are joined by heat welding, and the supply tank 600 and the support body 300 are joined by heat welding. However, another joining method using an adhesive may be used.
However, when the supply tank 600 and the filter 700 are joined, the adhesive flows into the mesh of the filter 700,
It is extremely difficult to secure an effective area. In this example, in the heat welding of the filter, as shown in FIG.
At the welded portion of the filter 600, a recess 600c for positioning the filter 700 is provided, and after welding, the recess 600c is attached to the filter 70.
The structure protects 0. Therefore, even if the ink cartridge is frequently attached to and detached from the ink cartridge, there is no fear that the filter 700 peels off.

FIG. 2 and FIG.
A cartridge as shown in the figure can be obtained, and further, an ink jet printer using a disposable cartridge as shown in FIG. 6, that is, an ink jet printer using the disposable cartridge can be constructed using the cartridge.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can adopt various configurations.

For example, in the above example, the recording head main body and the ink supply source and the like are integrated and made disposable, but they may be separate bodies, and they need not necessarily be disposable. That is, even if the recording head body is of a fixed type and does not require simple replacement, the simple and inexpensive construction of the recording head as described above also contributes to the low cost of the printer body.

Further, in the recording head main body composed of the heater board 100 and the top plate 400, in the above example, the concave portion for forming the ink flow path and the common liquid chamber is provided only on the top plate side, but may be provided on both of them.

The present invention brings about an excellent effect particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a bubble jet system among ink jet recording systems.

Regarding the representative configuration and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to a sheet or a liquid path holding a liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal that gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling corresponding to the recorded information to the electrothermal transducer, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the heat of the recording head is generated. This is effective because the film can be boiled on the working surface, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed in one-to-one correspondence with the drive signal.
The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,434,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the invention relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As a configuration of the recording head, in addition to a combination configuration of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in each of the above-mentioned specifications, a heat acting section A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the is bent, is also included in the present invention. In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters.
The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. The present invention can exhibit the above-mentioned effects more effectively, though it may be either a structure that satisfies the condition or a structure as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition, by being attached to the apparatus main body, it is possible to electrically connect with the apparatus main body and to supply ink from the apparatus main body, and to provide a convertible chip-type recording head, or to be provided integrally with the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as components of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. More specifically, a preheating means for the recording head by a capping means, a cleaning means, a pressure or suction means, an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. Performing a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing is also effective for performing stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, and the recording head may be integrally formed or a combination of a plurality of recording heads. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus having at least one of the full colors.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, a step of joining tubes is unnecessary because a flexible tube is unnecessary, and cost is reduced because a flexible tube is eliminated. Can be.

Due to the cantilever structure, the ink conduit can be pressed against the top plate as well as the top plate by the deformation of the ink conduit, and can be brought into close contact with the heater board. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking from the joints and to prevent air from entering.

By providing a filter so as not to reach the outside from the end face of the ink inlet, it is possible to achieve a good ink supply without dust or the like being mixed.

It is possible to provide an ink jet unit, an ink jet cartridge, and an ink jet device having excellent effects such as the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view showing an ink jet cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an example of the ink cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the ink cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating ink jet recording of the ink cartridge of the ink cartridge. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view from the side where the head is mounted, FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating a state where the head is mounted on a carriage of the ink jet cartridge device main body, and FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the ink jet recording device according to the present invention FIG. 7 is a schematic front view schematically showing a part of the configuration of an ink supply unit of the ink jet unit according to the present invention, and a partially cutaway view thereof. 1600 …… Ink conduit 2200 …… Ink supply tube

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Kashino 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Nakagome 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside (72) Inventor Hideo Toshikawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Seiichiro Karita 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Sugiya 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Norifumi Hattori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masami Ikeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Asao Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kazuaki Masuda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Orikasa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Stocks In-house (56) References JP-A-63-231943 (JP, A)

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] An ink path communicating with a discharge port for discharging ink is formed by joining a substrate and an ink path forming member, and an ink conduit is connected to the liquid path with an opening at one end of the ink conduit. Ink is supplied through an ink receiving port provided in the ink path forming member, and the ink conduit is a free end that is pressed against the ink path forming member at one end, and the other end is fixed as a base point of the pressing. An ink jet unit having a cantilever structure as a fixed end. 2. An electrothermal converter is provided in said liquid path as thermal energy generating means for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink from said discharge port. An ink jet unit according to 1). 3. An ink jet unit according to claim 1, wherein one end of said ink conduit is sealed with a sealant with respect to said ink path forming member. 4. An ink path communicating with a discharge port for discharging ink by joining a substrate and an ink path forming member, wherein the liquid path is connected to an opening at one end of the ink conduit by an ink conduit. Ink is supplied through an ink receiving port provided in the ink path forming member, and the ink conduit has a cantilever whose one end is pressed against the ink path forming member and the other end is fixed as a base point of the pressing. An ink cartridge having a structure and an ink tank to which the other end of the ink conduit communicates. 5. An electrothermal converter is provided in said liquid path as thermal energy generating means for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink from said discharge port. The ink jet cartridge according to 4). 6. An ink jet cartridge according to claim 4, wherein one end of said ink conduit is sealed with a sealant with respect to said ink path forming member. 7. An ink path communicating with a discharge port for discharging ink is formed by joining a base and an ink path forming member, and the ink path is connected to an opening at one end of the ink path by an ink conduit. Ink is supplied through an ink receiving port provided in the ink path forming member, and the ink conduit has a cantilever whose one end is pressed against the ink path forming member and the other end is fixed as a base point of the pressing. An ink jet device having a structure, comprising: an ink cartridge having an ink tank to which the other end of the ink conduit communicates; and a carriage for mounting the ink cartridge. 8. An electrothermal converter is provided in the liquid path as thermal energy generating means for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink from the discharge port. An ink jet apparatus according to 7). 9. An ink jet apparatus according to claim 7, wherein one end of said ink conduit is sealed with a sealant with respect to said ink path forming member.