JP4066625B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus including a recording head that discharges ink supplied from an ink cartridge as ink droplets.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 10, the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus includes a head main body 51 that ejects ink as ink droplets, and a holder channel 52 that supplies ink from an ink cartridge (not shown) to the head main body 51. And a formed head holder 53.
[0003]
The head holder 53 includes an ink supply needle 54 that is inserted into the ink supply port of the ink cartridge and receives ink supply, and a filter 55 that filters ink flowing from the ink supply needle 54 to the holder flow path 52. Is provided. On the other hand, the head main body 51 is formed with a head flow path 58 that communicates with the holder flow path 52 and supplies the filtered ink to the reservoir 57 in the vicinity of the nozzle plate 56. A supply pipe 62 protruding in a cylindrical shape is provided at the upper opening of the head channel 58.
[0004]
A head substrate 67 is provided on the upper surface of the head body 51 to send a drive signal to the piezoelectric vibrator 63 of the head body 51 via the flexible circuit board 65. The head substrate 67 is formed with a through hole 66 through which the supply pipe 62 of the head main body 51 is inserted and the upper opening of the supply pipe 62 is exposed to the upper side of the head substrate 67.
[0005]
A seal plate 59 is provided between the head substrate 67 and the head holder 53 to communicate the holder flow path 52 and the head flow path 58 and to seal the joint portion. A seal member 64 made of an elastic member such as rubber is attached to the seal plate 59 at a portion corresponding to the lower opening of the holder channel 52 and the supply pipe 62 of the head body 51. The seal member 64 is provided with a communication port 60 that allows the holder channel 52 and the head channel 58 to communicate with each other. The seal member 64 is in contact with the lower opening of the holder flow path 52 and the upper opening of the supply pipe 62 to seal the connection portion between the holder flow path 52 and the head flow path 58.
[0006]
The recording head is mounted on a carriage (not shown) together with the ink cartridge, and reciprocates in the width direction of the recording paper by the carriage to eject ink droplets from the nozzles 61 provided on the nozzle plate 56 for printing. The ink consumed by printing passes through the ink supply needle 54, the holder channel 52, and the communication port 60 from the ink cartridge, and passes through the head channel 58 of the head body 51 to the reservoir 57 that communicates with the nozzle 61. To be replenished.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the recording head, the seal member 64 is formed by two-color molding of a resin material and a rubber material. However, in recent years, it has been formed by one-color molding of only a rubber material because of the need for cost reduction. . However, the sealing member 64 made of only a rubber material has a problem that the sealing member 64 tends to warp when the sealing member 64 is assembled because the sealing member 64 is highly flexible. If the seal member 64 is warped during assembly, the position of the communication port 60 with respect to the holder channel 52 and the head channel 58 may be displaced. The connection portion 58 has a step, which tends to cause ejection defects due to air bubbles being caught during ink filling or cleaning.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing warpage of a seal member to prevent a step from being formed at a joint portion and preventing occurrence of bubble residue. And
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a nozzle body for ejecting ink droplets, a head body having a head flow path communicating with the nozzle, and a holder flow path for guiding ink in an ink tank to the head flow path. A head holder formed between the head main body and the head holder to send an ejection signal to the head main body, a holder flow path and a head flow between the head substrate and the head holder. A warping prevention member capable of preventing warpage by contacting the seal member in a region where the head substrate is not present in the head main body, and a head member. An anti-rotation member that is inserted into an insertion hole formed in the seal member and protrudes to prevent the seal member from rotating, and the head body A mounting member that is attached to the head holder and inserted through the insertion hole of the seal member, and the height of the anti-rotation member is set to be higher than the height of the insertion tube. The gist is that is formed.
[0010]
That is, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, a warp prevention member that can be prevented from warping by contacting the seal member is formed in a region of the head body where the head substrate does not exist. Even so, the seal member comes into contact with the warp preventing member and hardly warps during assembly. For this reason, at the time of incorporation, it is possible to prevent a step from being generated in the connection portion between the holder flow path and the head flow path due to the displacement of the communication port with respect to the holder flow path or the head flow path. Therefore, the remaining bubbles when the ink is filled can be effectively prevented, and the occurrence of defective discharge can be prevented. At this time, by setting the height of the rotation prevention member higher than the height of the insertion tube, even if a force in the disengagement direction of the seal member is applied due to the pressure of the cleaning liquid, the rotation of the seal member is caught by the rotation prevention member. It can be effectively prevented. Thereby, the position shift of the communicating port with respect to the holder channel or the head channel can be effectively prevented.
[0011]
In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the annular protrusion is formed in the opening of the head flow path of the head body and the through hole through which the annular protrusion is inserted is formed in the head substrate, the head body The head substrate is sandwiched between the sealing member and the sealing member is likely to warp in a region where the head substrate does not exist. Therefore, the effect of forming the warping preventing member at that portion is remarkable and effective.
[0012]
In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the head main body is provided with a rotation preventing member that is inserted into a fitting hole formed in the sealing member and prevents the sealing member from rotating, the sealing member is incorporated. In addition, the rotation of the seal member can be prevented during the cleaning operation or the like in the head main body that is performed at the time of assembling, and displacement of the communication port relative to the holder flow path or the head flow path can be effectively prevented.
[0013]
In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the anti-rotation member is provided in the vicinity of the warp prevention member, the anti-rotation member is formed in a region where there is no head substrate between the head main body and the seal member. Therefore, it is not necessary to process the head substrate for forming the rotation preventing member, and unnecessary cost increases can be avoided.
[0014]
In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the head substrate is formed with a notch for preventing interference with the protrusion provided on the head body, and a warp preventing member is formed in a region corresponding to the notch of the head body. If the projecting part is an insertion tube through which an attachment member such as a screw for attaching the head body to the head holder is inserted, the seal member is likely to warp in the region corresponding to the notch, The effect of forming a warp preventing member at that portion is remarkable and effective.
[0015]
In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the seal member is formed of an elastic material, the seal member is flexible and easily warped, so that the effect of forming the warp preventing member is remarkable and effective. In addition, the seal member is crushed and brought into close contact between the opening of the annular protrusion and the opening of the holder flow path, and the connection portion between the holder flow path and the head flow path is reliably sealed. Furthermore, the connection portion of the flow path can be reliably sealed only by bringing the seal member made of an elastic material into contact with the opening of the head flow path and the opening of the holder flow path, and the assembling property is not impaired.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
[0017]
1 and 2 are diagrams showing an example of a peripheral structure of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This apparatus includes a carriage 3 on which an ink cartridge 2 is mounted and a recording head 1 is attached.
[0018]
The carriage 3 is connected to a stepping motor 5 via a timing belt 4 and is guided by a guide bar 6 to reciprocate in the paper width direction (main scanning direction) of the recording paper 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 3 has a box shape that opens to the top, and is attached so that the nozzle surface of the recording head 1 is exposed on the surface facing the recording paper 7 (the lower surface in this example). The ink cartridge 2 is accommodated. A lid member 25 is attached to the upper end portion of the carriage 3 to hold the upper portion of the ink cartridge 2 in a state where the ink cartridge 2 is accommodated and to cover the opened upper portion of the carriage 3.
[0019]
Then, ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 2 to the recording head 1 and ink droplets are ejected onto the upper surface of the recording paper 7 while moving the carriage 3 so that images and characters are printed on the recording paper 7 in a dot matrix. Yes. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a cap that prevents the nozzles from being dried as much as possible by sealing the nozzle openings of the recording head 1 during a printing pause, and reference numeral 9 denotes a wiper member that wipes the nozzle surface of the recording head 1. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 26 denotes a guide hole through which the guide bar 6 is inserted.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the basic structure of the head body 10 used in the recording head 1. The head body 10 is configured by joining a flow path unit 13 in which a nozzle 11 and a pressure generating chamber 12 are formed, and a head case 15 in which a piezoelectric vibrator 14 is accommodated.
[0021]
The flow path unit 13 is formed with a flow path in which spaces corresponding to the nozzle plate 16 in which the nozzles 11 are formed, the ink chamber 17 common to the pressure generation chamber 12 and the ink supply path 18 that communicates these are formed. A plate 19 and a vibration plate 20 that closes the opening of the pressure generating chamber 12 are laminated.
[0022]
The piezoelectric vibrator 14 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 piezoelectric vibrator 14 is fixed to the base 21 with the other end fixed to the island 20 </ b> A of the diaphragm 20 that forms a part of the pressure generating chamber 12.
[0023]
In the head case 15, a head flow path 24 for introducing the ink of the ink cartridge 2 into the ink chamber 17 is formed at a portion corresponding to the ink chamber 17. An annular protrusion 23 is formed on the opening edge of the head channel 24.
[0024]
In the head body 10, the pressure generation chamber 12 expands and contracts in response to the contraction / extension of the piezoelectric vibrator 14, and ink suction and ink droplet discharge are performed by pressure fluctuations in the pressure generation chamber 12. It has become. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 22 denotes a flexible circuit board for inputting a drive signal to the piezoelectric vibrator 14.
[0025]
In the head main body 10, the piezoelectric vibrator 14, the pressure generation chamber 12, and the nozzle 11 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3, and two nozzle rows are formed on the nozzle plate 16. .
[0026]
4 and 5 are diagrams showing the recording head 1 in which the head body 10 is used. The recording head 1 includes a head main body 10 and a head holder 32 to which the head main body 10 is attached.
[0027]
In the figure, 28 is a cover member that covers the head main body 10, 40 is a screw for attaching the head main body 10 to the head holder 32, and 41 is a screw insertion hole formed in the cover member 28. Reference numeral 38 denotes two insertion tubes projecting from the surface of the head case 15 facing the head holder 32, and screws 40 are inserted through the insertion tube 38.
[0028]
The head holder 32 is provided with a plurality (four in this example) of ink supply needles 27 which are inserted into the ink cartridge 2 and receive ink supply. Each of the ink supply needles 27 is hollow and has an ink hole 34 formed at the tip. A filter 31 that filters the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 2 is provided at the base of each ink supply needle 27.
[0029]
The head holder 32 has a holder flow path 30 that communicates with the ink supply needles 27 and communicates with the head flow path 24 of the head body 10 to introduce the ink of the ink cartridge 2 into the head body 10. Is formed.
[0030]
A head substrate 36 that sends a drive signal to the piezoelectric vibrator 14 of the head body 10 via the flexible circuit board 22 is provided between the head holder 32 and the head body 10. A circuit board insertion hole 35 through which the flexible circuit board 22 is inserted is formed in the head substrate 36.
[0031]
The head substrate 36 is provided with a through hole 37 penetrating vertically in portions corresponding to the lower opening of the holder flow path 30 and the upper opening of the head flow path 24, and the head case 15 is formed in the through hole 37. The annular protrusion 23 is inserted so that the opening of the annular protrusion 23 is exposed on the upper surface of the head substrate 36.
[0032]
Further, the head substrate 36 is formed with an insertion hole 47 through which one insertion tube 38 of the head main body 10 is inserted and a rectangular cutout portion 43 that prevents interference with the other insertion tube 38. As described above, since the notch 43 prevents the interference with the one insertion tube 38, the processing of the head substrate 36 in this portion is facilitated, and the processing cost can be reduced.
[0033]
Between the head substrate 36 and the head holder 32, a seal member 29 having a communication port 33 for communicating the holder flow path 30 and the head flow path 24 is sandwiched. The seal member 29 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, soft resin, or elastomer. The seal member 29 is in contact with the lower opening of the holder flow path 30 and the upper opening of the head flow path 24 in a state where the head holder 32, the head substrate 36, and the head main body 10 are assembled. The passage 30 and the head passage 24 are communicated with each other and the connection portion is sealed.
[0034]
By forming the seal member 29 from an elastic material, the seal member 29 is crushed and closely adhered between the opening of the annular protrusion 23 and the opening of the holder flow path 30, so that the holder flow path 30 and the head flow path 24 The connection is securely sealed. In addition, the connection portion of the flow path can be reliably sealed only by bringing the seal member 29 made of an elastic material into contact with the opening of the head flow path 24 and the opening of the holder flow path 30, and the assemblability is not impaired.
[0035]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the head case 15 of the head main body 10 is press-fitted into a press-fitting hole 46 formed in the seal member 29 and assembled or when the head main body 10 is cleaned. A press-fitting member 44 that prevents the seal member 29 from falling off is provided. Further, the seal member 29 is formed with two insertion holes 47 through which the insertion tube 38 of the head body 10 is inserted.
[0036]
The head case 15 of the head body 10 has a columnar warpage prevention member 39 that contacts the seal member 29 and prevents the seal member 29 from warping at a portion corresponding to the notch 43 of the head substrate 36. It is installed. On the upper surface of the warp preventing member 39, a columnar anti-rotation member 42 that fits into a fitting hole 45 formed in the seal member 29 and prevents unnecessary rotation of the seal member 29 is coaxial with the warp preventing member 39. It protrudes in a shape.
[0037]
As described above, the head body 10 is provided with the anti-rotation member 42 which is inserted into the insertion hole 45 formed in the seal member 29 and prevents the seal member 29 from rotating. In addition, the rotation of the seal member 29 is prevented during a cleaning operation or the like in the head main body 10 performed at the time of incorporation. At this time, by setting the height of the rotation prevention member 42 to be slightly higher than the height of the insertion tube 38, the seal member 29 is prevented from rotating even if a force in the disengagement direction acts on the seal member 29 due to the pressure of the cleaning liquid or the like. Rotation is effectively prevented by being caught on. Thereby, the position shift of the communication port 33 with respect to the holder flow path 30 and the head flow path 24 can be effectively prevented.
[0038]
Further, the rotation prevention member 42 is provided coaxially with the warpage prevention member 39, and the rotation prevention member 42 is formed in a region where the head substrate 36 between the head main body 10 and the seal member 29 does not exist. Processing of the head substrate 36 for forming the member 42 is not required, and unnecessary cost increases can be avoided.
[0039]
In the recording head, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a seal member 29 is attached on the head substrate 36 of the head body 10 to which the head substrate 36 is attached. At this time, the two insertion pipes 38 of the head main body 10 are inserted into the insertion holes 47 of the seal member 29, and the press-fitting member 44 and the rotation preventing member 42 of the head main body 10 are respectively inserted into the press-fitting hole 46 and the fitting hole of the seal member 29. 45 is press-fitted and fitted.
[0040]
In this state, most of the surface of the seal member 29 on the head body 10 side faces the head substrate 36 and is regulated to some extent along the head substrate 36 to prevent warpage. In a region corresponding to the cutout portion 43 of the head substrate 36 where the head substrate 36 does not exist, the seal member 29 is regulated by abutting against the warpage preventing member 39, and warpage is prevented.
[0041]
Thus, even if the seal member 29 is highly flexible, the seal member 29 abuts against the warp preventing member 39 and hardly warps when incorporated, so that the communication port for the holder channel 30 and the head channel 24 is provided. 33 is prevented from being displaced, and a step is prevented from occurring at the connection portion between the holder flow path 30 and the head flow path 24. Therefore, the remaining bubbles when the ink is filled can be effectively prevented, and the occurrence of defective discharge can be prevented. And since the warp prevention member 39 is formed in the area | region corresponding to the notch part 43 where the seal member 29 tends to warp, the effect is remarkable and effective.
[0042]
In the above embodiment, an apparatus using the piezoelectric vibrator 14 as an element for pressurizing the pressure generating chamber 12 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the internal ink is used as an element for pressurizing the pressure generating chamber 12. It is also possible to apply to a recording apparatus equipped with a head body using a heat generating element that heats and vaporizes. In this case, the same effect can be obtained.
[0043]
As described above, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, even if a highly flexible seal member is used, the seal member abuts against the warp preventing member and hardly warps when incorporated. For this reason, at the time of incorporation, it is possible to prevent a step from being generated in the connection portion between the holder flow path and the head flow path due to the positional deviation of the communication port with respect to the holder flow path or the head flow path. Therefore, the remaining bubbles when the ink is filled can be effectively prevented, and the occurrence of defective discharge can be prevented. In addition, by setting the height of the anti-rotation member higher than the height of the insertion tube, the seal member is caught by the anti-rotation member and rotation is effective even if force in the direction of detachment of the seal member is applied due to the pressure of the cleaning liquid, etc. Can be prevented. Thereby, the position shift of the communicating port with respect to the holder channel or the head channel can be effectively prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a head body used in the ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a recording head.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording head.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the recording head.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a main part of the recording head.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a main part of the recording head.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing a main part of the recording head.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional recording head.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording head 2 Ink cartridge 3 Carriage 4 Timing belt 5 Stepping motor 6 Guide bar 7 Recording paper 8 Cap 9 Wiper member 10 Head main body 11 Nozzle 12 Pressure generating chamber 13 Flow path unit 14 Piezoelectric vibrator 15 Head case 16 Nozzle plate 17 Ink Chamber 18 Ink supply path 19 Flow path forming plate 20 Vibration plate 20A Island portion 21 Base 22 Flexible circuit board 23 Annular projection 24 Head flow path 25 Cover member 26 Guide hole 27 Ink supply needle 28 Cover member 29 Seal member 30 Holder flow path 31 Filter 32 Head holder 33 Communication port 34 Ink hole 35 Circuit board insertion hole 36 Head substrate 37 Through hole 38 Insertion tube 39 Warpage prevention member 40 Screw 41 Screw insertion hole 42 Anti-rotation member 43 Notch 44 Press-fit member 45 Insert hole 46 Press-fit Hole 47 Insertion hole 5 Head body 52 Holder flow path 53 Head holder 54 Ink supply needle 55 Filter 56 Nozzle plate 57 Reservoir 58 Head flow path 59 Seal plate 60 Communication port 61 Nozzle 62 Supply pipe 63 Piezoelectric vibrator 64 Seal member 65 Flexible circuit board 66 Through hole 67 Head substrate

Claims (4)

A head body having a nozzle for ejecting ink droplets and a head channel communicating with the nozzle;
A head holder formed with a holder flow path for guiding ink in the ink tank to the head flow path, a head substrate that is provided between the head main body and the head holder and sends an ejection signal to the head main body,
A seal member provided between the head substrate and the head holder to communicate the holder flow path and the head flow path and seal the connection portion;
A warpage preventing member capable of preventing warpage by contacting the seal member in a region where the head substrate in the head body does not exist;
An anti-rotation member that is inserted into an insertion hole formed in the seal member on the head main body and protrudes to prevent rotation of the seal member;
An attachment member for attaching the head body to the head holder is inserted, and an insertion tube is provided so as to project through the insertion hole of the seal member.
An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a height of the rotation preventing member is set higher than a height of the insertion tube.   2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an annular protrusion is formed in an opening of a head flow path of the head body, and a through hole through which the annular protrusion is inserted is formed in a head substrate.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation preventing member is provided in the vicinity of the warpage preventing member.   The notch part which prevents interference with the said penetration tube is formed in the said head board | substrate, and the curvature prevention member is formed in the area | region corresponding to the said notch part of a head main body. The ink jet recording apparatus described.

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