JP3512059B2 - 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 in which a pressure generating chamber, which receives ink supplied from an ink tank, is pressurized by pressure generating means such as a piezoelectric vibrator or a heating element to eject an ink droplet from a nozzle communication opening. Type recording head, more specifically, a head main body that ejects ink droplets, and a head holder that doubles as a mounting member that fixes the head main body to a carriage and an ink supply path forming member that transports ink from an ink tank to the head main body Regarding the structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an ink jet recording head found in JP-A-62-111758 discloses a spacer for partitioning a pressure generating chamber and one surface of the spacer, and
An elastic plate having a piezoelectric vibrating plate arranged corresponding to the pressure generating chamber, an actuator unit including a lid plate sealing the other surface, and an ink supply port forming substrate connected to a flow path communicating with the ink tank. The flow path unit is configured by integrating a reservoir chamber forming substrate that defines a reservoir chamber that supplies ink to the pressure generating chamber and a nozzle plate having a nozzle communication opening that communicates with the pressure generating chamber.

The ink jet type recording head having such a laminated structure typically has a thickness of about 0.5 mm and a low mechanical strength, so that it is fixed to a head holder which also serves as an ink supply path. It is fixed to the carriage.

FIG. 11 shows an example of such an ink jet recording head. Adhesives C, C, C are applied to a recess B formed in the communication opening surface of the head holder A, and the recess is formed. A head body D is inserted and fixed in B.

[0005]

For this reason, the end face F of the ink supply channel E of the head holder A and the recording head body D are formed.
The adhesive C flows into the ink supply path side from the end surface H of the ink supply port G, which causes an obstacle in the ink supply from the ink tank to the recording head body D, or requires a precise adhesive coating operation. There is a problem that the manufacturing process becomes complicated. In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to fit packing between the head holder and the recording head main body, but the rigidity is extremely low, so handling and positioning becomes difficult, and sealing becomes uncertain. There is also a problem that the work efficiency is extremely lowered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to simplify the work for positioning and reliably seal the recording head body and the head holder. An object is to provide an ink jet recording head.

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, according to the present invention, ink is supplied from the outside through an ink guide hole, and the pressure is generated by the pressure generating means to press the ink to form an ink droplet from the nozzle communication opening. A recording head body that discharges ink, an ink supply path that conveys ink from the outside and that has a communication opening that communicates with the ink guide hole, and a fixed surface that supports the peripheral area of the recording head body. An ink jet recording head comprising a head holder, the head holder having at least a concave portion concentric with the communication opening, and having a shape substantially the same as the head fixing surface of the head holder, facing the communication opening. Of plate-shaped aggregate with through holes in the area to
A packing having a sealing portion in which an elastic material is laminated so as to surround the through hole is interposed, and the sealing portion is positioned by the recess.
The recording head body is fixed to the head holder in a state in which the recording head body is pressed and the sealing portion is pressed.

[0008]

[Function] The packing ensures rigidity by the aggregate,
The sealing portion is accurately aligned with the concave portion, and the sealing portion is pressed by the recording head main body, so that the communication opening and the ink guide hole of the recording head main body are connected in a liquid-tight state.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ink jet type recording apparatus using the recording head of the present invention, in which a carriage 1 is connected to a motor 3 via a timing belt and guided by a guide member 4 to perform recording. The medium 5 is reciprocally movable in the width direction. A recording head main body 7 is fixed to a surface of the carriage 1 facing the recording medium 5 via a head holder 6, and an ink cartridge 8 is detachably mounted on the upper surface.
In the figure, reference numeral 9 indicates a capping device, and reference numeral 1
0 indicates a cleaning blade, respectively.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the carriage holder 6, with the ink cartridge 8 on the upper surface.
Ink supply needle 11 engaging with the ink supply ports 8a to 8e of
~ 16 have been planted. Filter chambers 11a to 16a are formed on the downstream side of the ink supply needles, and ink supply passages 23 to 28 having communication openings 17 to 22 are formed on the recording head fixing surface 40 of the head holder 6 from there.

The ink guide holes 34, 34, 34, ... Of the ink jet recording head body 7 are made to communicate with the communication openings 17 to 22 through a seal described later, and the head body is fixed to the head holder 6. ing. Reference numeral 29 in the drawing denotes a fixed frame having a window 29a in a region facing the nozzle communication opening.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the above-mentioned recording head main body, in which the recording head main body has a plurality of flow passage units 30 also serving as a fixed substrate, and in this embodiment, 3
It is composed of one pressure generating unit 31, 31, 31. The flow passage unit 30 has a plurality of rows, that is, six rows in this embodiment, in which the nozzle communication openings 32 are arranged at a predetermined pitch, communicates with the pressure generation unit 31 through the ink supply port 33, and through the ink guide hole 34. A reservoir 35 that receives the ink supply from the outside is formed. Further, the pressure generating unit 31 includes a spacer 37 that forms the pressure generating chamber 36, a first lid plate 38 that seals one surface of the spacer 37, and a second lid body 39 that seals the other surface. Are laminated, and pressure generating means, which is the piezoelectric vibrator P in this embodiment, is fixed to the surface of the first lid 38.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the head holder. The head holder 6 is formed by injection-molding a polymer material, and is in contact with the outer periphery of the recording head main body 7 to have a central region. A cavity 41 accommodating the pressure generating unit 31
The fixed surface 40 is formed on the outer periphery so as to form
The ink guide holes 34, 34, 34, ... Of the recording head body 7
.. are opposed to each other when the recording head main body is positioned at the reference position.
Communication openings 17 to 22 are formed at positions opposed to.

Further, in the vicinity of the communication openings 17 to 22 and in the vicinity of the window portion 41, the flow path unit 3 of the recording head main body 7 is provided.
A protrusion 42 that abuts 0 to define the reference height and a ridge 43 that surrounds the inner peripheral surface of the window 41 are formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a tapered concave portion 44 is formed concentrically on the outer periphery of each of the communication openings 17 to 22 so as to expand upward. Further, a positioning protrusion 45 is formed at a predetermined position, and a positioning protrusion 46 is formed outside the fixing surface 40.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the packing 50, in which a metal plate such as non-rust steel having the same shape as the upper surface of the fixing surface 40 of the head holder is used as the aggregate 51 and the window 52 is formed. Among the inner edges, on the three sides that do not face the communication openings 17 to 22,
Using the aggregate 51 as a central layer, elastic materials such as rubber are laminated so as to be aligned with the inner edge with a thickness that functions as a packing in a sandwich form to form the sealing portion 53, and the holes of the communication openings 17 to 22 are formed. To the area facing the
A through hole 54 slightly larger than the inner diameter of 22 is bored, and a sealing portion 53a slightly thicker than the depth of the recess 44 is formed on the back surface side on the back surface side, and on the front surface side, as shown in FIG. An annular sealing portion 53b having the same thickness as the outer peripheral portion is formed.

Further, a through hole 55 and a positioning through hole 56 are formed at positions facing the projection 42 of the head holder 6 and the positioning projection 45.

In this embodiment, when the positioning holes are fitted in the positioning protrusions of the head holder 6 and the packing 50 is aligned with the fixing surface 40 of the head holder 6, the rigidity is secured by the aggregate 51 such as metal. From the sealing portion 53
a is precisely aligned and penetrates into the recess 44.

In this state, the positioning hole 30a of the recording head body 7 is inserted into the projection 45 for positioning, and the frame 29
When the recording head main body 7 is pressed and fixed to the head holder 6 by the, the flow path unit 30 descends to a certain height defined by the projection 42 and the ridge 43, and the sealing portion 53 is pressed by the flow path unit 30. Then, the communication openings 17 to 22 and the respective ink guide holes 34 of the recording head body 7 are connected in a liquid-tight state.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
If the same taper 53c is formed on the surface opposed to the taper portion 44a, the taper portion 53 of the sealing portion 53a will be pressed by the recording head body 7 as shown in FIG. 8B.
Since c is in close contact with the recess 44, reliable sealing can be obtained.

9 and 10 show the head holder of the present invention,
And another embodiment of the packing, in which the head holder 6 is engaged with a sealing portion 53 formed annularly along the inside of the window 52 of the packing 50 shown in FIG. The groove 60 is formed, and the protrusion 47 that defines the reference height is formed only in the region facing the recess 44 formed around the communication openings 17 to 22. The groove 60 has a trapezoidal cross section with an upwardly widening cross section, and is configured so that the sealing portion 53 can be fitted easily.

In this embodiment, when the head holder 6 is fitted with the positioning holes in the positioning protrusions and the packing 50 is aligned with the fixing surface 40 of the head holder 6, the rigidity is secured by the aggregate 51 such as metal. From the sealing part 5
3, 53a are accurately aligned and penetrate the groove 60 and the recess 44.

In this state, when the positioning hole 56 of the recording head main body 7 is inserted into the projection 45 for positioning, and the recording head main body 7 is pressed and fixed to the head holder 6 by the frame 29, the sealing portion 53 makes the groove 60. It is securely fixed by fitting to. Then, when the recording head body 7 is elastically pressed to a certain height defined by the protrusion 42 and the ridge portion 43, the sealing portion 53
Is pressed by the flow path unit 30, and the communication opening 17 to
22 and each ink guide hole 34 of the recording head body 7 are connected in a liquid-tight state.

Since the recording head body 7 is fixed to the holder 6 by the frame body 19 in the above embodiment,
By removing the fixed frame 19, the head body 7 can be easily
Can be removed from the holder 6 and replaced with a new one, but if replacement is not necessary, the positioning projection 45 protruding from the positioning hole 30a of the recording head body 7 is melted without using a fixing frame. Alternatively, it may be solidified and fixed.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the recording head main body using the piezoelectric vibrator which flexibly displaces in the pressure generating means has been described as an example. However, the piezoelectric vibrator in the longitudinal vibration mode which displaces in the axial direction, and It can be applied to a recording head body using a heating element.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention ,
It can be accurately aligned to the concave portion of the sealing portion to secure the rigidity of the packing by the aggregate and liquid-tight ink induction hole of the recording head body and the communication opening is pressed by the recording head body a seal Can be connected in the state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording head of the present invention. .

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of a head holder.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a recording head body.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the same recording head body as above.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a head holder in a structure of a mounting surface of a recording head main body.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of packing.

7A to 7C are views showing a cross-sectional shape in the vicinity of a recess, a structure of a packing in the vicinity of a region of the head holder that fits in the recess, and a recording head body in the head holder. It is a figure which shows the fixed state.

8A and 8B are views showing another embodiment of the packing in relation to the recess of the head holder, and a state in which the head main body is fixed to the head holder.

FIG. 9 is a view showing another embodiment of the head holder in the structure of the fixing surface of the recording head main body.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an embodiment of packing suitable for the head holder of the same.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional recording head.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 head holder 7 Recording head body 17-22 Communication opening 23-28 ink supply path 29 Frame for fixing 40 Fixed surface 42 Projection for standard height regulation 43 Convex ridges for standard height regulation 44 recess 50 packing 51 aggregate 52 windows 53, 53a, 53b Sealing part 54 through holes

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-9-85945 (JP, A) JP-A-5-246044 (JP, A) JP-A-9-123463 (JP, A) JP-A-6- 101799 (JP, A) JP 8-170732 (JP, A) JP 62-261761 (JP, A) JP 63-283910 (JP, A) Actual development JP 61-58659 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 58-149551 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 62-162458 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/16 B41J 2/045 B41J 2/055

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording head main body which receives ink supplied from the outside through an ink guide hole and pressurizes the ink by a pressure generating means to eject ink droplets from a nozzle communication opening, and conveys the ink from the outside. An ink jet recording head comprising: an ink supply path having a communication opening communicating with a guide hole; and a head holder having a fixing surface for supporting a peripheral region of the recording head body, wherein the head holder is at least the A plate-shaped aggregate having a communication opening and a concentric circular recess, having a shape substantially the same as the head fixing surface of the head holder, and having a through hole formed in a region facing the communication opening; and interposed gasket having a sealing portion where the elastic material is laminated to surround the through hole, repression of the sealing portion by aligning the sealing portion by the recess An ink jet recording head formed by fixing the recording head main body to the head holder in a state. 2. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein a regulation portion that supports the recording head main body is formed on the fixed surface at a position where the sealing portion is in an appropriate elastic pressure state. 3. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion has a taper portion that expands upward. 4. The ink jet recording head according to claim 3, wherein a taper portion that is substantially the same as the recess is formed on the outer surface of the sealing portion. 5. The head holder is provided with a recessed portion for accommodating the recording head main body in a central portion, the aggregate is provided with a window that coincides with an opening of the recessed portion, and an elastic material is laminated on an inner peripheral edge of the window. The inkjet recording head according to claim 1, wherein Wherein said head holder, according to claim 5 in which the grooves of the elastic material and fitted laminated on the inner peripheral edge is formed
The ink jet recording head according to 1.