JP3217761B2 - Ink jet recording head, method for coating ink jet recording head, and ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is, 2, 2-bis ink repellent treatment containing phenyl hexafluoropropane induction body
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording head in which an agent is coated on an end face of an ink discharge port and an ink jet recording apparatus provided with the head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of computers, various types of applied equipment have been actively developed. In particular, there has been a remarkable development and spread of office equipment for office automation such as copying machines, facsimile machines, word processors, and so-called personal computers. In these office machines, a so-called printer as an apparatus for outputting processed data or text is an essential device.

Conventionally, as such a printer, an impact printer such as a wire dot printer, a non-impact printer such as a laser beam printer using an electrostatic copying method, and a thermal transfer printer has been used. In recent years, printers based on recording systems have been noticed for their excellent features, and various systems have been developed.

[0004] It goes without saying that it is desirable that prints and images by a printer be beautiful and fine.
One means for that purpose is to arrange the ink discharge nozzles small and closely. For this purpose, there is known a method in which a large number of discharge ports are closely formed using a fine processing method using a so-called microlithography technique.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of a conventional ink jet recording head manufactured by such a method. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 71 denotes a first substrate formed of, for example, a silicon wafer or the like, and reference numeral 72 denotes a layer formed on the surface of the first substrate 71 by, for example, SiO ₂ or the like. 73 is a nozzle wall formed by a method such as lithography, 74 is a second substrate formed of, for example, a glass plate, 75 is an adhesive layer for bonding the second substrate 74 to the upper portion of the nozzle wall 73, 76 Is an ink discharge port of the nozzle. In such a recording head, for example, the nozzle wall 73 has a height of 25 μm and a width of 20 μm, and the discharge port 76 is extremely finely processed so as to have the same size as the nozzle wall 73.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are side sectional views of the ink jet recording head shown in FIG. 7, and show two examples in which ink 87 is ejected to form ink drops 88. FIG. Here, FIG. 8A shows a state where the ink droplets are ejected straight without the nozzle end surface 89 getting wet with the ink.
(B) is a state in which an ink droplet is about to be ejected in a curved direction because a part of the nozzle end surface 89 is wetted with ink before ejection.

The end face 89 of the discharge port is used when the ink is wet and spread when the ink is discharged, and when the head is mechanically moved while performing printing in an apparatus in which an ink jet recording head is mounted on a carriage to perform recording. Alternatively, the ink 87 in the nozzle may be caused by mechanical vibration or the like that occurs when the carriage reaches the end of the recording medium and performs a return operation.
May overflow from the tip of the nozzle, that is, overflow to the end face 89 of the tip of the nozzle and wet there. In the case where the ink that overflows and wets the end face 89 returns to the discharge port or when the area around the discharge port is uniformly wet, the discharge direction of the discharge port ink droplet 88 is as shown in FIG. To be straight
The ejection state, that is, the recording state is stabilized.

However, in the conventional ink jet recording head, due to the difference in wettability between the second substrate 74 and the adhesive layer 75, the nozzle end face 89 is wet unevenly, or as shown in FIG. After that, an uneven state of the ink remains on the ink end surface 89, and thus an unstable ejection state occurs as shown in FIG. 8B. That is, there is a strong relationship between the wetting of the end face of the ejection port and the surface state of the end face, and if the surface state of the end face of the ejection port is not appropriate, an unstable ejection state occurs, and therefore, a good recording state is maintained. The recording quality cannot be reduced.

This problem can naturally occur not only in the ink jet recording head having the structure shown in FIG. 7, but also in an ink jet recording head in which the ink discharge nozzles are generally formed small to discharge ink at high speed and high frequency. However, in particular, in the case where the ink ejection ports are provided in close contact with each other as in the ink jet recording head shown in FIG. 7, wetting occurs around the ejection ports adjacent to each other. The consequences are even greater. As a result, the recorded characters are distorted or the image is disturbed, which further adversely affects the recording quality and image quality. Therefore, the end face of the discharge port needs to be more strictly controlled.

Conventionally, in order to maintain the ink ejection stability of an ink jet recording head, various proposals have been made to perform an ink-repellent treatment as a surface treatment of the head surface. As one example, as described in JP-A-63-122560, the inside of the discharge port is filled with a removable solid, and a thin layer of an ink repellent is formed on the surface of the elastic body. Transfer to the surface of the peripheral portion of the discharge port of the recording head.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-122557, a method has been proposed in which an end face of a recording head having the discharge port is immersed in an ink-repellent treatment agent while ejecting gas from the discharge port.

Among these proposals, a substance containing a large amount of fluorine element is often used in order to enhance the effect of the used ink repellent treatment (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-12255).
0, JP-A-63-122557, JP-A-63-12
2559, JP-A-63-122560 and the like). For example, JP-A-56-89569 discloses undecafluoropentyltrimethoxysilane, tridecafluorohexyltrimethoxysilane, perfluorododecyltrimethoxysilane, and the like. It is disclosed that 1,1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyltrichlorosilane, pentafluorophenyldimethylchlorosilane, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorocyclobutyl and the like are used.

Furthermore, KP801 (trade name, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), a perfluoroalkyl silicone-based ink repellent agent
Or photocurable fluorine-based liquid resin such as Defenser (D
A product obtained by diluting a product (trade name, manufactured by IC Co., Ltd.) with diflon or the like was thinly coated on an elastic support such as silicone rubber, and after the solvent was evaporated, transferred to the surface of the recording head to form an ink-repellent film.

On the other hand, in an ink jet recording apparatus, the moisture contained in the ink and the recording medium evaporates, and the atmosphere of the recording head becomes highly humid. May occur. Also, the ink ejection surface may be wet due to the rebound of the ejected ink from the recording medium.
The above-mentioned phenomena such as dew condensation and wetness become more remarkable when a fixing heater is used to promote fixing of a recorded image to a recording medium or when the dot duty of the recorded image is high.

As described above, when dew condensation or wetting occurs on the ejection surface, water droplets and the like are unevenly adhered to the ejection surface, and these adhered water droplets and the like become improper when the ink is ejected from the ejection port. Pull the ejected ink evenly. As a result, variations occur in the direction and speed of ink ejection and the diameter of ink droplets, resulting in a reduction in recording quality. In addition, wetting of the ejection surface makes it easier for paper dust and dust to adhere, which adversely affects the ink ejection direction and the like, and causes clogging of the ejection port, which causes deterioration of recording quality. There is also.

As a process for this, conventionally, wiping of the discharge surface at a predetermined timing to remove dew condensation, wetness, and the like has been conventionally performed. For example, a blade made of an elastic member such as silicon rubber is used as the wiping means, and this blade engages with the ejection port surface as the recording head moves, and wipes off moisture or dust such as dew or wetness.

[0016]

Although the conventional fluorosilicone-based ink-repellent agent has an excellent ink-repellent effect, it tends to be weak against the strength of the film itself, especially against external abrasion caused by the wiping operation. . These trends are-
The main reason was that a substance having a long aliphatic chain represented by C ₈ F ₁₇ or the like was used. Further, when printing is performed with the head held at a relatively high temperature (40 to 50 ° C.), the ink repellent is worn by the wiper,
It was also found that it deteriorated significantly.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink repellent agent which increases the abrasion resistance of the ink repellent agent and does not reduce the effect of the ink repellent agent . Specifically, an object of the present invention is to prevent the ink-repellent film from being damaged or worn by a wiper operation of an elastic body such as rubber provided for removing dust and ink attached to the head surface.

It is another object of the present invention to increase the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the ink repellent agent in order to prevent the strength of the ink repellent agent from being significantly lowered and the abrasion from being accelerated due to the softening of the ink repellent agent by heat. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording head capable of always stably ejecting ink even when a wiping operation is performed on an ink ejection surface, and an ink jet recording apparatus including the same.

[0019]

The above object is achieved by the present invention described below. That is, according to the present invention, the following general formula ( I ) is provided on the outer surface of the surface on which the ejection openings for ink ejection are formed.
An ink-jet recording head characterized by being coated with a UV-curable or thermosetting polymer containing a 2,2-bisphenylhexafluoropropane derivative represented by the formula:

The present invention also relates to a method for treating the surface of an ink jet recording head in which ejection openings for ink ejection are formed, wherein the surface on which the ejection openings are formed has the following general formula ( I ):
A material obtained by adding a 2,2-bisphenylhexafluoropropane derivative represented by the formula (1) and a thermosetting catalyst or a photocuring catalyst thereto, and supplying heat energy or light energy to the coating material to apply the coating material A surface treatment method for an inkjet recording head, which comprises polymerizing and crosslinking
And an ink jet recording apparatus.

[0021] By using the compound represented by the general formula ( I ) as the ink repellent agent, the abrasion resistance can be drastically improved without lowering the ink repellent effect of the ink repellent film.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, as a compound used in an ink repellent treatment agent, as represented by the above-mentioned general formula (I) ,
A compound containing at least two benzene rings and six or more fluorine atoms in its structure and having two or more (meth) acryloyl groups or glycidyl groups is used. <br/> above compounds SL is and molecular structure ink repellency excellent manner rigid 2
A functional compound is used as a raw material, and a (meth) acryloyl group or a glycidyl group is added to the functional compound to obtain an ultraviolet reaction type or a thermosetting reaction type.

Preferred specific examples of the bifunctional compound which is a raw material having excellent ink repellency and a rigid molecular structure include those having the following structures.

For example, by reacting (meth) acrylic acid or a functional derivative such as acid chloride thereof with the above-mentioned raw material ( B ), the following ultraviolet-reactive ink repellent can be obtained.

When epichlorohydrin is reacted with the raw material ( B ), the following thermosetting reaction type substance can be obtained.

By reacting glycidyl (meth) acrylate with the raw material (A) or ( B ), the following ultraviolet-reactive ink repellent can be obtained.

Specific examples of the synthesis of the above compounds are shown below. <Reaction between 2,2-bis (4-carboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane ( A ) and glycidyl methacrylate> 196 g (0.5 mol) of 2,2-bis (4-carboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane was added to toluene 500
The mixture was mixed with 1.8 g of triethanolamine as a catalyst, and 142 g (1 mol) of glycidyl methacrylate was added dropwise over 1 hour with gentle stirring at room temperature. Then, the temperature is raised to 65 ° C., and the reaction is further performed for 3 hours. After completion of the reaction, toluene was removed under reduced pressure to obtain a reaction product ( A- 1) of 2,2-bis (4-carboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane and glycidyl methacrylate.

<Reaction of 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane ( B ) with epichlorohydrin> 336 g (1 mol) of 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane and epichlorohydrin 8
33 g (9 mol) are placed in a reaction flask and the solution is heated to 120 ° C. under reflux with stirring. To this, 203 g (2 mol) of a 40% by weight aqueous solution of caustic soda is added dropwise over 3 hours. The dropping was performed at a temperature in the range of 99 ° C to 119 ° C.
Of the water and epichlorohydrin distilled during the reaction, only epichlorohydrin is returned to the reaction vessel. After the drop of caustic soda, excess epichlorohydrin is recovered under reduced pressure, 1000 ml of toluene is added, and the mixture is washed three times with 1000 ml of water to remove the generated sodium chloride and remaining alkali. Finally, the toluene is evaporated off under reduced pressure. As described above, a reaction product ( B- 2) of 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane and epichlorohydrin was obtained.

When these compounds are used alone,
A film of a hard ink repellent was formed.
No. 122550, JP 63-122557, -C widely used in homologous products from materials and conventional used in the inventions of JP 63-122559 Patent and JP 63-122560 JP ₈ F ₁₇ type perfluoroalkyl group may be used in admixture with the ink repellent agent contained in the molecule, the effect of the ink repellency even when used in admixture is retained, the conventional water repellent treatment Since the strength of the film is greatly improved as compared with the case where the agent is used alone, the object of the present invention can be satisfactorily achieved. That is, by using the mixture, the increase in Tg and the abrasion resistance of the ink-repellent film made of the mixture can be made 5 times or more as compared with the conventional one.

[0030] As the ink-repellent treating agent of the present invention, a more preferable embodiment in terms of the ink repellent ability and wear resistance, the general formula (I) represented by derivative and the derivative can be copolymerized with normal temperature liquid A compound is used in combination with a compound. Examples of such copolymerizable <br/> polymerizable liquid compound, an epoxy compound in liquid or acrylic compound of liquid and the like.

In the present invention, specific embodiments of the combination include: (1) a compound having an epoxy group at a molecular chain terminal represented by the following general formula ( I-1 ), a liquid epoxy compound, (2) A compound represented by the following general formula ( I-2 ) having an acryloyl group at a molecular chain terminal, and a liquid acrylic compound.

[0032]

[0033]

As the liquid epoxy compound or liquid acrylic compound described above, a compound containing no fluorine atom is superior in adhesion to the head surface, film forming property and abrasion resistance as compared with a compound containing a fluorine atom. Therefore, it is particularly preferable for the present invention.

Preferred liquid epoxy compounds are liquid bisphenol type epoxy resins, for example, Epicoat 825, 827, 828, 834, 807 (all manufactured by Yuka Shell Epoxy Co., Ltd.); and liquid phenol novolak type epoxy resins, for example, Epicoat 152, 154; cycloaliphatic epoxy resin, for example, Celloxide 200
0, 3000 (all manufactured by Daicel Chemical Co., Ltd.), CYRACUREUV
R 6110, 6200 (Union Carbide Co., Ltd.
Epoxy reactive diluents represented by phenyl glycidyl ether).

The liquid acrylic compound is a polyfunctional liquid acrylic oligomer having an acryloyl group at a terminal, which is disclosed in JP-A-1-290438 and the like at room temperature, which is known as an ultraviolet curable resin. A liquid substance is selected, and the following are specifically exemplified. (1) Polyhydric acrylate obtained by adding two or more (meth) acrylic acids to a polyhydric alcohol. Examples of the polyhydric alcohol include ethylene glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and the like.

(2) Polyester acrylate obtained by adding two or more (meth) acrylic acids to a polyester polyol obtained from a polyhydric alcohol and a polybasic acid. Examples of polyhydric alcohols include polybasic acids such as ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, diethylene glycol, trimethylolpropane, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, pentaerythritol, and dipentaerythritol. Examples thereof include phthalic acid, adipic acid, maleic acid, trimellitic acid, itaconic acid, succinic acid, terephthalic acid, and alkenylsuccinic acid.

(3) Epoxy acrylate in which the epoxy group of the epoxy resin is esterified with (meth) acrylic acid and the functional group is an acryloyl group. As epoxy resin,
Examples include bisphenol A-epichlorohydrin type, phenol novolak-epichlorohydrin type, and alicyclic resin.

(4) Polyurethane acrylate obtained by reacting poly (isocyanate) with hydroxy (meth) acrylate. Examples of the polyvalent isocyanate include those in which the molecular center has a structure of polyester, polyether or the like and isocyanate groups are arranged at both ends.

(5) Others include polyether acrylate, melamine acrylate, alkyd acrylate,
Isocyanurate acrylate, silicon acrylate and the like can be mentioned. Specific examples of the above compounds are as follows.

[0041]

[0042]

[0043]

[0044]

[0045]

[0046] (However, R ₃ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.)

The liquid epoxy compound or liquid acrylic compound containing no fluorine atom as described above, when used in combination with the compound of the present invention, has good compatibility and does not cause separation or precipitation. A compound of the invention , and the compound
When a copolymerizable liquid compound is used in combination, the compound of the present invention is used in an amount of 30% by weight or more, preferably 50% by weight or more of the liquid compound. If this amount is less than 30% by weight, the ink repellency is reduced.

The method for using the ink repellent treating agent of the present invention is as follows. In the case of a compound ( I-1 ) having an epoxy group at the molecular chain end, the compound (or the compound and a liquid epoxy compound) is mixed with an epoxy curing agent, diluted with a coating solvent, and applied to the end face of the head. And heat-curing treatment. Alternatively, it is mixed with only a thermosetting catalyst and a photocuring catalyst, diluted with a coating solvent, applied to the nozzle surface, and then cured by heat or active energy rays such as ultraviolet rays. Here, the epoxy curing agent refers to conventionally known aromatic acid anhydrides and aliphatic amines, the thermal curing catalyst refers to imidazoles, aromatic amines, and nitriles, and the photocuring catalyst refers to active energy rays. Aromatic halonium salts that generate Lewis acid upon receiving.

In the case of the compound ( I-2 ) having an acryloyl group at the terminal of the molecular chain, the compound (or the compound and a liquid acrylic compound) are mixed with a photocuring catalyst, diluted with a coating solvent, and diluted with a coating solvent. It is applied to the end face, and is cured by an active energy ray such as ultraviolet rays. Here, the photocuring catalyst refers to a compound capable of generating a radical by the action of active energy rays, such as benzoin alkyl ethers, benzophenones, anthraquinones, acetophenones, and other aromatic ketones. The compounds of the present invention are preferably mutually soluble and liquid at room temperature, and specific examples thereof include benzophenone and hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone (Irgacure 184, a product of Ciba Geigy); − (4
-Isopropylphenyl) -2-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-1-one (Darocur 1116, manufactured by Merck); 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one (Darocur 1173, manufactured by Merck) )
And so on.

[0050]

Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples and comparative examples. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an ink jet recording head to which the processing agent of the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is an ink-repellent head, 2 is an orifice for ejecting ink, 3 is a thin layer of an ink-repellent agent coated on the head surface by transfer or the like, and 4 is a head. And is formed of glass, silicon, or the like. On the substrate 4, heaters and wirings, which are ejection generating elements for ejecting ink, are patterned by sputtering or the like.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a resin wall forming a nozzle, which is formed into a predetermined shape by exposing and developing a photosensitive resin. Reference numeral 6 denotes a glass plate, which is bonded to the nozzle wall 5. The glass plate 6 is provided with a common ink chamber 7 for smoothly supplying ink. Reference numeral 8 denotes a filter, which is connected to an ink supply member (not shown).
This is a part for supplying ink to the head.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the state of the head before performing the ink repellent treatment, and the same symbols have the same names as in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a transfer method which is an example of a method using an ink repellent agent in the present invention. Reference numeral 20 denotes a support (transfer plate), which is an elastic silicone rubber plate. On this upper surface, a thin layer 3 made of an ink repellent is formed. The thin layer 3 is transferred to the surface of the head 1 by applying a constant load to the support 20 from above and pressing the head 1 again after pressing. The thickness of such a thin layer is 0.05 μm to 5 μm, preferably 0.1 μm.
The range of m to 3 μm is preferred.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the head 1 is lifted up after the step of FIG.
The thin layer 3 composed of the ink repellent applied to the surface of the orifice 2 is transferred to the end face of the head, and no load is applied to the orifice 2 so that the thin layer 3 is not transferred. Various tests were conducted on the heads treated by such means in the following examples for the durability of the thin layer and the softening property by heat.

Example 1 First, the head shown in FIG. 2 was prepared, and the head was washed with MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) or Daiflon (trade name, manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) liquid so that the periphery of the discharge port was washed. And then dried. On the other hand, a silicone rubber was used for the support (transfer plate). The following compounds were used as the ink repellent agent. These compounds were dissolved in a 1% solution of Diflon and coated on a support to form a thin film.

[0055] Wherein A _{1 is} exemplified in the specification ( A- 1) and Y is a hydrogen atom. B ₁ : Acrylate of pentaerythritol

As the photoinitiator, 2-hydroxy-2-
Methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one (Darocur 1173, manufactured by Merck) was used by adding 4 parts to the above components. C ₈ F ₁₇ C ₂ H ₄ fluoroalkyl silane having the structure SiNH ₂ (KP-801, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co.) Comparative Example 1 using an acrylic resin containing evaporative drying type perfluoroalkyl group as Comparative Example 2 ( Fluorocoat EC-
104, made of Asahi glass). After the diflon, which is a diluent of the ink repellent, was evaporated from the thin film, the head 1 was moved to the position shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), an ink-repellent treatment was performed on the head surface by pressing the thin film 3 on the support 20 and transferring the thin film.

After the transfer is completed as described above, the transfer thin layer is
V-curing was performed, followed by heating at a temperature of 150 ° C. to cure the treatment agent by reaction. In the case of Comparative Example 1, 150
° C for 1 hour, and in Comparative Example 2, 1
A drying treatment was performed at 00 ° C. for 30 minutes. In this way, the treatment agent thin film layer 3 having a substantially uniform thickness was firmly bonded to the front end surface of the head 1 using each of the ink repellent treatment agents.

Next, a durability test of the ink-repellent head was performed. The durability test was carried out in the form as shown in FIG. 5 by reciprocating wiping with 0.5 mm thick silicone rubber while dropping water so that the surface of the nozzle was always wet with water.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a head, reference numeral 30 denotes a holder for holding the head, reference numeral 31 denotes a carriage of the printer to which the holder is attached, and reference numeral 32 denotes a shaft which allows the carriage to move between the horizontal directions X ₁ and X _2. It is. The carriage 31 is connected to a drive source (not shown), and can freely move between the left and right directions X ₁ and X _{2 of} the carriage 31. 33 is a wiper blade made of silicone rubber, which is fixed. The durability test was performed by arranging the ink-repellent film formed on the surface of the head 1 so as to contact the rubber blade 33. The hit amount was 1 mm. The results of the above test are shown in the table below.

[0060] The ink repellent treating agent of the present invention was found to be excellent in abrasion resistance and ink repellency.

Example 2 A durability test was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that an ink repellent having the following composition was used. · Compound A ₁ 30 parts fluorosilicone coating EC104 70 parts test results used in Example 1 are shown in the following Table. It was found that the ink repellent treating agent of the present invention had good abrasion resistance and ink repellency.

Example 3 65 parts of the compound ( B- 2) exemplified in the specification having a glycidyl group at the terminal of the present invention, and 30 parts of epicoat 828 were used.
Parts and bis- [4- (diphenylsulfonyl) phenyl] sulfide-bis-hexafluoroantimonate as a photocuring catalyst were mixed to prepare a 1% solution of Diflon. Using this solution, the surface of the ink jet recording head was coated by a transfer method in the same manner as in Example 1.
Next, irradiation was performed with an ultraviolet irradiation device having an output of 50 mW / cm ² for 60 seconds to perform photo-curing treatment. Thus, an ink jet recording head subjected to the ink repellent treatment was prepared.

Comparative Example 3 KP801 which is a perfluorosilicone water-repellent agent
Using a 1% solution of (Shin-Etsu Chemical), an ink-jet recording head treated with ink repellency was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. The curing condition was 100 ° C. for 1 hour. The following shows the evaluation results of the ink jet recording head of Example 3及 beauty Comparative Example 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a recording head subjected to the ink repellent treatment of the present invention.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 61 denotes a blade serving as a wiping member, one end of which is held by a blade holding member and serves as a fixed end, forming a cantilever. Blade 6
Numeral 1 is disposed at a position adjacent to the recording area of the recording head, and in the case of this example, is held in a form protruding into the movement path of the recording head. Reference numeral 62 denotes a cap, which is disposed at a home position adjacent to the blade 61, and has a configuration in which the cap moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the print head moves and comes into contact with the ejection port surface to perform capping.

Reference numeral 63 denotes an ink absorber provided adjacent to the blade 61, which is held in a form protruding into the movement path of the recording head, similarly to the blade 61. The blade 61, the cap 62, and the absorber 63 constitute an ejection recovery unit 64, and the blade 61 and the absorber 63 remove water, dust, and the like from the ink ejection port surface.

Reference numeral 65 denotes a recording head which has discharge energy generating means and discharges ink on a recording material facing a discharge port surface provided with discharge ports to perform recording, and 66 denotes a recording head on which a recording head 65 is mounted. A carriage for performing the movement 65. The carriage 66 is slidably engaged with the guide shaft 67, and a part of the carriage 66 is connected to a belt 69 driven by a motor 68 (not shown). As a result, the carriage 66 can move along the guide shaft 67, and the recording head 65 can move the recording area and the adjacent area.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a paper feed unit for inserting a recording material,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a paper feed roller driven by a motor (not shown). With such a configuration, the recording material is fed to a position facing the ejection port surface of the recording head, and is discharged to a discharge section provided with a discharge roller 53 as recording proceeds.

In the above configuration, when the recording head 65 returns to the home position at the end of recording or the like, the cap 62 of the head recovery unit 64 is retracted from the moving path of the recording head 65, but the blade 61 projects into the moving path. I have. As a result, the ejection port surface of the recording head 65 is wiped. When capping is performed with the cap 62 in contact with the ejection surface of the recording head 65, the cap 62 moves so as to protrude into the movement path of the recording head.

When the recording head 65 moves from the home position to the recording start position, the cap 62 and the blade 61 are at the same position as the position at the time of wiping described above. As a result, the ejection port surface of the recording head 65 is also wiped during this movement. The above-described movement of the print head to the home position is performed not only at the end of printing and at the time of ejection recovery, but also at predetermined intervals while the print head moves through the printing area for printing to the home position adjacent to the printing area. Then, the wiping is performed along with this movement.
The recording head used in the present invention is a recording head having an on-demand type multi-nozzle that ejects ink droplets by applying thermal energy corresponding to a recording signal to ink, and is suitable for high-speed recording. Things.

[0070]

As has been described above, the ink-repellent treating agent of the present invention, in addition to the sole use of the compounds of the present invention, mixing using this co heavy <br/> compounds merging possible liquid Thus, the wear resistance of the thin layer is improved by more than 5 times as compared with the conventional material.
The Tg of the thin layer increases. The ink repellency effect of the thin layer does not deteriorate. When used, there is no separation / precipitation by mixing at an appropriate ratio. A uniform thin film can be formed. There are advantages such as. Further, by using an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head treated with such an ink repellent treatment agent, stable recording can be performed for a long period of time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state of a head when an ink repellent agent of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state of a head before an ink repellent is applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a transfer method which is an example of a method for applying an ink repellent agent of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state after application of the ink repellent treating agent used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a test method for testing durability of a head surface manufactured according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink jet recording head treated with the ink repellent agent of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional recording head.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a discharge state of ink.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: head 2: ink orifice 3: ink repellent thin film applied to the head surface 4: substrate (made of Si) 5: photosensitive resin forming nozzles 6: glass bonded to nozzles Top plate 7: Common ink chamber dug inside glass top plate 8: Filter 20: Silicone rubber 30: Holder of head 31: Carriage connected to printer 32: Printer shaft 33: Rubber blade for durability test Material 51: paper feed unit 52: paper feed roller 53: paper discharge roller 61: blade 62: cap 63: ink absorber 64: discharge recovery unit 65: recording head 66: carriage 67: guide shaft 68: motor 69: belt 71 : First substrate 72: layer 73: nozzle wall 74: second substrate 75: adhesive layer 76: ink discharge port 87: Ink 88: Ink droplet 89: Nozzle end face

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/135

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ultraviolet-curing reaction type or heat-curing method comprising a 2,2-bisphenylhexafluoropropane derivative represented by the following general formula ( I ) on the outer surface of a surface on which a discharge port for discharging ink is formed. An ink jet recording head which is coated with a reactive polymer. 2. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the derivative represented by the general formula ( I ) is a compound represented by the following structural formulas (a) to (d). 3. An ink jet recording head according to claim 1 comprising a copolymer of a compound of derivative and copolymerizable therewith liquid represented by the general formula (I) as a polymer. 4. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the liquid compound is a liquid epoxy compound or a liquid acrylic compound. 5. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the coating layer is in the range of 0.05 μm to 5 μm. 6. The ink jet recording head according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of the coating layer is in the range of 0.1 μm to 3 μm. 7. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the head is an on-demand type head that ejects ink droplets by applying thermal energy to the ink. 8. A surface treatment method for an ink jet recording head in which ejection openings for ink ejection are formed, wherein the surface on which the ejection openings are formed is formed of a 2,2-formula represented by the following general formula ( I ). Biphenylhexafluoropropane derivative, a material obtained by adding a thermosetting catalyst or a photocuring catalyst to the material is applied, and heat energy or light energy is supplied to the applied material to polymerize and crosslink the applied material. Surface treatment method for an inkjet recording head. 9. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising the ink jet recording head according to claim 1. Description: