JP3815416B2 - Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is used for forming electrodes for recording heads used in image recording apparatuses such as printers, color material ejection heads used in the manufacture of color filters such as liquid crystal disk displays, organic EL displays, and FEDs (surface emitting displays). The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head for ejecting liquid, such as an electrode material ejecting head and a bioorganic matter ejecting head used for biochip manufacture, and a liquid ejecting apparatus using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a recording head 10 used in a conventional ink jet recording apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
As shown in FIG. 6, the recording head 10 has a head body 20 and a head holder 30.
The head holder 30 has an ink supply needle 31 that is inserted into an ink cartridge that stores ink and receives supply of ink.
As shown in the figure, the ink supply needle 31 communicates with a holder channel 32.
[0003]
On the other hand, the head main body 20 has a head flow path 21 that supplies ink to the nozzle side that discharges ink.
A seal member 40 is sandwiched between the lower opening of the holder flow path 32 and the upper opening of the head flow path 21.
As shown in the figure, the seal member 40 is formed with a communication port 41 through which the holder channel 32 and the head channel 21 are communicated, and the ink guided through the holder channel 32 by the communication port 41. Ink in the cartridge flows to the head flow path 21.
[0004]
FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the head main body 20 and the seal member 40 described above.
As shown in FIG. 7, the head main body 20 has a head cover 22. The head cover 22 is formed with two insertion pipes 22 a, an annular protrusion 22 b communicating with the head flow path 21, and a press-fitting member 22 c. The head substrate 23 is disposed.
Therefore, as shown in the drawing, a flow path opening 21a of the head flow path 21 is formed inside the annular protrusion 22b.
On the other hand, the seal member 40 is formed with two insertion openings 42 corresponding to the insertion tubes 22 a of the head cover 22.
A communication port 41 is formed corresponding to the flow path opening 21 a of the head cover 22.
Further, a press-fitting hole 43 is formed corresponding to the press-fitting member 22c.
[0005]
Such a seal member 40 is positioned by inserting the two insertion holes 42 into the insertion tube 22 a of the head body 20, and is attached to the head body 20. Further, when the head holder 30 is disposed thereon, as shown in FIG. 6, the holder flow path 32 and the head flow path 21 are communicated via the communication port 41 of the seal member 40. The connection part of the head main body 20 is sealed.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-127442
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the above-described seal member 40 is mounted on the head main body 20 shown in FIG. 7, the work is performed manually by the operator.
Specifically, the operator has an insertion hole 42 of the seal member 40 that is a positioning portion, and the insertion port 42 is inserted into the insertion tube 22 a of the head body 20.
At this time, the operator's hand may accidentally come into contact with the annular protrusion 22b in the vicinity of the insertion tube 22a, and dust or the like attached to the operator's hand may enter the flow path opening 21a.
As described above, when the recording head 10 is assembled in a state where dust or the like is mixed in the flow path opening 21a, a discharge failure or the like occurs, which is a problem.
[0008]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus that can prevent defects due to mixing of dust or the like during assembly work.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, the object is to provide a head body including a nozzle section for discharging a liquid, and a head body flow path section that is a flow path of the liquid to the nozzle section, and a liquid storage for storing the liquid. A head holder side flow path section for guiding the liquid from the means, and the head main body side flow path section and the head holder side flow path section disposed between the head main body and the head holder section. A liquid ejecting head having a communication port that communicates with the head, wherein the sealing member has a head main body-side protrusion provided in the head main body, the sealing member for accommodating the protrusion inside the liquid ejecting head. The liquid ejecting head is characterized in that the upper surface of the side positioning protrusion is formed to be higher than the communication port of the seal member.
[0010]
According to the above configuration, the seal member has an upper surface of the seal member-side positioning projection for accommodating the head main body side protrusion provided in the head main body on the inside thereof, and the communication port of the seal member It is formed to be higher.
For this reason, in the manufacturing process of the liquid ejecting head, when the seal member is attached to the head body, the head body side protrusion provided on the head body is accommodated in the seal member positioning protrusion of the seal member. Thus, the seal member is mounted on the head body while being positioned.
At this time, the operator can accommodate the head main body side protrusion in the seal member side positioning protrusion by operating the upper surface of the seal member side positioning protrusion of the seal member.
[0011]
And since the upper surface of this seal member side positioning protrusion is formed at a position higher than the communication port formed in the seal member, compared with the case where it is formed at the same height, The distance gets longer.
Therefore, an operator accidentally touches the communication port, dust and the like are mixed into the communication port, and the flow of liquid at the communication port is obstructed, whereby the manufactured liquid ejecting head becomes defective. Can be prevented.
[0012]
Preferably, this is achieved by a liquid jet head in which the seal member side positioning projections are formed at least in two places, and each is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.
The said structure WHEREIN: The said protrusion for positioning on the seal member side is formed in at least two places, and each is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.
For this reason, positioning can be easily performed by accommodating the head main body side protrusions in the two sealing member side positioning protrusions.
Further, since each is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, the head main body side protrusion is easily accommodated inside.
[0013]
Preferably, the seal member is a liquid ejecting head which is made of an elastic material and has a plurality of the communication ports.
According to the configuration, even if the seal member is made of a soft material, the seal member-side positioning projection is formed, so that the seal member is reliably inserted into the head body-side projection provided on the head body side. Can be positioned.
[0014]
Preferably, the liquid ejecting head is characterized in that the seal member is an elastomer.
According to the said structure, when the said sealing member is an elastomer, injection molding is possible and it can shape | mold in a clean environment. Further, it is difficult for foreign matter to be attached as compared with rubber parts.
[0015]
Preferably, the seal member side positioning protrusion is formed to be about 2 mm to 10 mm higher than the seal member, and a distance between the upper surface of the seal member side positioning protrusion and the nearest communication port is formed to be about 8 mm to 15 mm. A liquid ejecting head.
[0016]
According to the above configuration, when the height of the sealing member side positioning projection is about 2 mm, if the distance between the upper surface of the sealing member side positioning projection and the nearest communication port is about 8 mm, the normal Considering the size of the operator's finger, etc., even if the operator operates the upper surface of the sealing member side positioning projection, the finger does not touch the communication port.
That is, when the height of the sealing member-side positioning projection is about 2 mm, the distance between the communication port and the upper surface of the sealing member-side positioning projection is preferably about 15 mm. The communication port may exist in the immediate vicinity of the member-side positioning protrusion.
Therefore, dust such as an operator's finger is not mixed into the communication port, the flow of liquid at the communication port is not hindered, and the manufactured liquid jet head is effectively defective. Can be prevented.
[0017]
According to the present invention, the object is to provide a head body including a nozzle section for discharging a liquid, and a head body flow path section that is a flow path of the liquid to the nozzle section, and a liquid storage for storing the liquid. A head holder side flow path section for guiding the liquid from the means, and the head main body side flow path section and the head holder side flow path section disposed between the head main body and the head holder section. A liquid ejecting apparatus having a liquid ejecting head having a communication port that communicates with the liquid ejecting head, wherein the seal member of the liquid ejecting head includes a head main body side protrusion provided on the head main body. According to the liquid ejecting apparatus, an upper surface of the sealing member-side positioning projection for accommodating the inside thereof is formed to be higher than the communication port of the seal member. It is achieved.
[0018]
According to the above configuration, the seal member of the liquid ejecting head has an upper surface of the seal member-side positioning protrusion for accommodating the head main body side protrusion provided in the head main body inside the seal member. It forms so that it may become a position higher than the said communicating port of a member.
Therefore, when the seal member is mounted on the head body in the manufacturing process of the liquid jet head, the head body side protrusion provided on the head body is accommodated in the seal member side positioning protrusion of the seal member. Thus, the seal member is mounted on the head body while being positioned.
At this time, the operator can accommodate the head main body side protrusion in the seal member side positioning protrusion by operating the upper surface of the seal member side positioning protrusion of the seal member.
And since the upper surface of this seal member side positioning protrusion is formed at a position higher than the communication port formed in the seal member, compared with the case where it is formed at the same height, The distance gets longer.
Therefore, an operator accidentally touches the communication port, dust and the like are mixed into the communication port, and the flow of liquid at the communication port is obstructed, whereby the manufactured liquid ejecting head becomes defective. Thus, the liquid ejecting apparatus can be prevented.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus 100 which is a liquid ejecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The ink jet recording apparatus 100 includes, for example, an ink cartridge 101 that is a liquid storage unit that stores, for example, ink that is a liquid, and a recording head 200 that is a liquid ejecting head on which the ink cartridge 101 is mounted. The recording head 200 is configured to be attached to the carriage 102.
As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 101 is connected to a stepping motor 104 via a timing belt 103 and guided by a guide bar 105 to reciprocate in the paper width direction (main scanning direction) of the recording paper 106. ing.
The carriage 101 has a box shape that opens to the top, is attached so that the nozzle surface of the recording head 200 is exposed on the surface (the lower surface in the figure) facing the recording paper 106, and accommodates the ink cartridge 101. It has become.
[0021]
Then, ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 101 to the recording head 200, and while moving the carriage 102, ink droplets are ejected onto the upper surface of the recording paper 106 to print images and characters on the recording paper 106 in a dot matrix. Yes.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 100 has a cap 107 that prevents, for example, nozzles that are nozzles that eject ink by sealing the nozzle openings of the recording head 200 during printing suspension, as much as possible. It has. Further, the ink jet recording apparatus 100 also includes a wiper member 108 that wipes the nozzle surface of the recording head 200.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the head main body 210 of the recording head 200.
The head main body 210 is configured by joining a flow path unit 213 in which a nozzle 211 and a pressure generation chamber 212 are formed, and a head case 215 in which a piezoelectric vibrator 214 is accommodated.
The flow path unit 213 includes a flow path forming plate 219 in which a space corresponding to the nozzle plate 216 in which the nozzles 211 are formed, the pressure generation chamber 212, the common ink chamber, and the ink supply path 218 that communicates these, is formed. A vibration plate 220 that closes the opening of the pressure generation chamber 212 is laminated and formed.
[0023]
The piezoelectric vibrator 214 is a so-called longitudinal vibration mode vibrator that contracts in the longitudinal direction in a charged state upon input of a drive signal and extends in the longitudinal direction in the process of discharging from the charged state.
The other end of the piezoelectric vibrator 214 is fixed to the base 222 with its tip fixed to the island 221 of the diaphragm 220 that forms part of the pressure generating chamber 212.
On the other hand, a head flow path 223 for introducing the ink of the ink cartridge 101 into the common ink chamber 217 is formed in the head case 215 at a portion corresponding to the common ink chamber 217.
The head flow path 223 is an example of a head flow path portion that is a flow path of ink to the nozzle 221.
In the figure of the head channel 223, an annular protrusion 223a is formed on the lower opening edge.
[0024]
In the head main body 210, the piezoelectric vibrator 214, the pressure generation chamber 212, and the nozzle 211 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2, and two nozzle rows are formed on the nozzle plate 216. .
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a recording head 200 including the head body 210 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 3, the recording head 200 includes a head main body 210 and a head holder 250 provided with the head main body 210.
As shown in the drawing, the recording head 200 has a cover member 310 that covers the head main body 210. The cover member 310 is formed with a screw insertion hole 224a through which the screw 225 is inserted.
The head case 215 is formed with, for example, two insertion tubes 215a into which the screws 40 are inserted.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 200 has a head substrate 226, and an insertion hole 226 a for a screw 225 is formed in the head substrate 226.
A seal member insertion hole 227a is also formed in the seal member 227 disposed above the head substrate 226 in the drawing.
Therefore, the screw 225 inserted from below the cover member 224 in FIG. 3 is fixed to the head holder 250 via the screw insertion hole 224a, the insertion tube 215a, the insertion hole 226a, and the seal member insertion hole 227a. As a result, the head main body 210 is attached to the head holder 250.
[0026]
On the other hand, for example, four ink supply needles 251 are erected on the head holder 250 to receive the ink supply after the ink cartridge 101 is inserted.
The ink supply needle 251 is hollow and has an ink hole at the tip, and a filter 252 for filtering the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 101 is disposed at the base.
[0027]
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the head main body 210 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the head holder 250 is formed with a holder flow path 253 that is a holder side flow path portion that guides ink from each ink supply needle 251.
A head channel 223 of the head main body 210 is formed in a lower opening in the figure of the holder channel 253 via a seal member 227.
That is, the seal member 227 has a communication port 227 b that is disposed between the head main body 210 and the head holder 250 and allows the head flow path 223 and the holder flow path 253 to communicate with each other.
The seal member 227 is made of, for example, an elastomer. Alternatively, the seal member 227 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or soft resin.
[0028]
Such a seal member 227 contacts the lower opening of the holder flow path 253 and the upper opening of the head flow path 223 in a state where the head holder 250, the head substrate 226, and the head main body 210 are assembled, and the holder flow through the communication opening 227b. The channel 253 and the head channel 223 are communicated with each other and the connection portion is sealed.
That is, by forming the seal member 227a from an elastomer as described above, the opening of the annular protrusion 223a of the head channel 223 of the head body 210 of FIG. 2 and the opening of the holder channel 253 of the head holder 250 of FIG. Thus, the seal member 227 is crushed and brought into close contact with each other, and the connection portion between the holder flow path 253 and the head flow path 223 is reliably sealed.
Accordingly, the connection portion of the flow path can be reliably sealed by merely bringing the seal member 227 made of an elastic material into contact with the opening of the head flow path 223 and the opening of the holder flow path 253, and the assembly property is not impaired. .
Further, when the seal member 227a is formed of an elastomer, the seal member 227a can be injection-molded, and is effective because it can be molded in a clean environment.
The elastomer also has the effect that foreign matter is less likely to adhere to the rubber part.
[0029]
Specifically, the placement of the seal member 227 is performed by the operator holding the seal member 227 and placing it on the head substrate 226 of the head main body 210.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a state immediately before the seal member 227 is arranged.
As shown in FIG. 5, the annular protrusion 223 a of the head channel 223 formed in the head case 215 is disposed through the through hole 226 b of the head substrate 226.
A communication port 227 b is formed in the seal member 227 corresponding to the annular protrusion 223 a of the head channel 223.
[0030]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the seal member insertion hole 227a through which the screw 225 of the seal member 227 is inserted is formed in a seal member positioning protrusion, for example, a substantially cylindrical seal member protrusion 227c. Is formed.
As shown in FIG. 5, the seal member protrusion 227 c is configured to accommodate, for example, an insertion tube 215 a which is a protrusion on the head case 215 and which is a protrusion on the head case 215.
Then, the insertion tube 215a is inserted into the seal member protrusion 227c as described above, so that the operator can easily position the seal member 227.
Even if the seal member 227 is made of an elastic material such as an elastomer, the seal member protrusion 227c is configured, so that the seal member 227 can be reliably inserted into the protrusion 215a formed on the head case 215, and positioning is easy. be able to.
[0031]
Specifically, the operator can put the seal member protrusion 227c on the insertion tube 215a by pressing the upper surface of the seal member protrusion 227c of the seal member 227 from above. 227 positioning can be performed.
At this time, the seal member insertion hole 227a formation region on the upper surface of the seal member protrusion 227c is formed to protrude and be higher than the nearest communication port 227b.
On the other hand, in the conventional case shown in FIG. 7, the insertion hole 42, which is a part operated by the operator, has the same height as the communication port 41.
[0032]
That is, in the case of the seal member protrusion 227c, the insertion hole 42 is formed higher than the case where the insertion hole 42 is formed at the same height as the communication port 41, so that the distance from the communication port 227b is formed longer. Yes.
For this reason, even if the operator performs an operation such as pushing in the upper surface of the seal member protrusion 227c, a sufficient distance is ensured between the operator's hand and the communication port 227b unlike the conventional case. An operator's hand does not touch the communication port 227b by mistake, and dust or the like of the hand is not mixed into the communication port 227b.
Therefore, even when the recording head 200 is assembled and the ink jet recording apparatus 100 is manufactured, the ink flow at the communication port 227b is not hindered, and defects are less likely to occur.
[0033]
Further, since the seal member protrusion 227c is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, the insertion tube 215a having a substantially cylindrical shape is not directional and can be easily accommodated therein. The diameter of the substantially cylindrical opening is preferably about 4 mm.
Further, since two seal member protrusions 227c are formed, the two member can be easily positioned.
[0034]
As described above, the seal member 227 is disposed and positioned on the head case 215 and the head substrate 226, and the press-fitting member 215b of the head case 215 is inserted into the press-fitting hole 227d of the seal member 227, and the seal member 227 is attached. To do.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, a head holder 250 is assembled thereon to constitute a recording head 200, and further an ink jet recording apparatus 100 as shown in FIG.
[0035]
Further, the height of the seal member protrusion 227 in FIG. 5 is preferably about 2 mm to 10 mm. In this case, the distance between the nearest communication port 227b and the upper surface of the seal member protrusion 227 is about 8 mm to 15 mm.
If comprised in this way, it will become a dimension from which the finger | toe does not hit the communicating port 227b in consideration of the magnitude | size of the finger | toe of a normal worker in assembly work, etc.
That is, when the height of the seal member protrusion 227 is about 2 mm, the distance between the communication port 227b and the upper surface of the seal member protrusion 227 is preferably about 15 mm. The communication port 227b may exist in the immediate vicinity of the part 227.
However, normally, considering the moldability of the seal member 227, it is desirable to form the communication port 227b apart from the seal member protrusion 227 to some extent.
[0036]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be combined with each other.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus that is a liquid ejecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a head main body of a recording head.
FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a recording head including the head body shown in FIG.
4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the head main body of FIG. 3 is mounted on a head holder.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a state immediately before placing a seal member.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a recording head used in a conventional ink jet recording apparatus.
7 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the head main body and the seal member of FIG. 6. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Inkjet recording apparatus, 101 ... Ink cartridge, 102 ... Carriage, 103 ... Timing belt, 104 ... Stepping motor, 105 ... Guide bar, 106 ... Recording paper, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 107 ... Cap, 108 ... Wiper member, 200 ... Recording head, 210 ... Head main body, 211 ... Nozzle, 212 ... Pressure generating chamber, 213 ... Flow path unit, 214 ... Piezoelectric vibrator, 215 ... Head case, 215a ... Insertion tube, 215b ... Press-in member, 216 ... Nozzle plate, 217 ... Common ink chamber, 218 ... Ink supply path 219: flow path forming plate, 220: vibration plate, 221: island, 222: base, 223: head flow path, 223a: annular protrusion 224 ... Cover member, 224a ... Screw insertion hole, 225 ... Screw, 226 ... Head substrate, 226a ... Insertion hole, 226b ... Through hole, 227 ... Seal member, 227a ... Seal member insertion hole, 227b ... Communication port, 227c ... Seal member protrusion, 227d ... Press-fitting hole, 250 ... Head holder, 251 ... Ink supply needle, 252 ... -Filter, 253 ... Holder flow path.

Claims (6)

A nozzle for discharging liquid;
A head body including a head body flow path section that is a flow path of the liquid to the nozzle section, and
A head holder part comprising: a head holder side channel part for guiding the liquid from a liquid containing means for containing the liquid;
A liquid ejecting head having a sealing member disposed between the head body and the head holder part, and having a communication port for communicating the head body side flow path part and the head holder side flow path part,
In the seal member, the upper surface of the seal member-side positioning protrusion for accommodating the head main body side protrusion provided on the head main body is positioned higher than the communication port of the seal member. A liquid ejecting head, wherein the liquid ejecting head is formed. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member side positioning protrusions are formed at least at two locations, and each has a substantially cylindrical shape. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is made of a material having elasticity and has a plurality of the communication ports. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is an elastomer. The sealing member side positioning protrusion is formed to be about 2 mm to 10 mm higher than the sealing member,
5. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein a distance between an upper surface of the sealing member side positioning protrusion and the nearest communication port is about 8 mm to 15 mm. A nozzle for discharging liquid;
A head body including a head body flow path section that is a flow path of the liquid to the nozzle section, and
A head holder part comprising: a head holder side channel part for guiding the liquid from a liquid containing means for containing the liquid;
A liquid jet including a liquid jet head that is disposed between the head main body and the head holder portion and includes a seal member having a communication port that allows the head main body side flow channel portion and the head holder side flow channel portion to communicate with each other. A device,
The seal member of the liquid jet head has an upper surface of a seal member side positioning projection for accommodating a head main body side projection provided in the head main body, from the communication port of the seal member. A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is formed at a high position.

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