JP3155416B2 - Ink jet head and ink jet device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging a recording liquid (ink or the like) as flying droplets from a discharge port (orifice) and attaching the liquid to a recording medium. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording head, particularly to a color ink jet recording head and an ink jet recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink jet recording head, as described in JP-A-55-132253, an electrothermal transducer formed on a silicon substrate and a recording ink on the silicon substrate are used. It is configured by joining an ejection port, an ink flow path having a heat acting portion by the electrothermal transducer, and a top plate having a concave portion for forming a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to the ink flow path. Have been.

In an ink jet recording head, a drive circuit for driving an electrothermal transducer disposed on the silicon substrate is built in the silicon substrate. A silicon substrate having a wiring board for drawing out wiring from a driving circuit of the silicon substrate, and the wiring board is built in, and the wiring board are arranged adjacent to the heat dissipation member.

[0004] The above-mentioned drive circuit is built in, and is electrically connected to terminals arranged on a silicon substrate provided with an electrothermal converter by aluminum wiring. One aluminum wiring drawn out of the electrothermal transducer is connected to a drive circuit built in the silicon substrate, and the other aluminum wiring is drawn out to the end of the silicon substrate collectively by two-layer wiring. It is connected to the common terminal of the power supply on the wiring board by wire bonding.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the color ink jet recording head performs multi-color printing using an ink jet unit 101 having a plurality of ink jet recording heads 102 arranged side by side. According to the above-described conventional example, when a plurality of ink jet recording heads are arranged, it is difficult to reduce the size of the ink jet recording heads, and although there is a merit of increasing the speed, the cost is multiplied by the number of the ink jet recording heads.

Therefore, it has been proposed to divide the common liquid chamber of the top plate with ink discharge nozzles into a plurality of liquid chambers and supply a plurality of types of ink to each of the divided liquid chambers.

In the case of the above configuration, since it is necessary to surely separate a plurality of common liquid chambers of the top plate, a top plate with an ink discharge nozzle provided with a silicon substrate having a drive circuit and a plurality of common liquid chambers is provided. A groove (hereinafter referred to as a separation groove) into which a sealing resin for separation is poured is provided between the common liquid chambers. The separation groove extends between the ink discharge nozzles between the liquid chambers.

According to this, multicolor printing can be performed with one inkjet head, and the inkjet head can be downsized, so that an inexpensive color inkjet head can be provided.

[0009]

In the ink jet head having the above-described structure, when the sealing resin for separation is poured between the common liquid chambers, the sealing resin is reliably stopped at the separation groove.
It is necessary to prevent the ink from flowing into the ink discharge nozzle, and it is necessary to control the injection amount of the sealing resin to a very small amount.
For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to manufacture and causes a decrease in yield.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has been made in view of the fact that a single ink jet head can perform multicolor printing and can reduce the size of the ink jet head. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to realize an ink jet recording head having a structure capable of further improving the yield.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems] The ink jet head of the present invention, the set comprising a plurality of grooves for constituting a plurality of liquid flow paths respectively communicating with the plurality of discharge ports for recording by discharging ink And a set corresponding to the plurality of grooves.
And a plurality of recesses for forming a common liquid chamber for storing ink that is in common communication with the plurality of liquid flow paths, and is integrated with an orifice plate provided with the plurality of discharge ports. a reduction has been grooved member, a plurality of energy generating elements for generating energy for discharging ink are arranged corresponding to the plurality of liquid flow paths, said plurality
A plurality of sets of grooves and a substrate joined to the grooved member so as to cover the plurality of recesses, and a plurality of sets of the grooved members between the sets of the plurality of grooves. Liquid
A channel separation groove is formed, and the plurality of
Common liquid connected to some of the liquid flow channel separation grooves
A chamber separation groove is formed, and of the plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves, a liquid flow path separation groove and a liquid flow path separation groove connected to the common liquid chamber separation groove.
Further, the common liquid chamber separation groove is filled with a sealant. Further, it is connected to the common liquid chamber separation groove.
The width of the liquid channel separation groove may be an integral multiple of the width of the liquid channel.

[0012] In this case, of the orifice plate, before
A configuration may be employed in which through holes are respectively formed in portions corresponding to the plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves .

Further, the on the substrate side becomes the surface of the orifice plate, of the plurality of the through holes, the common liquid
It may be configured such that a groove connected to a through hole provided corresponding to the liquid flow path separation groove connected to the chamber separation groove is formed.

Further, the end face portion of the orifice plate side of the substrate, of the plurality of the through holes, the common
A configuration may be adopted in which a groove is formed that is connected to a through hole provided corresponding to the liquid flow path separation groove connected to the liquid chamber separation groove .

Further, in the plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves , a width of a part of the plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves and a width of another liquid flow path separation groove are different from each other. It may be configured as, in the orifice plate, the plurality of fluid
The through holes formed in the portions corresponding to the flow path separation grooves may be configured such that the size of some through holes and the size of other through holes are different from each other.

The ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention uses the ink jet recording head configured as described above.

[0017]

According to the present invention, in the ink jet recording head provided with the sealing resin injection groove for separation between the common liquid chambers, the injection groove portion aligned with the ink discharge nozzle has the same interval and height as the ink discharge nozzle. A liquid chamber separation groove (dummy nozzle) is provided to prevent the sealing resin from flowing into the ink discharge groove in multiple layers.

Further, by providing a through hole in the orifice plate of the dummy nozzle, the air inside escapes when the sealant is injected, so that the sealant can easily reach the orifice plate, and the ink can be reliably sealed in the ink discharge nozzle. This makes it possible to reliably separate the plurality of common liquid chambers of the top plate with good yield without causing the resin to flow.

Further, a sealing resin is reliably injected between the substrate and the orifice plate by providing a groove on the substrate side below the through hole formed in the orifice plate or on the orifice plate side of the substrate. It is possible to reliably perform separation between liquid chambers.

[0020]

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

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a grooved top plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a plurality of liquid chamber separation grooves of a nozzle portion of the grooved top plate shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording head according to the first embodiment.

This embodiment is an ink jet recording head for four colors. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an ink discharge nozzle, 110 denotes a plurality of liquid chamber separating grooves provided only as nozzles and is provided as dummy nozzles, 130 denotes a common liquid chamber separating groove, 150 denotes a common liquid chamber separating groove wall, Reference numeral 160 denotes an orifice plate, 170 denotes injection of a sealant into the common liquid chamber separation groove 130, and 180 denotes four common liquid chambers provided for storing ink of each color.

In FIG. 2, the liquid chamber separation groove 110 is constituted by a plurality of separation grooves (liquid flow path separation grooves) , and has a width corresponding to two ink ejection nozzles 100, and a common liquid chamber separation groove. 130, and 3 on each side of the separation groove.
It is composed of separation grooves arranged at the same width and spacing as the ink ejection nozzles 100 provided one by one, and the total number of dummy nozzles is seven in total. 120 is a liquid chamber separation groove 110
Orifice plate 16 corresponding to each separation groove
It is a hole drilled at zero.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 20 denotes a grooved top plate, and 19 denotes a silicon substrate provided with an electrothermal converter in which a drive circuit is formed, which is joined to the grooved top plate 20. Reference numeral 21 denotes an aluminum plate which radiates heat from the silicon substrate 19.
The silicon substrate 19 is bonded to the aluminum plate 21 with an adhesive having good thermal conductivity.

When the sealant is injected into the liquid chamber separation groove 110 between the liquid chambers of the ink jet head, the sealant is dispensed on the silicon substrate 19 at the rear end of the sealant injection port 170 of the grooved top plate 20 with a dispenser. Apply. The applied sealant is injected into the common liquid chamber separation groove 130 by capillary force, and reaches the central wide liquid chamber separation groove among the plurality of formed liquid chamber separation grooves 110.

The common chamber separation groove 130 to the liquid chamber separation groove 11
In the case where the sealing resin is injected at 0, the sealing agent is first injected only into the central separation groove. Met sealant in the center of the separation trench, overflowing the state becomes, overflowing sealant is injected from the common liquid chamber side to the isolation trench adjacent the center of the separation grooves to each separation groove located on the outside injection of a sealing agent are sequentially performed.

Further, the sealant reaching the through hole at the tip of the separation groove is also filled in the gap between the orifice plate and the silicon substrate near the separation groove.

The amount of the sealant to be injected is such that all of the separation grooves except for the separation groove adjacent to the ink discharge nozzle 100 are filled. The amount to be filled in the gap between the silicon substrate and the separation groove and the orifice plate near the separation groove is injected.

When the sealant is injected into the liquid chamber separation groove, the hole 120 is opened in the portion of the orifice plate 160 corresponding to the liquid chamber separation groove 110, so that the air inside escapes.
The sealant easily reaches the orifice plate 160. The sealant injected into each of the liquid chamber separation grooves 110 stops at the hole 120 of the orifice plate 160 due to surface tension.

[0030] In this embodiment the liquid chamber separation groove 110 and a plurality of separation grooves, the separation grooves adjacent to the ink discharging nozzle 100 is configured so as not to inject the sealing agent.
Therefore, the injection amount of the sealing agent is reliably injected sealing agent <br/> for some of the plurality of separation grooves, even when less than the predetermined amount is made. Further, since the to a volume fraction of the separation grooves not inject originally sealant is allowed in the case the injection amount of the sealing agent is more than a predetermined amount, conventional, sealing agents had to be controlled to trace amounts And the liquid chambers can be reliably separated, and the yield is improved.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a grooved top plate according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a plurality of liquid chamber separation grooves of a nozzle portion of the grooved top plate shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording head according to a second embodiment.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 200 denotes an ink discharge nozzle, 210 denotes a plurality of liquid chamber separation grooves provided only as nozzles and is provided as a dummy nozzle, 230 denotes a common liquid chamber separation groove, and 250 denotes a common liquid chamber separation groove. groove wall, 260 is an orifice plate, 270 sealant Note <br/> entry mouth into the common liquid chamber separation groove 230, 280 is a common liquid chamber, 225 corresponding to the common liquid chamber separation groove 230 of orifice plate 260 It is a groove provided in the portion.

In FIG. 5, the liquid chamber separation groove 210 is composed of a plurality of separation grooves,
0, two separation grooves connected to the common liquid chamber separation groove 230, and separation grooves arranged at the same width and spacing as the three ink ejection nozzles 200 provided on both sides of the separation groove. The total number of dummy nozzles is 7
It becomes a book. Reference numeral 220 denotes a hole formed in the orifice plate 260 corresponding to each of the separation grooves constituting the liquid chamber separation groove 210. The groove 225 described above is connected to the hole 220 formed in the wide separation groove located at the center among the separation grooves constituting the common liquid chamber separation groove 230.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 300 denotes a grooved top plate, 29
Reference numeral 0 denotes a silicon substrate provided with an electrothermal converter in which a drive circuit is formed, and is bonded to the grooved top plate 300. An aluminum plate 310 radiates heat from the silicon substrate 290. The silicon substrate 290 is bonded to the aluminum plate 310 with an adhesive having good thermal conductivity.

When the sealant is injected into the liquid chamber separation groove 210 between the liquid chambers of the ink jet head, the sealant is dispensed on the silicon substrate 290 at the rear end of the sealant injection port 270 of the grooved top plate 300 with a dispenser. Apply. The applied sealant is
The liquid is injected into the common liquid chamber separation groove 230 by capillary force, and reaches the wide liquid chamber separation groove at the center of the plurality of liquid chamber separation grooves 210.

The common chamber separation groove 230 to the liquid chamber separation groove 21
In the case where the sealing resin is injected at 0, the sealing agent is first injected only into the central separation groove. Sealant is filled in the middle of the separation grooves, when a full state, overflowing sealant is injected into the separation grooves adjacent, injected from the center of the separation groove of the sealing agent into each separation groove located on the outside Are sequentially performed, and the sealant reaching the through hole at the tip of the separation groove is also filled into the gap between the orifice plate and the silicon substrate near the separation groove.

The amount of the sealant to be injected is such that all of the separation grooves except for the separation groove adjacent to the ink discharge nozzle 200 are filled. The amount to be filled in the gap between the silicon substrate and the separation groove and the orifice plate near the separation groove is injected.

When the sealant is injected into the liquid chamber separation groove, the hole 220 is opened in the portion of the orifice plate 260 corresponding to the liquid chamber separation groove 210, so that the air inside escapes.
The sealant easily reaches the orifice plate 260. The sealant injected into each of the liquid chamber separation grooves 210 stops at the holes 220 of the orifice plate 260 due to surface tension.

When injecting the sealant into the liquid chamber separation groove 210, it is necessary to inject an appropriate amount of the sealant into a space between the orifice plate 260 and the silicon substrate 290 for each color. In the embodiment shown on the right 1, the sealing agent is injected into the gap by capillary force. In this embodiment, however, the liquid chamber separating groove 2 is used to make the injection more reliable.
Hole 2 opened in orifice plate 260 of No. 10
A groove 225 is provided on the silicon substrate 290 side of the orifice plate 260 leading to the groove 20. Thus, the sealant reaching the orifice plate 260 in the liquid chamber separation groove 210 is more reliably injected into the gap between the orifice plate 260 and the silicon substrate 290 through the groove 225.

The operation of the present embodiment in which the sealant is reliably injected by the above structure can be obtained even if a groove is formed on the orifice plate side of the silicon substrate, and this operation further improves the yield. effective.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA to which the four color integrated color ink jet recording head of the present invention is applied.

Here, the carriage HC is driven by the drive motor 5.
013, the driving force transmission gear 5011,
It engages with the spiral groove 5005 of the lead screw 5004 which rotates via 5009. The carriage HC has pins (not shown), and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. A recording head unit 5025 and an ink tank unit 5026 are mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage HC. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, and a lever 5006 of the carriage HC.
Is a home position detecting means for confirming the existence in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013 and the like. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means that suctions the inside of the cap.
The suction recovery of the recording head is performed via 5023. In this case, one cap simultaneously sucks four color nozzles. 5017 is a cleaning blade 5019,
It is a member that enables this blade to move in the front-back direction,
These are supported by the main body support plate 5018. Also,
Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 associated with the carriage HC, and controls the movement of the drive force from the drive motor by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. Is done.

When the capping, cleaning, and suction recovery carriages HC are positioned in the home position side area, the lead screw 5005 operates so that desired processing can be performed at the corresponding positions. If a desired operation is performed at a known timing, any of the embodiments can be applied.

The present invention brings about an excellent effect particularly in an ink jet recording head and an ink jet recording apparatus of the ink jet type which perform recording by forming flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording methods. .

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which This is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, causing film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding one-to-one to this drive signal can be formed. It is. 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 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, The present invention also includes a configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.

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, or absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening corresponds to a discharge unit.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the ink jet recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as components of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. is there. If these are specifically mentioned, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof, and recording Performing a preliminary ejection mode for performing another ejection is also effective for performing stable printing.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention may be a unit which is provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of an information processing device such as a word processor or a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader, May take the form of a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves are provided between sets of a plurality of grooves.
Of the plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves formed between the recesses.
A common liquid chamber separation groove connected to some liquid flow path separation grooves
And a common liquid chamber of the plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves.
Since the sealant is filled in the liquid flow path separation groove and the common liquid chamber separation groove connected to the separation groove , the plurality of common liquid chambers on the top plate can be formed without causing the sealing resin to flow into the ink discharge groove. Separation can be reliably performed with good yield.

Further, by forming a groove on the silicon substrate side of the orifice plate below the through hole formed in the orifice plate, the sealing resin can be reliably injected between the silicon substrate and the orifice plate. Further, there is an effect that the separation between the liquid chambers can be surely performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view of a grooved top plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a plurality of liquid chamber separation grooves of a nozzle portion of the grooved top plate shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an ink jet recording head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of a grooved top plate according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a plurality of liquid chamber separation grooves of a nozzle portion of the grooved top plate shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an ink jet recording head according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an ink jet unit in which a plurality of ink jet recording heads are arranged.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100, 200 Ink discharge nozzle 110, 210 Liquid chamber separation groove 120, 220 hole 225 groove 130, 230 Common liquid chamber separation groove 150, 250 Common liquid chamber separation groove wall 160, 260 Orifice plate 170, 270 Sealant injection port 180280 Common liquid chamber 19,290 Silicon substrate 20,300 Grooved top plate 21,310 Aluminum plate

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masanori Takenouchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-7-148926 (JP, A) JP-A Sho 61 −19367 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/05 B41J 2/16

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A set including a plurality of grooves for forming a plurality of liquid flow paths respectively communicating with a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink to perform printing, and a set including the plurality of grooves.
And an orifice plate provided with a plurality of recesses respectively corresponding to the plurality of liquid flow paths, and a plurality of recesses for forming a common liquid chamber for storing ink which are commonly communicated with the plurality of liquid flow paths. A grooved member integrated with, a plurality of energy generators for generating energy for discharging ink are arranged corresponding to the plurality of liquid flow paths, and a plurality of sets of the plurality of grooves and A substrate joined to the grooved member so as to cover a plurality of concave portions, and between the sets of the plurality of grooves of the grooved member.
A plurality of liquid channel separation grooves are formed, and between the recesses.
A part of the plurality of liquid flow path separating grooves,
A common liquid chamber separation groove is formed, and the common liquid chamber separation groove is formed of the plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves.
An ink-jet head, wherein a sealant is filled in the liquid channel separation groove and the common liquid chamber separation groove connected to the liquid channel separation groove . 2. The liquid flow connected to the common liquid chamber separation groove.
2. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the width of the path separation groove is an integral multiple of the width of the liquid flow path. 3. The plurality of orifice plates ,
3. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein a through hole is formed at a portion corresponding to the liquid flow channel separating groove . 4. A plurality of through-holes , each of said plurality of through-holes , being provided on a surface facing said substrate of said orifice plate.
4. The ink jet head according to claim 3, wherein a groove connected to a through hole provided corresponding to the liquid channel separation groove connected to the separation groove is formed. To wherein said end face portion of the orifice plate side of the substrate, of the plurality of the through-hole, said common liquid chamber
The inkjet head according to claim 3, characterized in that the grooves connecting with the through holes provided to correspond to the liquid flow path separation grooves leading separation grooves are formed. 6. The plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves , wherein a width of a part of the plurality of liquid flow path separation grooves and a width of another liquid flow path separation groove are different from each other. The inkjet head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inkjet head is configured as follows. 7. The plurality of orifice plates ,
4. The through-holes formed in portions corresponding to the liquid flow path separation grooves , respectively, are configured such that the size of some through-holes and the size of other through-holes are different from each other. 6. The inkjet head according to any one of items 1 to 5. 8. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein inks of different colors are supplied to the respective common liquid chambers. 9. An ink jet apparatus which performs recording by using the ink jet head according to claim 1. Description: