JP3327314B2 - Ink jet recording head - 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 head, and more particularly, to a mounting structure for fixing a laminated recording head main body in which through holes are formed in a plate material to form respective flow paths.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An on-demand type inkjet head which outputs characters and figures by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles in accordance with input information has higher print quality and noise than a wire dot type recording head. Because of low running costs compared to page printers.

In this ink jet recording head,
A multi-layer inkjet recording head that pierces a substrate with a plurality of nozzle openings and ejects ink droplets in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the plate is arranged on a plane as seen in JP-A-62-111758. Spacer for partitioning the pressure generating chamber, an elastic plate having a piezoelectric vibrating plate arranged corresponding to the pressure generating chamber while sealing one surface thereof, and a lid plate for sealing the other surface Actuator unit consisting of
And an ink supply port forming substrate connected to a flow path communicating with the ink tank, a reservoir chamber forming substrate defining a reservoir chamber for supplying ink to the pressure generating chamber, and a nozzle plate having a nozzle opening communicating with the pressure generating chamber And a channel unit integrally configured with the above.

[0004] An ink jet recording head having such a laminated structure is typically about 0.5 mm thick and has low mechanical strength, and is fixed to a head holder provided on an ink tank holder. And mounted on the carriage.

Usually, an adhesive is used to fix the holder and the recording head. However, the adhesive flows into an ink supply port formed in the flow path unit, and the ink is supplied from the ink tank to the recording head. In the case where a supply failure occurs or a plurality of actuator units are fixed in order to improve the recording density, the ink can be reliably and averaged from a single ink supply passage communicating with the ink cartridge to the plurality of actuator units. And there is a problem that air bubbles are likely to stagnate at the connection point.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to reliably supply ink to a recording head from an ink cartridge or an ink tank. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording head.

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, according to the present invention, a pressure is supplied from an external ink tank through an ink supply port, and the pressure is generated by a pressure generating means. and generating chamber, and the recording head body and said pressurized in the pressure generating chamber ink and a nozzle opening for ejecting an ink droplet, the said recording head
A recess for accommodating a body, the ink tank and the ink supply port being in communication with each other, and the recess of the recess facing the ink supply port .
The bottom surface surrounds the ink supply port, and a holder for the connecting port having a rim portion protruding from the ambient is formed, the outer periphery of the recording head, and the outer region of the edge of the connection opening
And so that fixed by applying an adhesive to and.

[0008]

The holder has a recess for accommodating the recording head body.
When surrounds the ink supply port in an area facing the ink supply opening of the recess bottom, and be connected port having a rim portion protruding from the surrounding formation, an adhesive is applied to the outer region of the edge By fixing the recording head main body, it is possible to prevent the adhesive from flowing into the inside of the ink supply port, and to securely adhere and fix the recording head main body to the holder.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of an ink jet recording head to which the present invention is applied. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a frame constituting a recording unit main body, which generally accommodates an ink cartridge 2. It is configured as a container forming the ink cartridge storage chamber 3.

An ink cartridge fixing lever 4 for fixing the ink cartridge 2 and pushing, pulling up, and fixing the ink cartridge 2 into the storage chamber 3 is provided near the upper side of the frame 1.

An ink supply needle 6 to be inserted into an ink needle insertion port 5 of the ink cartridge 2 is implanted on the bottom surface of the frame 1, and an ink flow path provided from the ink cartridge 2 to a head case 10 described later is provided. Ink can be supplied to the recording head main body 12 via the recording head 11.

A circuit board 13 on which a drive circuit for driving the recording head body 12 is mounted is fixed on the front side when mounted on the carriage, and is connected to the head body 12 by a flexible cable 14.

Reference numeral 10 denotes the above-described head case, which is formed by injection molding a polymer material having durability, a gas barrier property, an injection moldability, a heat welding property, and an adhesive property with respect to an ink solvent, for example, a cyclic olefin copolymer resin. The base 6a of the ink supply needle 6 is fixed so as to communicate with the ink flow path 11, and is fixed to the bottom surface of the frame 1 with screws 15,15.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the recording head body 12 described above, respectively.
The flow path unit is configured by laminating a nozzle plate 25 made of a metal material having a size at which at least three actuator units 31, 32, and 33 can be arranged without overlapping, a reservoir chamber forming substrate 26, and an ink supply port forming substrate 27. Have been.

The reservoir chamber forming substrate 26 is provided in the reservoir chamber 2
6a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f, a through hole, a nozzle opening, and pressure generating chambers 37a, 38
a, 39a, through holes 26g, 26h, 26i, 2
6j, 26k, and 26l are formed, and one surface of these through holes is sealed with the nozzle plate 25, and the other surface is sealed with the ink supply port forming substrate 27, thereby forming the reservoir chamber 26.
a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f.

The ink supply port forming substrate 27 has a unit fixing area for fixing the actuator units 31, 32, 33 and reservoir chambers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d,
Ink supply ports 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27e,
7f, and the unit fixing area includes reservoir chambers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, and 2f.
6e, 26f and pressure generating chambers 37a, 38a,
9a and through holes 27g, 27h, 27i, 27
j, 27k, 27l, and pressure generating chambers 37a, 38a,
Through holes 27m, 27n, 27o, 27p, 27q, 27r for connecting the nozzle 39a and the nozzle opening groups 21, 22, 23 are provided.

On the other hand, each actuator unit 31, 3
2, 33 are piezoelectric vibrators 34a, 35a, 36, respectively.
a are fixed to the surface, and spacers 3 forming pressure generating chambers 37a, 38a, 39a
7, 38, 39 and pressure generating chambers 37a, 38a, 39a
Of the reservoir chambers 26a,
6b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f and pressure generating chamber 3
Through holes 40a, 41 connecting 7a, 38a, 39a
a, 42a, through holes 40b connecting the nozzle opening groups 21, 22, 23 and the pressure generating chambers 37a, 38a, 39a,
The lid members 40, 41, and 42 provided with 41b and 42b are overlapped.

These actuator units 31, 3
As shown in FIG. 4, the recording heads 2 and 33 are fixed to the flow path unit 27 with an adhesive or the like, and are integrated as the recording head main body 12.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the joint structure between the head holder 10 and the recording head main body 12 described above, and a concave portion 52 substantially matching the outer periphery of the recording head main body 12 is formed on the lower surface of the head holder 10. Are formed, and the ink supply ports 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27f
A connection port 50 whose bottom communicates with the ink flow path 11 is provided at a position facing the ink passage 11.

The bottom surface 10 of the recess 52 is provided around the connection port 50.
a, for example, projecting by about 40 μm, and having a width of 15 μm.
The edges 50a and 50b of about 0 μm are
1 is formed so that the inner surface thereof is slightly outside the inner peripheral surface 11 a of the ink flow path 11.

Accordingly, a space 53 for absorbing the adhesive is formed on the inner periphery of the connection port 50, and a gap 54 for accommodating the adhesive is secured on the other side.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the connection port 50. The connection port 50 is formed as an elongate concave portion which descends as a symmetrical line C of the ink flow path 11 with a slight gradient on both sides from here, and has a longitudinal size. Are the ink supply ports 27a and 27c whose ends 50c are located here as shown in FIG.
f, the ink supply ports 27a, 27b, 27
The area is set slightly smaller than the areas c, 27d, 27e, and 27f.

On the other hand, the connection port 50 has a width equal to each of the ink supply ports 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27f.
Are slightly tapered at both ends, and edges 50a and 50b slightly protruding from the periphery are formed at the front end as described above.

As a result, when the adhesive 51 is applied to the bottom 10a of the concave portion 52 of the head holder 10 outside the connection port 50 and then the recording head main body 12 is inserted into the concave portion 52, the recording head main body 12 is formed. The positioning projections 50d, 50d of the head holder 10 are fitted into the positioning holes (not shown), and are set at predetermined positions.

By the way, the periphery of the connection port 50 is
Edges 50a, 50b slightly projecting from bottom surface 10a
, The holder 10 and the recording head body 12
Even if the adhesive 51 overflows at the time of bonding with the substrate, the edges 50a and 50b prevent the adhesive 51 from flowing into the connection port 50. Thereby, the ink supply ports 27a, 27b, 27
The connection area between c, 27d, 27e, 27f and connection port 50 can be defined by the size of edges 50a, 50b. Also, even if it flows out, the edges 50a, 5
Since the space 0b is located outside the inner peripheral surface 11a of the ink supply port 11 and the space 51a is formed, the space 51a is absorbed by the space 51a and is prevented from flowing into the ink supply port 11.

In the recording head thus configured, when ink is consumed by printing, ink flows from the ink cartridge 20 into the connection port 50 via the ink supply needle 6 and the ink flow path 11, and the head body 12 Ink supply ports 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e,
27f, reservoir chambers 26a, 26b, 26c,
Flow into 26d, 26e, 26f.

The connection port 50 has a longitudinal end 50.
c and 50c, they are slightly tapered and are positioned so as to slightly overlap the ink supply ports 27a and 27f at both ends, so that no stagnation occurs at the end of the connection port 50, Both ends 50c, 50
Air bubbles do not stagnate in c.

On the other hand, the longitudinal edge 50 of the connection port 50
a, 50b, in this embodiment, the edge 50b is connected to the ink supply ports 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27.
f, so that at least the ink supply ports 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27
e, stagnation of ink on the 27f side is eliminated, and stagnation of air bubbles affecting printing can be prevented.

In the above-described embodiment, the edges 50a and 50b formed on the peripheral edge of the ink supply port 11 are located slightly outside the inner peripheral surface 11a of the ink supply port 11 so as to absorb the adhesive. While the space 53 is secured, a gap 54 for accommodating the adhesive is positively formed on the other side. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the gap 54 matches the inner peripheral surface 11a of the ink supply port 11. Even if the edges 50a, 50b are formed, as long as the adhesive is applied as thinly as possible,
Inconvenience such as making the ink supply port 11 narrow does not occur. Further, even if the gap 54 for accommodating the adhesive on the other side is not particularly provided, this is a mere fixing portion, and even if the adhesive flows out, it does not affect the flow of the ink, so that there is no practical problem.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The edge formed around the connection port prevents the adhesive from flowing into the connection port and the ink supply port, and records
The head body can be adhesively fixed to the holder .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording head of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink jet recording head of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view showing one embodiment of a recording head body used for the recording head.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the recording head body according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a fixing portion between the recording head main body and the head holder.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing a connection structure between an ink supply port of a recording head body and a connection port of a head holder, respectively.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a positional relationship between an end of a connection port of a head holder and an ink supply port.

FIG. 8 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention by a structure of a fixing portion between a recording head main body and a head holder.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 frame 2 ink cartridge 6 ink supply needle 10 head holder 11 ink supply flow path 12 recording head 20 flow path unit 21, 22, 23 nozzle opening group 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f reservoir chamber 27a, 27b, 27c , 27d, 27e, 27f Ink supply port 31, 32, 33 Actuator unit 50 Connection port 50a, 50b Edge 51 Adhesive 52 Recording head main body recess

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yoshikatsu Yamamoto 3-5-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko Epson Corporation (56) References JP-A-62-111758 (JP, A) JP-A-5-338177 (JP, A) JP-A-4-316854 (JP, A) JP-A-6-234210 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2 / 045 B41J 2/055 B41J 2/16

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pressure generating chamber for receiving ink supply from an external ink tank through an ink supply port and pressurizing the ink by a pressure generating means, and converting the ink pressurized in the pressure generating chamber into ink droplets. A recording head main body having a nozzle opening for discharging, a concave portion for accommodating the recording head main body, a communication between the ink tank and an ink supply port, and a supply of the ink to a bottom surface of the concave portion facing the ink supply port. Surround your mouth,
And an ink jet printer comprising: a holder having a connection port having an edge protruding from the periphery thereof; and a holder formed by applying an adhesive to the outer periphery of the recording head and an area outside the edge of the connection port. Type recording head. 2. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion for absorbing an adhesive is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the connection port. 3. The recording head body includes a spacer forming a pressure generating chamber, an elastic plate having a piezoelectric vibrating plate for sealing and deforming one surface of the spacer, and the other surface of the spacer. An actuator unit integrally formed with a lid member to be sealed, a reservoir chamber forming substrate forming a reservoir chamber, and sealing of one surface of the reservoir chamber forming substrate and supply of ink from an ink tank. A nozzle having an ink supply port for receiving the ink, the ink supply port forming substrate on which the actuator unit is fixed, and a nozzle opening group for sealing the other surface of the reservoir chamber forming substrate and communicating with the pressure generating chamber. A flow path unit formed integrally with a plate, wherein the actuator unit is fixed to the flow path unit. Item 2. An ink jet recording head according to Item 1. 4. The ink jet recording head according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of actuator units are fixed to the flow path unit, and the connection port is formed to be elongated so as to cover each ink supply port. 5. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the connection port is formed so that an edge thereof straddles the ink supply ports at both ends. 6. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the connection port is formed such that an edge in the width direction is in contact with one end of the ink supply port.