JP2749902B2 - Ink jet head, ink jet cartridge having the head, and ink jet recording apparatus equipped with the cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet head, and more particularly, to an ink jet head having a discharge port forming member in which discharge ports are formed.

The present invention also relates to an inkjet cartridge,
In particular, the present invention relates to an ink jet cartridge integrally provided with an ink tank for supplying ink to an ink jet head having a discharge port forming member.

Further, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly, to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by scanning an ink jet cartridge integrated with a head.

(Background technology)

Recently, a laser (for example, an excimer laser, a fourth harmonic of a YAG laser, etc.) capable of oscillating ultraviolet light has been used to process an orifice of this type of recording head. The orifice processing by the ultraviolet laser light has been performed as follows.

After joining a resin film serving as an orifice plate to an opening surface provided with an opening communicating with the ink liquid path, ultraviolet laser light is irradiated.

This is shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is an ultraviolet laser device, 2 is a laser beam oscillated from the ultraviolet laser device, 3 is a lens system, 4 is a mask having all or a part of an orifice pattern, 5 is a resin film and an ink liquid. The ink jet recording head main body 6 joined to the opening surface of the road is a movable stage.

FIG. 10 shows details of the ink jet recording head main body 5 in which the orifice has been processed by such a device configuration. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the head body. In this figure, 7 is a top plate on which grooves for forming ink liquid paths are formed, 8 is a substrate on which ejection energy generating elements are patterned, 10 is an orifice plate made of a resin film, and 11 is an orifice plate 10. The orifice formed.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an ink liquid path, and reference numeral 15 denotes an electrothermal converter as an ejection energy generating element.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the conventional orifice processing using an ultraviolet laser as shown in FIG. 9, the shape of the orifice becomes a tapered shape in which the direction toward the discharge port is widened.

On the other hand, after the top plate and the ejection port forming member were integrated, the ejection ports were processed by a method of forming an ejection port by irradiating an ultraviolet laser beam from the concave side forming the ink path.
This is shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which an orifice plate formed integrally with the top plate is irradiated with ultraviolet laser light from the ink liquid path side to perform orifice processing. Elements similar to the elements shown in FIG. 9 are illustrated. Are given the same reference numerals. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a laser oscillation device that oscillates ultraviolet laser light,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a laser beam oscillated from the laser oscillation device 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a lens system, and reference numeral 4 denotes a projection mask formed by depositing aluminum capable of shielding the laser beam 2.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the ink jet recording head having an orifice processed by the above-described method has the following problems.

That is, in the orifice processing method as shown in FIG. 9, a tapered orifice spreading in the discharge direction is formed. However, in the case of an ink jet recording head having a tapered orifice extending in the ejection direction, the ejection characteristics become unstable, such as a case where the ink ejection speed required for recording an image or the like may not be obtained, and the recorded image may become unstable. In some cases, the quality of the product deteriorated.

In the orifice processing method as shown in FIG. 11, an orifice having a reverse tapered shape sandwiched in the discharge direction is formed. In an ink jet recording head having such an orifice, a discharge speed required for recording can be stably obtained.

By the way, the shape of the ink path formed by joining the substrate and the top plate generally has a generally square shape in cross section, and the movement and discharge refill of the ink are stably performed.

However, when processing a large-diameter orifice in order to enhance the ink ejection characteristics, in a rectangular ink path, the laser beam passing through the mask is cut off by the wall forming the ink path, and the small-diameter orifice is formed. An orifice or an orifice with a distorted shape is formed.

This is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, 7 is a top plate having a groove for forming an ink flow path (a top plate with a groove), 10 is an orifice plate integrally provided on the top plate with a groove, and 2 is a mask that passes through the mask. A laser beam focused on the orifice surface, and 9 is a flow path wall constituting an ink flow path. As is clear from FIG. 8, when processing an orifice having a large diameter in order to improve the ink ejection characteristics, a part of the orifice of the laser beam is cut off by the flow path wall 9 forming the ink path. (Shaded area). When the incident side of the laser beam is cut off by the flow path wall 9 in this way, the discharge port formed in the orifice plate 10 is no longer circular and has a smaller diameter. In the case of an ink jet recording head having such a small diameter and a distorted orifice, the amount of ink droplets necessary for recording an image cannot be obtained, and furthermore, the direction of the flying ink droplets cannot be determined. In some cases, the ejection characteristics become unstable, for example, and the quality of a recorded image is degraded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. By eliminating the laser beam from being shaken by the flow path, the amount of ink droplets required for recording can be sufficiently and stably. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet head in which the direction of flying ink droplets is stable.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, and as a result, have come to the knowledge that it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the ink path be trapezoidal. The present invention has been made based on this finding, and is formed by bonding a first base having a discharge energy generating element that generates discharge energy used for discharging ink, and a first base. The cross-sectional shape of the ink path to be formed has a trapezoidal shape in which the lower base is longer than the upper base, and the lower base has a groove on the side of the bonding surface with the first base, and the lower end is formed at the end of the groove. And a second base provided with a discharge port for discharging ink formed by laser light incident from the second substrate.

[Action]

According to the above configuration, since the laser beam is hardly radiated by the walls constituting the ink path, it is possible to obtain an ink jet recording head having a shape that is not distorted and has an orifice having a sufficient diameter. The required amount of ink droplets can be obtained stably,
The direction of the flying droplet is stabilized.

〔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. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining each of the JC, the inkjet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and the carriage HC, and the relationship between them. The configuration of each unit will be described below 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 structure of the ink jet unit IJU The ink jet unit IJU is a unit of the bubble jet system that performs recording using an electrothermal converter that generates heat 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 dividing a plurality of ink flow paths, 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. Further, 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 having positioning holes 312, 1900, and 2000 for engaging with the projections 250 for determining the value of the carriage HC of the apparatus main body IJRA.
0,2600 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 mounting of the wiring board 200 to the support 300 is performed by sticking with an adhesive or the like. 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 can be seen 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 IJU 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 not only inexpensive, has high positional accuracy, and does not eliminate the deterioration in manufacturing accuracy, but also cantilever the conduit 1600 during mass production by the cantilever conduit 1600. Ink port 1500
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 60 to the holes 1901 and 1902 of the support 300.
This can be easily performed by making a back side pin (not shown) of No. 0 penetrate and project through the holes 1901 and 1902 of the support body 300 and heat-fusing a portion of the support body 300 protruding to the back side. The slightly protruding area of the heat-sealed rear part is the ink tank IT
Since the ink jet unit IJU is housed in a recess (not shown) on the side wall surface of the ink jet unit IJU, 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 area 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. 1400
Is 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 drawings has claws 2100 position the 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 It is configured to operate in a plane area parallel to the above-mentioned reference plane. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, 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 ink tanks and projections 1800 and 1801 respectively corresponding to 2000 are longer than the above-mentioned protrusions 1012, 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 device 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 when 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 unnecessarily comes off from the positioning position. This is a protection member for maintaining the mounted state even when a force acts in the upward direction to be separated.

After the ink tank IT is 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, they are 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 the ink cartridge IJC to the carriage HC In FIG. 5, reference numeral 5000 denotes a platen roller for guiding 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
Sheet having a flexible pad 4005 and a rubber pad sheet 4007 for generating an elastic force for pressing the pad against each pad 2011 from the back side thereof.
4003 and a positioning hook 4001 for fixing the ink cartridge IJC to the recording position are provided. 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 10. 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. This rib is
Katoritsuji IJC slightly (approximately 0.1 mm) than the front position L _S during mounting also forms a head protective projections projecting to the platen roller side. 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 ratio of lateral protrusion from the platen side to 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. In addition, the support plate 4003 stabilizes the electrical contact state, so that the two positioning projecting surfaces 4010 act on the cartridge in the opposite direction to the acting direction on the cartridge. The protruding surface
4010, two pad contact areas are formed between them, and the amount of deformation of the buckle of the buckled rubber sheet 4007 corresponding to the pad 2011 is uniquely defined. 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, since the are distributed so as to be symmetrical with respect to the line L ₁ which further the pads 201 of the wiring board 300 described above,
Pads by equalizing the amount of deformation of each button on rubber sheet 4007
The contact pressure of 2011 and 201 is more stabilized. Pad of this example
The distribution of 201 is upper, lower two rows and vertical two rows.

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.

In this embodiment, the orifice processing performed by irradiating an orifice plate integrally formed with the top plate with excimer laser light from the ink path forming region side is the same as that shown in FIG. As the ultraviolet laser light source, a KrF excimer laser oscillation device was used, which outputs a pulse laser beam having a wavelength of 248 mm and a pulse width of about 15 nscc. As the lens system, a synthetic quartz lens having an antireflection coating was used. As the mask, a projection mask in which aluminum capable of shielding against a KrF laser beam was deposited was used.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view schematically showing a part of an example of an ink jet head according to the present embodiment.

The top plate 7 constituting the second base according to the present example has a desired number of ink liquid passage grooves 14 and the corresponding number of ink discharge ports (orifices) 11 formed in the orifice plate 10 (simplified in the figure). Orifice plate for 2)
10 is provided integrally.

In the configuration example of FIG. 1, the top plate 7 is made of a resin such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene oxide, or polypropylene having excellent ink resistance, and is integrally formed with the orifice plate 10 in a mold. It is molded at the same time.

Next, a method of forming the ink liquid channel 14 and the orifice 11 will be described.

As for the ink liquid channel, the resin is molded using a mold in which fine grooves of the reverse pattern are formed by a method such as cutting.
Thereby, the liquid path groove 14 can be easily formed in the top plate 7. In this example, the cross-sectional shape of the ink path perpendicular to the ink ejection direction is a trapezoidal shape in which the length of the lower base is longer than the upper base, that is, the direction of the bonding surface with the first base substrate bonded to the top plate. The shape gradually spreads.

As for the formation of the orifice, the orifice 11 is formed in the mold without the orifice 11, and the orifice plate is formed at the position where the orifice is to be formed as described in FIG.
An orifice 11 is formed by irradiating an excimer laser beam from the lower bottom side of the trapezoidal cross section of the ink path 10 with a laser device to remove and evaporate the resin.

Details of the formation of the orifice are shown in FIG. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the excimer laser beam 2 is irradiated onto the orifice plate 10 from the ink liquid path 14 through the mask 4 and focuses on the orifice plate 10. The excimer laser beam 2 has one side θ _{1 with} respect to the optical axis 13.
= 2 degrees, and is irradiated with the optical axis 13 inclined at θ2 = 5 degrees from the vertical direction of the orifice plate 10. Since the cross-sectional shape of the ink path is trapezoidal, the laser beam is not eclipsed by the ink flow path wall 9 even when laser irradiation is performed to obtain a large-diameter discharge port. Therefore, the shape of the discharge port is not distorted while having a large diameter, and the cross section has a shape reduced in the discharge direction.

Here, the excimer laser light used in this example will be described.

This excimer laser is a laser that can oscillate ultraviolet light, and has high intensity, good monochromaticity, directivity, short pulse oscillation, and extremely high energy density by focusing with a lens. Has advantages.

An excimer laser oscillator is a device that can oscillate short pulse (15 to 35 ns) ultraviolet light by exciting a mixed gas of rare gas and halogen by discharge. Kr-F, Xc = Cl, Ar-F lasers are often used. Can be These oscillation energies are several hundred mJ / pulse, and the pulse repetition frequency is 30-1000 Hz.

When high-brightness short-pulse ultraviolet light such as excimer laser light is applied to the surface of a polymer resin, the irradiated part is instantaneously decomposed and scattered with plasma emission and impact sound, and the scattered part is scattered.
composition) (APD) process, which allows processing of the polymer resin.

In this way, when comparing the processing accuracy of the excimer laser with that of another laser, for example, polyimide (P
I) Film as excimer laser and other Y
When irradiated with an AG laser or CO ₂ laser, a clean hole is opened by the KrF laser because the wavelength of absorbing PI light is in the UV region, but a YAG laser that is not in the UV region opens the hole, but the edge surface is roughened, and infrared light is emitted. Some CO ₂ lasers create craters around holes.

Metals such as SUS, opaque ceramics, and Si are not affected by excimer laser light irradiation in the atmosphere of the atmosphere, and thus can be used as a mask material in processing by excimer laser.

In the above-described configuration, since alignment and bonding between the top plate and the orifice plate are not required as in the related art, there is no alignment error or misalignment during bonding, thus reducing defective products and shortening the process. This has contributed to mass production of the recording head and cost reduction. Further, since there is no step of bonding the top plate and the orifice plate as in the related art, there is no possibility that the orifice or the ink flow path is blocked due to the flow of the adhesive. Further, when the heater board 8 and the orifice plate 10 are joined together with the top plate 7, the heater board 8 is brought into contact with the end face of the orifice plate 10 opposite to the end face on the discharge side, so that positioning in the flow path direction can be performed. In addition, the entire positioning process and the assembling process are facilitated. In addition, there is no possibility of peeling of the orifice plate as in the related art.

When the recording head constituted by the above embodiment was printed using the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the ejection speed and the landing accuracy of the flying ink droplets on the paper were improved, and good recording results could be obtained. did it. Further, since the volume of the flying ink droplets was sufficient, the density of the printed matter was also good.

In the above embodiment, the orifice plate was integrated with the top plate, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the orifice plate is separately joined to the top plate, and then the orifice processing as described above is performed. Of course, a predetermined effect can also be obtained.

The ink path may be formed by irradiating light using a mask so that a predetermined cross-sectional shape is obtained by laminating the ink paths using a photosensitive resin, or as a separate member on a flat substrate. It is also possible to attach and form a wall member.

The present invention provides an excellent effect particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a bubble jet system among the 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 the liquid path in which the liquid (ink) is held. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling 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. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed.
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 the combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter 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.

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 can be reduced by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. Either a configuration that satisfies the above or a configuration as a single recording head that is integrally formed may be used, but the present invention can more effectively exert the above-described effects.

In addition, a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body, or provided integrally with the recording head itself The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head is used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like, which are provided as components of the printing apparatus of the present invention, since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. To be more specific, a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit, a preheating unit using an electrothermal converter, another heating element, or a combination thereof, for the recording head. Performing a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing is also effective for performing stable printing.

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

〔The invention's effect〕

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink jet head having a discharge port that is not distorted in shape and has a sufficient diameter.

As a result, the amount of ink droplets required for recording can be obtained stably, and the direction of the flying droplets is stabilized.

As a result, the ejection performance such as the landing position accuracy of the ejected droplets and the recording density is improved, and a high-quality recorded image can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a part of an ink jet head according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an example of an ink jet cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of such an ink jet cartridge, FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an ink tank of the ink jet cartridge viewed from a side where an ink jet head is mounted, and FIG. 5 is a state in which the ink jet cartridge is mounted on a carriage of a recording apparatus main body. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the shape of the discharge port and the ink path processed by the laser orifice processing apparatus. FIG. 8 is a view showing the shape of the discharge port and the ink path processed by the conventional laser orifice processing apparatus. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of an orifice processing apparatus showing a conventional example of processing an orifice by laser light. FIG. 10 shows an orifice processed by the laser orifice processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration view of an orifice processing apparatus showing another conventional example of processing an orifice by laser light, and FIG. 12 is processing by an orifice processing apparatus using a laser shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an orifice to be formed. 1 ... Laser oscillation device, 2 ... Laser beam, 3 ...
... Light collecting lens, 4 ... Mask, 7 ... Top plate, 8 ... Substrate (heater board), 9 ... Flow path wall, 10 ... Orifice plate, 11 ... Orifice, 13 ... Optical axis, 14 …… Ink liquid path, 15 …… Discharge heater.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Kunihiko Maeoka, Inventor No. 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Kuwahara 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shigeaki Tanaka 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masaaki Izumida 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Koichi Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tsuguhiro Fukuda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Sugitani 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) Masami Ikeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Asao Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Akio Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Orikasa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-56-144977 (JP, A) JP-A-62-80054 (JP, A) JP-A-60-204373 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name ) B41J 2/04

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A first base provided with a discharge energy generating element for generating discharge energy used for discharging ink; and an ink path formed by bonding with the first base has an upward sectional shape. The lower bottom is longer than the bottom and has a trapezoidal shape. The lower bottom has a groove that is a bonding surface side with the first base, and is formed by a laser beam incident on an end of the groove from the side that is the lower bottom. And a second base provided with a discharge port for discharging the ink. 2. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein said discharge energy generating element is an electrothermal converter. 3. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein a sectional area of said discharge port is smaller than a sectional area of said flow path. 4. An ink jet cartridge comprising the ink jet head according to claim 1, 2 or 3, and an ink tank for supplying ink to the ink jet head. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: the ink jet head according to claim 1, 2 or 3, and a carriage for mounting and scanning the ink jet head.