JP3683941B2 - Ink jet head, ink jet cartridge having the head, and ink jet apparatus equipped with the head - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an ink jet head in which an ink path is formed by bonding a first base and a second base.
[0002]
The present invention also relates to an ink jet head cartridge in which an ink jet head that discharges ink when a recording signal is given and an ink tank that supplies ink to the head are integrally formed.
[0003]
Furthermore, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that mounts an ink jet cartridge and performs desired recording.
[0004]
[Prior art]
In the ink jet recording system, desired recording is performed by causing ink droplets to fly from fine discharge ports provided in a recording head and landing the ink droplets on recording paper.
[0005]
FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view schematically showing a part of an inkjet head used in the above-described inkjet recording method.
[0006]
In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1 denotes a substrate on which a plurality of ejection energy generating elements, for example, electrothermal conversion elements (not shown) are arranged. In FIG. 2, a plurality of ink discharge ports 9, a groove portion 7 a serving as an ink path 7 communicating with the ink discharge ports 9, a wall portion 7 b serving as an ink path wall, and a common liquid chamber 8 that supplies ink to the ink path 7 are integrated. It is a grooved top board made by. Reference numeral 3 denotes an Al support member for constructing and configuring each part. Reference numeral 4 denotes a spring plate-like member which is a means for mechanically pressure-bonding the substrate 1 and the grooved top plate 2 to form the ink path 7.
[0007]
This spring-made plate-like member 4 has a substantially U-shape, and the substrate 1 and the grooved top plate 2 are sandwiched and pressed from above and below in the joining direction. At that time, the spring-made plate-like member 4 applies pressure to the upper surface in a state of surface contact with the upper surface of the grooved top plate 2, and the substrate 1 and the grooved top plate 2 are joined by the pressing force. doing.
[0008]
With respect to such a joining method, the present inventors have already proposed that the end portion of the leaf spring is bent and the second base is pressed against the linear end surface (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 3-101955). Issue gazette). This is shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b).
[0009]
As shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b), the spring-made plate-like member 4 includes a plane portion 4 c substantially parallel to the upper surface of the grooved top plate 2, and a joint surface between the substrate 1 and the grooved top plate 2. The side surface 4d has a substantially U-shape, and the side surface 4d is further engaged with the support plate 3 to urge the spring plate member 4 with a pressing force. A portion 4e is provided. Further, the spring plate-like member 4 is provided with a linear pressure generating portion 6 that extends from the flat surface portion 4 c and is bent on the upper surface side of the grooved top plate 2. When the substrate 1 and the grooved top plate 2 are pressed and bonded by the linear pressure by the linear pressure generating portion 6, the stress of pressing is concentrated, and a uniform pressing force is obtained and reliable and highly reliable bonding is performed. .
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By such a method, the first substrate (substrate) having the discharge pressure generating portion and the second substrate (grooved top plate) having the groove serving as the liquid flow path are sufficiently achieved, Thus, it is disclosed that printing with very good quality without crosstalk is possible.
[0011]
However, in this method, sufficient quality was obtained with a grooved top plate having a size of about 50 to 100 channels, but about 150 channels were used to achieve higher speed printing. When a plurality of second substrates were prepared and tested, a gap was generated between the substrate and the grooved top plate due to insufficient adhesion, and separation between adjacent channels was insufficient, resulting in an ink channel. Crosstalk occurred between them, and the print quality was significantly deteriorated. This is presumably because the warpage and deformation at the time of molding increased due to the increase in the size of the grooved top plate, and the contact with the substrate was not sufficiently achieved by the pressing of the spring. In order to solve this problem, the spring pressure was increased, but just because the spring pressure was increased to a certain extent was not very effective. Further, when the spring pressure is increased, the substrate may be destroyed by the arm portion 4e, which is not desirable.
[0012]
The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and ensures the uniformity and certainty of the pressing force when the substrate 1 and the grooved top plate 2 are pressed and joined by the pressing member 4 as described above. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet head that can compensate and achieve high quality recording.
[0013]
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet head cartridge which is integrally provided with an ink tank for supplying ink to the ink jet head having excellent characteristics as described above and is replaceable with respect to the ink jet apparatus.
[0014]
It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet apparatus in which an ink jet head cartridge using an ink jet head having the above-described excellent characteristics is mounted and recording is performed.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of intensive efforts to achieve the above-mentioned object, the inventors of the present invention obtained a sufficient contact state by dividing a portion abutted by a spring into a plurality of resin-made grooved top plates. It is intended to be. That is, a plurality of ink ejection ports for ejecting ink, a plurality of ink paths communicating with the plurality of ink ejection ports, a plurality of ejection energy generating elements used for ejecting the ink, A first substrate having a plurality of ejection energy generating elements; a second substrate having grooves for forming the plurality of ink paths; and pressing and bonding the second substrate to the first substrate. In the ink jet head in which the ink path is formed by joining the first base and the second base, the second base is in contact with the press member. Proposed is an ink jet head characterized by having a plurality of protrusions that are crushed by the pressing force of the pressing member at the contacted portion, and receiving the pressing force of the pressing member at a plurality of points. Than it is. As a result, when a spring pressure is applied to the grooved top plate, the grooved top plate is easily deformed, so that even if there is a certain amount of warpage or deformation on the second substrate side, it is in close contact with the substrate. It is intended to improve.
[0016]
【Example】
(Reference example)
Hereinafter, a reference example of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the following reference examples and examples, ink will be described as an example of the liquid. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any liquid may be used as long as it is a liquid that can be discharged according to the principle of the present invention. . FIGS. 1A and 1B are an exploded perspective view and a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of an ink jet head according to a reference example of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a substrate (first base) provided with a plurality of discharge energy generating elements, in this example, electrothermal conversion elements, and is mainly composed of Si. A common ink chamber 2 stores a large number of ejection ports 9, a large number of flow paths (ink paths) 7, a groove section 7a serving as a flow path, a wall section 7b serving as an ink path wall, and ink for sending ink to each ink path. The grooved top plate 2 having the second substrate 8 is made of a molded product made of resin. Reference numeral 3 denotes an Al plate which is a support member for constructing each part to constitute a head, and 4 is a mechanical connection between the substrate 1 and the grooved top plate 2 in order to form an ink path 7 and a common ink chamber 8. A pressing member to be crimped to the plate, here a plate member made of spring, is used, and is made of metal such as phosphor bronze, stainless steel for spring, or FRP, for example. Reference numeral 5 denotes an adhesive for temporarily fixing the substrate 1 and the grooved top plate 2 and is a photo-curing adhesive.
[0017]
Further, in the grooved top plate 2 of the present invention, on the upper surface (the contact surface side of the pressing member), the direction in which the groove portion 10 intersects with the arrangement direction of the ink paths 7 as shown in the drawing (the direction that is substantially orthogonal is the most). (Preferably two are shown in the figure).
[0018]
In the head of this reference example, 128 discharge ports 9 are provided (in the drawing, five are provided for simplification), and ten grooves with one to five grooves 10 are formed, respectively. After assembly, the print quality was confirmed. At this time, the spring used is made of phosphor bronze and has a load of about 1.0 kg, and the depth of the groove portion 10 is about 30% of the length in the direction perpendicular to the substrate 1 joint surface of the grooved top plate 2. A thing was used. The result is shown in FIG. A comparative example in which no groove was formed was added.
[0019]
As is clear from FIG. 2, in the comparative example in which the groove 10 is not formed, 8 of the 10 heads are not of satisfactory quality and there are some solid differences, but there is a crosstalk with the adjacent nozzle. I was waking up. On the other hand, in the case where the groove portion 10 is provided, the improvement in the quality is clearly recognized as compared with the comparative example, and in particular, in the case where four or more groove portions 10 are provided, all of the 10 heads have very good print quality. showed that.
[0020]
The one with a larger number of grooves was better in quality, but this is none other than the good adhesion between the substrate and the grooved top plate. That is, it is considered that the larger number of grooves indicates that the contact state is better because deformation is easier when a constant spring load is applied. In order to further confirm this experimental fact, the present inventors conducted a simplified model experiment as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. In the figure, 21 is a block made of the same material as that of the above-mentioned grooved top plate (in this case, using polysulfone), with grooves as grooves (in this figure, two are shown), Both ends of this block were fixed (illustrated by 22), a load was applied to the central part on the opposite side, and the amount of deformation (the amount of warpage) was measured. The result is shown in FIG. As is apparent from this figure, it can be seen that the larger the number of grooves, the greater the deformation amount and the easier the deformation due to the load.
[0021]
In this connection, FIG. 5 shows the correlation with the amount of displacement when the groove depth is changed in the same model test. In this case, the number of grooves was fixed to two and the depth of the grooves was changed. The loads are 1 kg and 2 kg. As is obvious from the figure, the deeper one has a larger deformation amount as a matter of course.
[0022]
As described above, in order to improve the adhesion between the substrate and the grooved top plate with a constant spring load and to obtain a good print quality without crosstalk, the grooved top plate is easily deformed by providing a groove portion. The shape is effective. In this case, how to select and design the number and depth of the groove is a problem related to the design of the applied product, the strength of the spring that can be used, the amount of warpage of the grooved top plate, and the groove 10 What is necessary is just to choose the optimal thing which can be taken in design restrictions, such as flowability at the time of molding of resin.
[0023]
(Example)
In order to describe the embodiment of the present invention in detail, it will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a part of the ink jet head of the present invention. An element substrate 112 includes a plurality of ejection energy generating elements (electrothermal conversion elements in this example), and is mainly composed of Si. Reference numeral 113 denotes a plurality of ink discharge ports 101, a plurality of liquid flow paths, a groove serving as a liquid flow path, a wall portion serving as an ink path wall, and a groove having a common liquid chamber for storing ink for sending ink to each ink path. The attached member (top plate) 113 is made of a resin molded product. 111 is a base plate serving as a support member for constructing each part and constituting a head, and 114 is a mechanical pressure bonding of the heater board 112 and the top plate 113 to form a liquid flow path and a common liquid chamber. It is a pressing member such as a spring, and is made of, for example, phosphor bronze, spring stainless steel, FRP, or the like.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 12, the pressing member 114 has a folded end portion 114 </ b> A having a high steel property substantially parallel to the upper surface of the top plate 113. On the other hand, a plurality of convex portions 113C are provided on the top plate 113 on the spring member pressing portion side (opposite the groove portion). The element substrate 112 and the top plate 113 are pressed and joined by pressing the convex portion 113 </ b> C by the folded end portion 114 </ b> A of the pressing member 114. In this way, by receiving the pressing force of the pressing member 114 at a plurality of points, ink due to warpage or deformation on the pressing portion side by the pressing member of the top plate 113, or variation in accuracy due to the condition of the folded end portion 114A of the pressing member 114. Variations in the pressing force in the direction in which the discharge ports are arranged can be dispersed, and the entire vicinity of the ink discharge ports can be pressed with a uniform pressing force, and reliable and highly reliable joining is performed.
[0025]
In this embodiment, the pressing member 114 is made of spring stainless steel and generates a force of about 3 kg with a plate thickness of 0.35 mm. However, as described above, when the spring member pressing portion of the top plate 113 is configured as a flat surface as in the conventional case, the pressing is caused by the warp or deformation of the resin-made top plate 113 and the accuracy variation of the pressing member 114 folded end portion 114A. It was difficult to join with a uniform pressing force over the entire region in the direction in which the discharge ports were aligned because the pressure was partially concentrated. However, in the present embodiment, a plurality of elongated portions in a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the liquid flow paths are formed at the portion where the folded end portion 114A of the pressing member 114 contacts the pressing member pressing portion of the grooved top plate 113. By providing the convex portion 113C in the direction along the arrangement direction of the liquid flow path, the folding end portion 114A of the pressing member due to warpage or deformation of the top plate 113, or the accuracy variation of the pressing member 114, and the convex portion of the top plate 113 The portion with a strong contact with 113C is larger than the other portions, and the projection 113C is crushed, and the pressing force is dispersed in the direction in which the ink discharge ports are arranged as a whole, so that the bonding can be performed with a more uniform pressing force. Further, it is preferable that the position where the folded end portion 114 </ b> A of the pressing member 114 presses at least the liquid flow path region formed by joining the element substrate 112 and the top plate 113. Furthermore, it is preferable to press a region closer to the ink discharge port side, and it is most preferable to press the discharge port formation region.
[0026]
On the other hand, it is most preferable that the pressing region of the folded end portion 114A of the pressing member 114 is formed with such a width that the forming region in the arrangement direction of the liquid flow paths communicating with the ink discharge ports is pressed over the entire width. On the other hand, the convex portion 113C provided on the pressing portion of the top plate 113 has a smaller contact portion with the pressing member 114 so as to be crushed to some extent by the pressing force of the pressing member. It is preferable to form a divergent shape in the arrangement direction.
[0027]
As for the pitch of the convex portions 113C, it is necessary to determine the optimum number of pitches according to the number of ink discharge ports and the like. If the number of projections is increased and the pitch is made too small, the force applied to one projection becomes weak, the projection 113C does not collapse much, and the top plate 113 is warped and deformed, and the accuracy of the pressing member 114 varies. A portion where the folded end portion 114A of the pressing member does not come into contact with the convex portion 113C was formed over the entire area, and good results were not obtained. Conversely, if the pitch is too wide, the ink path between the convex portions is not pressed firmly against the element substrate 112, and stable ink ejection cannot be obtained.
[0028]
In this example, the optimum result was obtained when the convex portions 113C were provided at a rate of one for the 12 ink discharge ports.
[0029]
(Example 2)
FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the top plate 113 is made of ink by forming a thin portion of the pressing portion of the top plate 113 provided with a plurality of convex portions 113 </ b> C and forming the convex portions 113 </ b> C elongated in the ink discharge direction. The rigidity in the direction in which the ejection ports are arranged becomes weak, and press bonding can be performed more evenly over the entire region in which the ink ejection ports are arranged.
[0030]
(Example 3)
FIG. 14 is a view of a grooved member (top plate) according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0031]
In FIG. 14, 11 is a liquid chamber separation groove (dummy nozzle) for separating the liquid flow path group, 13 is a common liquid chamber separation groove, 15 is a common liquid chamber separation groove wall, 16 is an orifice plate, and 17 is a common liquid. The sealant inlets 18A, B, C, and D of the chamber separation groove are a plurality of recesses that constitute the common liquid chamber, and each common liquid chamber is completely separated by the sealant. Reference numeral 20 denotes a groove constituting the flow path.
[0032]
Here, 64 nozzles in the common liquid chamber A are arranged at a pitch of 71 μm. Twenty-four nozzles in the common liquid chambers B, C, and D are arranged with a pitch of 71 μm.
[0033]
The height h1 of the common liquid chamber is preferably about 0.1 mm to 1 mm from the viewpoint of bubble removal at the time of recovery and stable ink supply to the nozzles. Further, about 1.2 mm to 1.5 mm from the heater board joint surface to the top plate upper surface h2 is good for sink marks, warpage, etc. during molding. And the width h3 of the heater board joined to the top plate of such a dimension is about 14 mm, and a compact color integrated head can be realized.
[0034]
FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the present invention of an ink jet head having a plurality of common liquid chambers of FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of convex portions 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D are provided at positions corresponding to the common liquid chambers of the pressing portion of the top plate 16, and effective force is obtained by pressing with the pressing member 114. Added to the nozzles of the common liquid chamber, the adhesion with the heater board 112 is improved.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, the convex portions are provided at substantially symmetrical positions with respect to a center line (center plane zz) that takes the center of each flow path group that intersects (substantially orthogonally) the flow path arrangement direction. Yes. For this reason, each common liquid chamber can be pressed uniformly.
[0036]
(Example 4)
FIG. 16 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the convex portions 16B ′, 16C ′, and 16D ′ corresponding to the liquid chamber having a short width in the flow path arrangement direction are 0.01 mm to 0. It is formed 1 mm higher. As a result, the force was particularly effectively applied to the nozzle having a short common liquid chamber width, that is, a highly rigid nozzle, and the adhesion could be improved.
[0037]
Next, FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 are explanatory diagrams of a suitable inkjet unit IJU, inkjet head IJH, inkjet cartridge IJC, and inkjet apparatus main body IJRA to which the present invention is implemented or applied. Hereinafter, the configuration of each part will be described with reference to these drawings.
[0038]
As can be seen from the perspective view of FIG. 8, the ink jet cartridge IJC in this example is one in which the ink jet head unit and the ink tank are integrated, and the ink storage ratio is large. The ink jet cartridge IJC is a disposable type that is fixedly supported by positioning means and electrical contacts of a carriage mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA and is detachable from the carriage.
[0039]
The ink jet unit IJU is a bubble jet unit that performs recording using an electrothermal transducer that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling to occur in ink according to an electrical signal.
[0040]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a heater in which electrothermal transducers (discharge heaters) arranged in a plurality of rows on a Si substrate and electric wiring such as Al for supplying electric power to the Si substrate are formed by a film forming technique. A board (first substrate). Reference numeral 200 denotes a wiring board for the heater board 100.
[0041]
Reference numeral 1300 denotes a grooved top plate provided with a partition (groove) for dividing a plurality of ink flow paths and a common liquid chamber for storing ink for supplying ink to each ink flow path (liquid flow path). Thus, the orifice plate 400 having a plurality of ejection openings corresponding to the respective ink flow paths is integrally molded. These integral molding materials are preferably polysulfone resins, but may be other molding resin materials.
[0042]
Reference numeral 300 denotes, for example, a metal support that supports the back surface of the wiring board 200 in a plane, and serves as a bottom plate of the ink jet unit. Reference numeral 500 denotes a presser spring as a pressing member, which is M-shaped and presses the common liquid chamber with light pressure at the center of the M-shape, and at the front portion 501, a part of the liquid path, preferably a region near the discharge port. Concentrated pressing with linear pressure. By holding the heater board 100 and the top plate 1300 in a state where the foot part of the presser spring is engaged with the back surface side of the supporter 300 through the hole 3121 of the supporter 300, the both are engaged. The heater board 100 and the top plate 1300 are pressure-bonded and fixed by the concentrated urging force of the spring 500 and the leading portion 501 thereof.
[0043]
The ink tank includes a cartridge main body 1000, and a lid member 1100 that seals the ink absorber 900 after inserting the ink absorber 900 from the side opposite to the unit IJU mounting surface of the cartridge main body 1000. Has been. Reference numeral 1200 denotes a supply port for supplying ink to the unit IJU. Reference numeral 1401 denotes an atmosphere communication port provided in the lid member for communicating the inside of the cartridge with the atmosphere.
[0044]
In this embodiment, the top plate 1300 is made of a resin such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene oxide, and polypropylene having excellent ink resistance, and is integrally molded in the mold together with the polyface plate portion 400. is there.
[0045]
As described above, the integrally molded parts are the ink supply member 600, the top plate / orifice plate integrated, and the ink tank main body 1000, so that the assembly accuracy is not only high, but also extremely effective in improving the quality of mass production. In addition, since the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the prior art, excellent desired characteristics can be surely exhibited.
[0046]
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention is applied. In the helical groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward / reverse rotation of the driving motor 5013. The carriage HC to be engaged with has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate that presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote home position detection means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region by a photocoupler and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013 and the like. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the cap opening 5023. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade, and reference numeral 5019 denotes a member that enables the blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these are supported by a main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, the blade is not in this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery. The lever 5012 moves with the movement of the cam 5020 engaged with the carriage, and the driving force from the drive motor is controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. Is done.
[0047]
These capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the home position side region. Any operation can be applied to this example as long as the operation is performed. Each of the above-described configurations is an excellent invention whether viewed alone or in combination, and shows preferable configuration examples for the present invention.
[0048]
Note that this apparatus has a drive signal supply means for driving the ejection energy generating element.
[0049]
The present invention brings about an excellent effect especially in a bubble jet type ink jet head and an ink jet apparatus among ink jet recording methods.
[0050]
As its typical configuration and principle, for example, those performed using the basic principle disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796 are preferable. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). And applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, thereby generating thermal energy in the electrothermal transducer, and the recording head This is effective because the film is boiled on the heat acting surface, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed in a one-to-one correspondence with the drive signal. By the growth and contraction of the bubbles, liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable that the drive signal has a pulse shape, since the bubble growth and contraction is performed immediately and appropriately, and thus it is possible to achieve discharge of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further excellent recording can be performed by employing the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface.
[0051]
As the configuration of the inkjet head, in addition to the combination configuration (linear liquid channel or right-angle liquid channel) of the discharge port, the liquid channel, and the electrothermal transducer as disclosed in each of the above-mentioned specifications, the heat acting part The configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which is disposed in a bending region, are also included in the present invention. In addition, for a plurality of electrothermal transducers, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 123-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal transducer, or an opening for absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461, which discloses a configuration that corresponds to the discharge section.
[0052]
Furthermore, as a full-line type inkjet head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the inkjet apparatus, the length can be set by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. Either a satisfying structure or a structure as a single inkjet head formed integrally may be used, but in the present invention, the above-described effects can be more effectively exhibited.
[0053]
In addition, it is mounted on the device main body so that it can be electrically connected to the device main body and supplied with ink from the device main body. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type ink jet head is used.
[0054]
In addition, it is preferable to add recovery means for the ink jet head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as the configuration of the ink jet apparatus of the present invention, since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or sucking means, electrothermal converter, heating element different from this, or preheating means using a combination thereof for the recording head. It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from recording, in order to perform stable recording. Furthermore, the recording mode of the inkjet apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the inkjet head may be integrally formed or may be a combination of a plurality of colors. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus having at least one of full colors.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the pressing force of the spring is obtained by having the plurality of convex portions that are crushed by the pressing force of the pressing member at the portion abutted by the spring (pressing member) of the grooved top plate. Is received at multiple points. As a result, when a load is applied by the pressing member, the grooved top plate is easily deformed, and the substrate and the grooved top plate can be sufficiently adhered to each other, so that the discharge pressure wave can escape to the adjacent ink flow path. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording head that can stably discharge ink droplets without crosstalk and can always perform stable and good printing.
[0056]
In addition, according to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording head and apparatus capable of ensuring and compensating for the uniformity and certainty of the pressing force when the substrate and the grooved top plate are pressed and bonded by the pressing member, and achieving high quality recording. Can be provided.
[0057]
Furthermore, by forming a color integrated head having a plurality of liquid flow path groups and a plurality of common liquid chambers corresponding thereto, by adopting the configuration of the present invention, a common liquid chamber separating portion, a narrow common liquid chamber, etc. Thus, it is possible to improve the adhesion between the ink flow path of the grooved top plate having high rigidity and the substrate. As a result, an ink jet head capable of minimizing the influence of warpage and deformation of the grooved top plate, variation in accuracy of the pressing member, etc., obtaining stable discharge, and always obtaining stable and good color printing quality, and An apparatus can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an ink jet head according to a reference example of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an example of an ink jet cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink jet apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional inkjet head.
FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional inkjet head.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the inkjet head in which the first embodiment of the present invention is implemented.
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a part of an inkjet head embodying a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a view for explaining a grooved top plate according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a view for explaining an ink jet head according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a view for explaining an ink jet head according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Substrate
2, 12 Top plate with groove
3 Support members
4 Spring plate
5 Temporary adhesive
6 Line pressure generator
7 Ink path
8 Common ink chamber
9 Ink outlet
10 Groove
11 Liquid chamber separation groove
13 Common liquid chamber separation groove
15 Common liquid chamber separation groove wall
16 Orifice plate
17 Sealant inlet
18 Concave part that becomes common liquid chamber
20 Grooves constituting the flow path
101 Ink ejection port
111 Base plate
112 Heater board
113 Top plate
113A Discharge port forming member (orifice plate) formed with ink discharge ports
113B Spring member pressing part (FIG. 5)
113C Multiple convex parts
114 Spring member
114A folded end

Claims (14)

A plurality of ink ejection openings for ejecting ink; a plurality of ink paths communicating with the plurality of ink ejection openings; a plurality of ejection energy generating elements used for ejecting the ink; A first substrate having an ejection energy generating element, a second substrate having grooves for forming the plurality of ink paths, and press bonding the second substrate to the first substrate. An ink jet head in which the ink path is formed by joining the first base and the second base.
The second base body has a plurality of protrusions that are crushed by the pressing force of the pressing member at a portion in contact with the pressing member, and receives the pressing force of the pressing member at a plurality of points. Inkjet head. The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of convex portions are provided along the plurality of ink flow path arrangement directions. The ink jet head according to claim 2, wherein the ink jet head ejects ink of a plurality of colors, and has a common liquid chamber communicating with the ink path for each color. The inkjet head according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the plurality of convex portions are provided corresponding to the common liquid chamber provided for each of the colors. 5. The inkjet head according to claim 4, wherein the convex portion is disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to a center line intersecting with an ink path arrangement direction in the ink path group communicating with the common liquid chamber. The inkjet head according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of common liquid chambers has a different size, and the number of convex portions corresponding to a large liquid chamber is greater than the number of convex portions corresponding to a small liquid chamber. The inkjet head according to claim 5, wherein a height of a convex portion corresponding to a liquid chamber having a short width in the ink path arrangement direction among the plurality of common liquid chambers is higher than other convex portions. The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is a metal spring. The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the ejection energy generation element is an electrothermal conversion element. The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the second substrate is a resin. The inkjet head according to claim 10, wherein the resin is polysulfone. A plurality of ink ejection openings for ejecting ink; a plurality of ink paths communicating with the plurality of ink ejection openings; a plurality of ejection energy generating elements used for ejecting the ink; A first substrate having an ejection energy generating element, a second substrate having grooves for forming the plurality of ink paths, and press bonding the second substrate to the first substrate. An ink jet head in which the ink path is formed by joining the first base and the second base;
In an ink jet cartridge having an ink tank holding ink supplied to the head,
The second base body has a plurality of protrusions that are crushed by the pressing force of the pressing member at a portion in contact with the pressing member, and receives the pressing force of the pressing member at a plurality of points. Inkjet cartridge. A plurality of ink ejection openings for ejecting ink; a plurality of ink paths communicating with the plurality of ink ejection openings; a plurality of ejection energy generating elements used for ejecting the ink; A first substrate having an ejection energy generating element, a second substrate having grooves for forming the plurality of ink paths, and press bonding the second substrate to the first substrate. An ink jet head in which the ink path is formed by joining the first base and the second base;
Drive signal supply means for supplying a drive signal for driving the head to the head;
In an inkjet apparatus having
The second base body has a plurality of protrusions that are crushed by the pressing force of the pressing member at a portion in contact with the pressing member, and receives the pressing force of the pressing member at a plurality of points. Inkjet device. A plurality of ink ejection openings for ejecting ink; a plurality of ink paths communicating with the plurality of ink ejection openings; a plurality of ejection energy generating elements used for ejecting the ink; A first substrate having an ejection energy generating element, a second substrate having grooves for forming the plurality of ink paths, and press bonding the second substrate to the first substrate. An ink jet head in which the ink path is formed by joining the first base and the second base;
Transport means for transporting a print medium on which printing is performed by ink ejected by the head;
In an inkjet apparatus having
The second base body has a plurality of protrusions that are crushed by the pressing force of the pressing member at a portion in contact with the pressing member, and receives the pressing force of the pressing member at a plurality of points. Inkjet device.

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