JP3440744B2 - Ink jet recording head and method of manufacturing the same - 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 that ejects ink from an ink ejection port for recording and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional ink jet recording head, a substrate on which elements for generating energy for ink ejection are arranged and a nozzle top plate provided with grooves for forming nozzles corresponding to the respective elements are joined. The composition is known. Some of the joining of the substrate and the nozzle top plate uses, for example, an adhesive, but there is a problem that the adhesive protrudes into the ink flow path and blocks the flow path to cause defective ink ejection. . Therefore, for example, JP-A-6-14354
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6, a nozzle top plate is pressed against a substrate by a spring member so that the nozzle top plate and the substrate are joined.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a conventional ink jet recording head, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the same. In the figure, 1 is a substrate, 2 is a nozzle top plate, 3 is a heat dissipation plate,
Reference numeral 21 is an ink supply port, 22 is a joint portion, 31 is a spring member, 32 is a nozzle top plate pressing portion, 33 is a claw portion, 34 is a hole portion, and 35 is an ink flow path member.

A heating element for heating ink is arranged on the substrate 1. Further, on the nozzle top plate 2, a groove serving as an ink flow path corresponding to the heating elements arranged on the substrate 1, a nozzle hole for ejecting ink, and an ink for supplying ink to the ink flow path. The supply port 21 and the like are formed. The heat dissipation plate 3 promotes heat dissipation of the substrate 1, and is also provided with wiring for power and electric signals to be supplied to the heating elements on the substrate 1. The spring material 31 is used to press the nozzle top plate 2 against the substrate 1. In the spring material 31,
A nozzle top plate pressing portion 32 for pressing the nozzle top plate 2, a claw portion 33 for locking to the back surface of the heat dissipation plate 3, and a hole portion 34 for injecting a sealant or passing a pipe that serves as an ink flow path. Etc. are provided. The ink flow path member 35 includes the ink tank 2
6 is provided, and an ink supply path connecting the ink supply port 21 of the nozzle top plate 2 and the joint part 22 is formed.

At the time of assembly, for example, the substrate 1 is placed on the heat dissipation plate 3.
After mounting, the nozzle top plate 2 is aligned and bonded to the substrate 1, the nozzle top plate 2 is pressed against the substrate 1 by the spring material 31. At this time, the claw portion 33 of the spring material 31 is locked to the back surface of the heat dissipation plate 3, and the nozzle top plate pressing portion 32 abuts the nozzle top plate 2 in the locked state, and the elastic force of the spring material 31 causes the nozzle Press the top plate 2. As a result, the substrate 1 is sandwiched between the nozzle top plate 2 and the heat radiating plate 3 and pressed and fixed.

After that, the ink flow path member 35 is attached,
The ink supply path in the ink flow path member 35 and the ink supply port 21 of the nozzle top plate 2 are connected. Further, a sealant is injected into the ink flow path member 35, and the periphery of the ink supply port 21 and
A bonding portion or the like that connects the substrate 1 and the wiring on the heat sink 3 is sealed. In this way, the inkjet recording head is manufactured.

However, such a conventional ink jet recording head has the following drawbacks. For example, the claw portion 33 of the spring material 31 is locked to the heat dissipation plate 3 when the spring material 31 is mounted, but a large load is required to lock the claw portion 33 when the spring material 31 is mounted. . If such a large load is applied to the nozzle top plate 2 when the spring member 31 is attached, there is a problem that the attached nozzle top plate 2 positioned on the substrate 1 is displaced. When a load is applied when the spring material 31 is attached, the upper portion of the spring material 31 bends, and the force applied to the nozzle top plate 2 is not limited to the direction of pressing the substrate 1 as shown by the thick arrow in FIG. The leftward force in the figure is generated toward the opening. This force acts in a direction to push the nozzle top plate 2 from the substrate 1 toward the nozzle hole, and causes a positional shift. This misalignment may change the length of the individual flow path, affect the ink ejection characteristics, or make it impossible to seal the lower part of the nozzle hole to cause crosstalk or ink leakage.

In addition, when the pawl portion 33 is locked to the heat dissipation plate 3, only one side is elastically deformed and becomes unstable, and the nozzle top plate pressing portion 32 may not uniformly press the nozzle top plate 2. . In such a state, the nozzle top plate pressing portion 32 generates a force in the arrangement direction of the flow paths with respect to the nozzle top plate 2, and the positional relationship between the heating elements and the individual flow paths is deviated, and the ink ejection characteristics. Becomes worse. Further, if the locking of the claw portion 33 is unstable, the load pressing the nozzle top plate 2 becomes non-uniform, and a gap is created between the nozzle top plate 2 and the substrate 1, so that normal printing operation is performed. It may not be possible. Furthermore, the claw portion 3
There is also a problem that the substrate 1 is damaged because a large load is suddenly applied to lock the substrate 3.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to reliably join a nozzle top plate and a substrate together without causing a positional deviation between the nozzle top plate and the substrate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a high quality inkjet recording head and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate having an ejection element for ejecting ink,
Inkjet having a heat dissipation plate for radiating heat of the substrate, a nozzle top plate having an ink ejection port, and an ink flow channel member having an ink supply channel for supplying ink to the ink ejection port The recording head has a pressing member that presses the vicinity of the ink ejection port of the nozzle top plate against the substrate, and the pressing member is axially supported by the ink flow path member behind the ink ejection port and A spring member for generating a load is attached to the nozzle top plate, and the pressing member, together with a pressing portion that presses the nozzle top plate, includes a rotary shaft that is axially supported by the ink flow path member. The present invention is characterized in that a leg portion extending in a direction different from that of the pressing portion is provided at the center, and the leg portion is provided with an engaging portion for engaging with the heat dissipation plate. According to a second aspect of the invention, a substrate provided with an ejection element for ejecting ink, a heat dissipation plate for radiating heat of the substrate, a nozzle top plate having an ink ejection port, and In a method for manufacturing an inkjet recording head having an ink flow path member in which an ink supply flow path for supplying ink to an ink ejection port is formed, the substrate is placed on the heat dissipation plate,
Positioning and mounting the nozzle top plate on the substrate,
An ink supply flow path for supplying ink to the ink ejection port is formed, and a pressing member that presses the vicinity of the ink ejection port of the nozzle top plate against the substrate causes a load on the nozzle top plate. With the spring member, the pressing member is pressed against the ink flow path member that is axially supported behind the ink ejection port by using a jig that presses the pressing member behind the shaft supporting portion of the pressing member. The pressure member is rotated to release the load on the nozzle top plate, and the ink flow path member is mounted in that state,
The jig is moved to release the pressing of the pressing member and the pressing member is rotated to increase the pressing force to the nozzle top plate, and the pressing member causes the vicinity of the ink discharge port of the nozzle top plate. Is pressed against the substrate. In this specification, the nozzle hole side is referred to as the front and the opposite side is referred to as the rear.

[0011]

1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording head of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. 5 and 6 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. 4 is a pressing member, 5
Is a spring, 6 is an ink flow path member, 11 is a nozzle top plate pressing portion, 12 is an arm portion, 13 is a rotating shaft, 14 is a leg portion, 15 is a locking portion, 23 is a groove, and 24 is a jig pressing hole. , 25 are sealant injection holes.

The ink flow path member 6 pivotally supports the rotating shaft 13 of the pressing member 4 and the spring 5. Further, a joint portion 22 connected to an ink tank (not shown), an ink flow path pipe for supplying ink from the joint portion 22 to the ink supply port 21 provided in the nozzle top plate 2, and the like are formed. An ink flow path from the tank to the nozzle hole is configured. Further, a jig pressing hole 24 and a sealant injection hole 25 are provided. The jig pressing hole 24 is a hole for inserting a jig for rotating the pressing member in a direction for releasing the load of the pressing member 4 on the nozzle top plate 2. The sealant injection hole 25 is a hole for injecting the sealant into the space inside the ink flow path member 6 after assembly.

The pressing member 4 is a member for pressing the nozzle top plate 2 against the substrate 1. The pressing member 4 is different from the nozzle top plate pressing portion 11 that contacts the nozzle top plate 2, the arm portion 12 that connects the nozzle top plate pressing portion 11 and the rotation shaft 13, and the arm portion with respect to the rotation shaft 13. Direction extending leg 14 and leg 1
An engaging portion 15 is provided at the tip of 4 and engages with the heat dissipation plate 3. The rotary shaft 13 is attached to the ink flow path member 6 together with the spring 5. The mounting position is a position away from the nozzle discharge port provided in the nozzle top plate 2.
The nozzle top plate pressing portion 11 rotates about the rotation shaft 13. The leg portion 14 is inserted into the groove 23 provided in the heat radiating plate 3, and the locking portion 15 provided at the tip portion locks on the back surface of the heat radiating plate 3. The locking portion 15 may not be provided. Further, the leg portion 14 is configured to prevent the pressing member 4 from bending when pressing the nozzle top plate 2 and to press the nozzle top plate 2 with a uniform force. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the pressing member. In this example, the arm 12 and the leg 14 are formed in a flat plate shape. Thereby, the rigidity of the pressing member 4 can be increased, and the bending of the pressing member 4 when pressing the nozzle top plate 2 can be further prevented. Note that FIG.
Shows an example in which the locking portion 15 is not provided.

The spring 5 is attached to the ink flow path member 6 together with the rotating shaft 13 of the pressing member 4, and the nozzle top plate pressing portion 11 of the pressing member 4 urges the nozzle top plate 2 in the direction of pressing it toward the substrate 1. is doing. Since the pressing member 4 rotates about the rotating shaft 13, a force acts in a tangential direction of a diameter connecting the contacting part and the rotating shaft 13 at a portion where the nozzle top plate pressing portion 11 is in contact with the nozzle top plate 2. , As indicated by the thick arrow in FIG.
A rearward component force acts on the nozzle top plate 2.
At the time of joining the nozzle top plate 2 and the substrate 1, the nozzle top plate 2 is moved to the right in FIG. 1 so that the nozzle top plate 2 is brought into contact with the side surface of the substrate 1 or a protective layer or the like formed on the substrate 1. Positioning in the left-right direction in FIG. The pressure applied by the pressing member 4 is a force in the direction for aligning the nozzle top plate 2, and therefore acts in a direction in which the positional relationship between the substrate 1 and the nozzle top plate 2 is maintained. As a result, when the nozzle top plate 2 is pressed, the nozzle top plate 2 is prevented from being displaced and causing ejection failure as in the conventional case, the yield is improved, and accurate alignment is maintained, so that high quality is achieved. An inkjet recording head is obtained.

The spring 5 is not limited to the spiral spring wound around the rotary shaft 13 of the pressing member 4, but various springs such as a leaf spring and a coil spring can be used. Depending on the type of spring, the rotary shaft 13 can be used. It can also be provided at a position other than.
Further, the pressing member 4 may be biased by using a biasing means other than the spring.

Next, an example of a manufacturing method in the embodiment of the ink jet recording head of the present invention will be described. First, the substrate 1 is provided with a heating element (not shown), current-carrying electrodes, a protective layer, etc. by an LSI process or the like.
On the other hand, the outer shape of the nozzle top plate 4 and the ink supply port 21 are formed by resin molding. Grooves serving as individual ink channels corresponding to the heating elements are formed on the substrate 1 side, the nozzle top plate 4 side, or both sides thereof. The nozzle holes can be formed at the time of molding the nozzle top plate 4 or after molding by laser processing or the like.

The substrate 1, the nozzle top plate 4, and the heat dissipation plate 3 thus manufactured are assembled. The substrate 1 is bonded onto the heat dissipation plate 3 with an adhesive having good thermal conductivity. Further, the nozzle top plate 4 is positioned and attached to the substrate 1. After combining the substrate 1 and the nozzle top plate 4,
You may join on the heat sink 3. At this point, the nozzle top plate 4 and the substrate 1 are not yet completely joined. Temporary fixing can be performed in order to prevent displacement.

Next, the ink flow path member 6 is mounted. Figure 4
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an ink flow path member mounting step in the example of the manufacturing method according to the embodiment of the inkjet recording head of the present invention. In the figure, 26 is a jig. As described above, the pressing member 4 urged by the spring 5 is attached to the ink flow path member 6. Before mounting the ink flow path member 6, the jig 26 is inserted through the jig pressing hole 24, and the tip of the jig 26 is placed behind the rotary shaft 13 of the pressing member 4 as shown in FIG. Contact and pressurize. As a result, the pressing member 4 rotates in the direction in which the load on the nozzle top plate 2 is released. While maintaining this state, the ink flow path member 6 is mounted on the heat dissipation plate 3 so that the leg portions 14 of the pressing member 4 are inserted into the grooves 23 of the heat dissipation plate 3. At this time, the nozzle top plate 4 is mounted so that the ink supply port 21 and the ink flow path pipe in the ink flow path member 6 are connected. As a method of attaching the ink flow path member 6, for example, a UV curable adhesive or an instant adhesive can be used. Alternatively, various fixing methods can be used, such as providing a locking portion on the ink flow path member 6 and locking it on the heat dissipation plate 3. At this time, the pressing member 4 does not apply a load to the nozzle top plate 2.

After fixing the ink flow path member 6, the jig 2 is gradually
Release the pressure of 6 and pull out slowly. Pressing member 4
Is rotated by the urging force of the spring 5, and after the nozzle top plate pressing portion 11 contacts the nozzle top plate 2, the load is gradually applied to the nozzle top plate 2. At this time, since the force applied to the nozzle top plate 2 by the pressing member 4 has a component directed to the rear, the nozzle top plate 2 is not displaced to the front as in the conventional case, and the positioning is conversely maintained. When the jig 26 is pulled out, the pressing member 4 presses the nozzle top plate 2 against the substrate 1 by the urging force of the spring 5, so that the nozzle top plate 2 and the substrate 1 are joined. The pressing force at the time of this joining is set to a level that allows good joining at the portions separating the individual ink flow paths corresponding to the respective heating elements. As a specific example, for example, 2k
If it was about gf or more, no gap was generated between the individual ink flow paths. Further, by gradually increasing the load as described above, it is possible to prevent damage to the substrate 1 and the like. For example, assuming that the load at which the substrate 1 breaks is about 8 kgf, the substrate 1 was not broken in the manufacturing method of the present invention in which the load is gradually increased to 2 kgf.

The ink flow path member 6 is attached to the nozzle top plate 2
After press-bonding to the substrate 1, the sealant is injected into the ink flow path member 6 from the sealant injection hole 25 of the ink flow path member 6, and the periphery of the ink supply port 21 of the nozzle top plate 2 and the substrate. 1 and the electrical connection between the wiring provided on the heat sink 3 and the like are sealed. In addition, the ink flow path member 6 can be fixed by this sealing. In this sealing step or another step, the gap between the nozzle top plate 2 and the side surface of the substrate 1 on the nozzle hole side is sealed with a sealant. As a sealing agent used for these sealing, a room temperature curing type silicone type or epoxy type can be used.
In this way, the inkjet recording head can be manufactured.

In the above example, the jig 26 presses the rear side of the rotating shaft 13 of the pressing member 4; however, for example, the front side of the rotating shaft 13 of the pressing member 4 is pulled up by the jig. However, it can be assembled in the same way.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the pressing member is axially supported on the ink flow path member behind the ink ejection port, and the nozzle top plate is rotated by the force of the spring member. Since the nozzle top plate and the substrate are pressed against each other, the nozzle top plate and the substrate can be surely pressed and joined without causing the positional displacement between the nozzle top plate and the substrate. As a result, it is possible to obtain an inkjet recording head having good ink ejection characteristics and capable of obtaining a high quality image.

Further, during manufacturing, the pressing member can be displaced by a jig and a load can be gradually applied to the nozzle top plate, so that positional deviation can be reduced and damage to the substrate or the like can be prevented, thus improving the yield. Thus, it is possible to manufacture an ink jet recording head having uniform quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an inkjet recording head of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an inkjet recording head of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of a pressing member.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an ink flow path member mounting step in an example of the manufacturing method in the embodiment of the inkjet recording head of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a conventional inkjet recording head.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional inkjet recording head.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 ... Substrate, 2 ... Nozzle top plate, 3 ... Heat dissipation plate, 4 ... Pressing member, 5 ... Spring, 6 ... Ink flow path member, 11 ... Nozzle top plate pressing part, 12 ... Arm part, 13 … Rotation axis, 14… Legs, 15
... Locking part, 21 ... Ink supply port, 22 ... Joint part,
23 ... Groove, 24 ... Jig pressing hole, 25 ... Sealant injection hole,
26 ... jig.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/05 B41J 2/16

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A substrate provided with an ejection element for ejecting ink, a heat radiating plate for radiating heat of the substrate, a nozzle top plate having an ink ejection port, and an ink for the ink ejection port. In an ink jet recording head having an ink flow path member in which an ink supply flow path for supplying is formed, a pressing member for pressing the vicinity of the ink discharge port of the nozzle top plate against the substrate, the pressing member, A spring member for axially supporting the ink flow path member behind the ink ejection port and generating a load on the nozzle top plate is mounted, and the pressing member presses the nozzle top plate. Together with the pressing portion, a leg portion extending in a direction different from that of the pressing portion about a rotation shaft pivotally supported by the ink flow path member is provided, and the leg portion is locked to the heat dissipation plate. A locking part is provided Inkjet recording head characterized in that 2. A substrate provided with an ejection element for ejecting ink, a heat radiating plate for radiating heat of the substrate, a nozzle top plate having an ink ejection port, and ink to the ink ejection port. In a method of manufacturing an inkjet recording head having an ink flow path member in which an ink supply flow path for supplying is formed, the substrate is placed on the heat dissipation plate, and the nozzle top plate is aligned on the substrate. An ink supply channel for mounting the ink is formed to supply ink to the ink ejection port, and a pressing member for pressing the vicinity of the ink ejection port of the nozzle top plate against the substrate applies a load to the nozzle top plate. A jig that presses the pressing member rearward of the shaft supporting portion of the pressing member with respect to the ink flow path member axially supported rearward of the ink ejection port together with a spring member for generating The pressing member is pressed to rotate the pressing member to release the load on the nozzle top plate, the ink flow path member is mounted in that state, and the jig is moved to press the pressing member. And the pressing member is rotated to increase the pressing force with respect to the nozzle top plate, and the pressing member presses the vicinity of the ink ejection port of the nozzle top plate against the substrate. Recording head manufacturing method.