JP4305076B2

JP4305076B2 - Liquid conducting material and liquid ejecting apparatus

Info

Publication number: JP4305076B2
Application number: JP2003198792A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 斉松本; 仁俊木村
Original assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Current assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date: 2003-07-17
Filing date: 2003-07-17
Publication date: 2009-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-17
Also published as: JP2005035111A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、液体導通材及び液体噴射装置に関する。特に本発明は、ターゲットに液体を噴射する液体噴射装置に使用され、液体供給部から液体噴射部に液体を導通する液体導通材及びこの液体導通材を使用した液体噴射装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
例えばインクジェット式記録装置等の液体噴射装置は、液体噴射部を往復移動させつつ液体を記録用紙などのターゲットに噴射し、記録等を行う。ターゲットに噴射される液体（例えばインク）は、液体供給部（例えばカートリッジ）から、液体噴射部（例えば記録ヘッド）に供給される。液体噴射装置には、往復移動するキャリッジに液体噴射部を搭載し、液体供給部を液体噴射装置の本体に設けるタイプがある（特許文献１参照）。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開２００１−２１２９７４号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
液体供給部が液体噴射装置の本体に設けられる場合、液体噴射装置は、液体供給部から液体噴射部に液体を導通させる液体導通材を備える必要がある。液体導通材として、エラストマなどの可撓性材料で形成された溝付きの長尺状の基材の上に、他の部材を接合し、溝と他の部材で形成された空間部を流路として用いるものが考えられる。ところで、液体供給部が液体噴射装置の本体に設けられているため、液体導通材は、キャリッジの往復移動に伴って曲げ伸びする。従って液体導通材が上記した構造を有する場合、基材と他の部材の接合部分の耐久性を上げる必要がある。
【０００５】
そこで本発明は、上記の課題を解決することのできる液体導通材及び液体噴射装置を提供することを目的とする。この目的は特許請求の範囲における独立項に記載の特徴の組み合わせにより達成される。また従属項は本発明の更なる有利な具体例を規定する。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の第１の形態は、液体噴射領域にあるターゲットに液体を噴射する液体噴射装置に使用され、液体噴射装置の本体に設けられた液体保持部と、液体を噴射する液体噴射部とを導通し、液体を液体噴射部に供給する液体導通材であって、一面に、長手方向に沿って所要数の第１の突条を互いに間隔を開けて併設し、かつ可撓性材料で形成された長尺状の主基材と、主基材の一面を覆い、第１の突条の間隙とともに液体が流れる第１の流路部を形成する、可撓性材料で形成された長尺状の覆基材とを備え、覆基材は、主基材の一面が長手方向に湾曲する方向に湾曲されたときに、主基材の一面の伸縮量を、覆基材がない場合と比べて小さくするように形成されている、液体導通材を提供する。
この液体導通材によれば、主基材の一面の伸縮量は小さくなるため、覆基材は主基材から剥がれにくくなる。
【０００７】
この液体導通材において、主基材と覆基材の間に、主基材及び覆基材の双方に接合される、金属層を含み可撓性を有した平板状長尺材を更に備えてもよい。この場合、液体の溶媒が覆基材を透過して蒸発する量、及び外気が覆基材を透過して液体に溶解する量を、それぞれ少なくすることができる。
【０００８】
ここで覆基材は、一面を、平板状長尺材に接合させて、第２の突条の間隙及び平板状長尺材により、液体が流れる第２の流路部を形成してもよい。このようにすると、流路部を液体導通材の肉厚方向に重ねて複数形成することができる。従って流路部を幅方向に並べて形成する場合と比べ、液体導通材の幅を小さくすることができる。
なお、覆基材の幅方向の断面形状は、主基材の幅方向の断面形状と略同一であり、更に、主基材と覆基材は、第１の突条及び第２の突条が互いに対向するように配置されてもよい。このようにすると、平板状長尺材を主基材及び覆基材に接合しやすくなる。
【０００９】
本発明の第２の形態は、液体噴射領域にあるターゲットに液体を噴射する液体噴射装置に使用され、液体噴射装置の本体に設けられた液体保持部と、液体を噴射する液体噴射部とを導通し、液体を液体噴射部に供給する液体導通材であって、一面に長手方向に沿った第１の溝部を有し、かつ可撓性材料で形成された長尺状の主基材と、第１の溝部の開口面を覆い、第１の溝部とともに液体が流れる第１の流路部を形成する、可撓性材料で形成された長尺状の覆基材とを備え、覆基材は、主基材の一面が長手方向に湾曲する方向に湾曲されたときに、主基材の一面の伸縮量を、覆基材がない場合と比べて小さくするように形成されている、液体導通材を提供する。
第２の形態によれば、第１の形態と同じ効果を得ることができる。
【００１０】
第２の形態において、主基材と覆基材の間に、主基材及び覆基材の双方に接合される、可撓性を有した平板状長尺材を更に備えてもよい。また覆基材は、一面を、平板状長尺材に接合させて、第２の溝部及び平板状長尺材により、液体が流れる第２の流路部を形成してもよい。
覆基材の幅方向の断面形状は、主基材の幅方向の断面形状と略同一であり、更に、主基材と覆基材は、第１の溝部又は第２の溝部が互いに対向するように配置されてもよい。これらの構成においても、第１の形態と同じ効果を得ることができる。
【００１１】
本発明の第３の形態は、液体噴射領域にあるターゲットに液体を噴射する液体噴射装置であって、液体噴射装置の本体に設けられた液体保持部と、液体を噴射する液体噴射部と、液体保持部と液体噴射部とを導通し、液体を液体噴射部に供給する液体導通材とを備え、液体導通材は、一面に、長手方向に沿って所要数の第１の突条を互いに間隔を開けて併設し、かつ可撓性材料で形成された長尺状の主基材と、主基材の一面を覆い、第１の突条の間隙とともに液体が流れる第１の流路部を形成する、可撓性材料で形成された長尺状の覆基材とを備え、覆基材は、主基材の一面が長手方向に湾曲する方向に湾曲されたときに、主基材の一面の伸縮量を、覆基材がない場合と比べて小さくするように形成されている、液体噴射装置を提供する。
第３の形態によれば、第１の形態と同じ効果を得ることができる。
【００１２】
本発明の第４の形態は、液体噴射領域にあるターゲットに液体を噴射する液体噴射装置であって、液体噴射装置の本体に設けられた液体保持部と、液体を噴射する液体噴射部と、液体保持部と液体噴射部とを導通し、液体を液体噴射部に供給する液体導通材とを備え、液体導通材は、一面に長手方向に沿った第１の溝部を有し、かつ可撓性材料で形成された長尺状の主基材と、第１の溝部の開口面を覆い、第１の溝部とともに液体が流れる第１の流路部を形成する、可撓性材料で形成された長尺状の覆基材とを備え、覆基材は、主基材の一面が長手方向に湾曲する方向に湾曲されたときに、主基材の一面の伸縮量を、覆基材がない場合と比べて小さくするように形成されている、液体噴射装置を提供する。
第４の形態によれば、第１の形態と同じ効果を得ることができる。
【００１３】
なお上記の発明の概要は、本発明の必要な特徴の全てを列挙したものではなく、これらの特徴群のサブコンビネーションも又発明となりうる。
【００１４】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、発明の実施の形態を通じて本発明を説明するが、以下の実施形態は特許請求の範囲にかかる発明を限定するものではなく、又実施形態の中で説明されている特徴の組み合わせの全てが発明の解決手段に必須であるとは限らない。
【００１５】
図１は、本発明の一実施形態であるインクジェット式記録装置１０を、カバーを外した状態で示す斜視図であり、図２はインクジェット式記録装置１０のインク供給系の斜視図である。図１及び図２に示すように、インクジェット式記録装置１０は、ターゲットの一例である被記録物１１の上を主走査方向に往復移動するキャリッジ４２、キャリッジ４２に載置されている記録ヘッド４４、それぞれ異なる色のインクを保持する複数のカートリッジ４５、及び記録ヘッド４４を複数のカートリッジ４５に連結する液体導通材１００を備える。キャリッジ４２は図示しないモータにより駆動され、ガイドシャフト４８に沿って往復移動する。記録ヘッド４４は、キャリッジ４２とともに往復移動しつつ複数色のインクを被記録物１１に対して噴射して記録を行う。カートリッジ４５は、インクジェット式記録装置１０の本体に脱着可能に固定されている。液体導通材１００は、長尺状であり、主要部は可撓性材料（例えば熱可塑性エラストマ）で形成されている。液体導通材１００は、インクが流れる流路部を複数有しており、複数のカートリッジ４５のそれぞれから記録ヘッド４４にインクを供給する。
【００１６】
このため、一つの液体導通材１００を用いるのみで、複数のカートリッジ４５がそれぞれ保持する複数色のインクを、記録ヘッド４４に供給することができる。従って複数のポリエチレンチューブを液体導通材として用いる場合と比べて、液体導通材１００をインクジェット式記録装置１０内に取り付けるときの工数は少なくなる。また液体導通材１００のコストは低くなる。
【００１７】
液体導通材１００は、可撓性材料で形成されているため、記録ヘッド４４の移動に伴って、表面が長手方向に沿って湾曲する方向に曲げ伸びする。液体導通材１００の主要部を形成する可撓性材料として、ＳＥＰＳ（ポリスチレン−ポリエチレン−ポリプロピレン−ポリスチレン）重合体を主材料とするエラストマを用いると、液体導通材１００はポリエチレンチューブと比べて撓みやすくなる。この場合、液体導通材１００を小さい曲率で湾曲させることができるため、インクジェット式記録装置１０を小型化することができる。またキャリッジ４２を駆動するモータに加わる負荷を小さくすることができる。
【００１８】
図３は、液体導通材１００の平面図である。本図は液体導通材１００をインクジェット式記録装置１０に取り付ける前の平面形状を示す。液体導通材１００は、平面形状において一部が曲がっており、記録ヘッド４４に連結するヘッド側端部１００ａ及びカートリッジ４５に連結するカートリッジ側端部１００ｂが、互いに液体導通材１００の長手方向中央付近で対向している。詳細には、ヘッド側端部１００ａから液体導通材１００の長さの略１／４ほど離れた部分、及びカートリッジ側端部１００ｂから液体導通材１００の長さの略１／４ほど離れた部分が、それぞれ略Ｕ字状に曲がっている。
【００１９】
図４（Ａ）は、図３における液体導通材１００のＡ−Ａ断面図である。図４（Ｂ）は、図４（Ａ）において鎖線で囲んだ領域を拡大した図である。液体導通材１００は、長尺状の主基材１１０の上に、主基材１１０と同一の材質で同一の形状に形成された覆基材１２０を、主基材１１０とは上下逆に配置し、平板状長尺材１３０を介して主基材１１０と覆基材１２０を接合した構造を有する。平板状長尺材１３０は、例えば溶着により、又は接着剤を用いた接着により、主基材１１０の表面に接合されている。平板状長尺材１３０は、主基材１１０に接合されていない状態において可撓性を有する。このため液体導通材１００は平板状長尺材１３０を有していても可撓性を有する。
【００２０】
主基材１１０は、断面形状が幅広の略長方形であり、上面に、長手方向に延伸する溝部１４１を、幅方向に複数（本図においては３つ）互いに離間して有する。本図において溝部１４１は、断面形状が長方形であり、主基材１１０の幅方向に複数形成された複数の突条１１１（本図においては４つ）の間隙として形成されている。平板状長尺材１３０は、溝部１４１の開口面を覆っており、溝部１４１（又は複数の突条１１１）とともにインクの流路部を形成している。具体的には、平板状長尺材１３０は、複数の突条１１１の肉厚方向の端面を覆いつつ主基材１１０の幅方向に亘って接合されつつ、溝部１４１の開口面を覆っている。
【００２１】
また覆基材１２０は、下面に、突条１２１及び溝部１４２を有する。突条１２１及び溝部１４２の形状は、主基材１１０の突条１１１及び溝部１４１の形状と同一である。覆基材１２０は、液体導通材１００の製造時に平板状長尺材１３０が主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０に接合しやすいように、突条１２１及び溝部１４２がそれぞれ突条１１１及び溝部１４１と対向するように配置されている。そして平板状長尺材１３０は、溝部１４２の開口面を覆っており、溝部１４２（又は複数の突条１２１）とともにインクの流路部を形成する。具体的には、平板状長尺材１３０は、複数の突条１２１の肉厚方向の端面を覆いつつ覆基材１２０の幅方向に亘って接合されつつ、溝部１４２の開口面を覆っている。
【００２２】
このような構造にすると、複数の流路部を液体導通材１００の肉厚方向に重ねて形成することができる。従って複数の流路部をすべて幅方向に並べる場合と比べて、液体導通材１００の幅を小さくすることができる。
また主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０は同じ構成であるため、平板状長尺材１３０は液体導通材１００の肉厚方向について略中央に位置している。従ってキャリッジの往復移動に伴って液体導通材１００が、主基材１１０の一面が長手方向に湾曲する方向に曲げ伸びしても、曲げ伸びに伴う主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０の接合面の伸縮量は、覆基材１２０を設けない場合と比べて小さい。このため、平板状長尺材１３０の伸縮量は小さくなる。従って平板状長尺材１３０は、主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０から離れにくくなる。
【００２３】
液体導通材１００は、例えば、金型に可撓性材料（例えば熱可塑性エラストマ）を流し込んで主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０を射出成形し、主基材１１０の上面に平板状長尺材１３０の下面を接合させるとともに、覆基材１２０の下面に同じ平板状長尺材１３０の上面を接合させることで、製造される。このため、押し出し成形する場合と比べて、主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０を複雑な形状にすることができる。また主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０の製造コストを低く押さえることができる。なお主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０を形成する可撓性材料は、柔軟材としてパラフィンオイルを含むのが好ましい。
【００２４】
また、主基材１１０が有する複数の突条１１１のうち、両端の突条１１１は他の突条１１１より幅広である。覆基材１２０が有する複数の突条１２１においても、両端の突条１２１は他の突条１２１より幅広である。このようにすると、インクの溶媒（例えば水）が主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０の側面を透過する量、及び外気が主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０の側面を透過してインクに溶解する量を、それぞれ少なくすることができる。
【００２５】
図４（Ｂ）に示すように平板状長尺材１３０は、主基材１１０と接する側から順に、溶着層１３１、補強層１３２、金属層１３３、補強層１３２及び溶着層１３１を有する。
溶着層１３１は、平板状長尺材１３０を、溶着により主基材１１０又は覆基材１２０に接合させる。主基材１１０がポリプロピレンを含む場合、溶着層１３１は、ポリエチレンまたはポリプロピレンで形成される。
補強層１３２は、平板状長尺材１３０を補強する。また補強層１３２は平板状長尺材１３０の耐熱性を向上させる。補強層１３２は例えばポリアミドで形成される。
金属層１３３は、インクに含まれる溶媒や外気が平板状長尺材１３０を透過することを防ぐための層であり、例えばアルミニウム層である。なお本形態において、平板状長尺材１３０は、金属層１３３を有さなくてもよい。
【００２６】
図５は、液体導通材１００の第１の変形例の断面図である。本変形例において液体導通材１００は、主基材１１０の上に直接覆基材１２０を接合して形成されている。本変形例において主基材１１０は図４に示した主基材１１０と同じ構成である。また本変形例において覆基材１２０は、溝部１４２を有していない点を除き、図４に示した覆基材１２０と同じ構成である。覆基材１２０は、突条１１１の上面に接合されており、溝部１４１の開口面を覆っている。
本変形例において、主基材１１０と覆基材１２０の接合面は、液体導通材１００の肉厚方向において略中央に位置する。このため液体導通材１００がキャリッジ４２の往復移動に伴って曲げ伸びしても、曲げ伸びに伴う接合面の伸縮量は、覆基材１２０がない場合と比べて小さい。従って覆基材１２０は主基材１１０から離れにくい。なお、本変形例において主基材１１０と覆基材１２０が、図４に示した平板状長尺材１３０を介して接合する構成にすると、インクの溶媒が覆基材１２０を透過して蒸発する量、及び外気が覆基材１２０を透過してインクに溶解する量を、それぞれ少なくすることができる。
【００２７】
図６は液体導通材１００の第２の変形例を示す断面図である。本変形例において、覆基材１２０が有する溝部１４２及び突条１２１の数は、主基材１１０が有する溝部１４１及び突条１１１の数と異なる。例えば溝部１４１は３つであり、溝部１４２は２つである。その他の構成は、主基材１１０の形状も含めて図４に示した液体導通材１００と同じである。このようにすると、液体導通材１００に奇数個の流路部を形成することができる。なお、本変形例において溝部１４２及び突条１２１は、液体導通材１００の幅方向において溝部１４１及び突条１１１と異なる位置に設けられている。
【００２８】
図７は、液体導通材１００の第３の変形例を示す断面図である。本変形例において覆基材１２０は、図４に示した覆基材１２０から溝部１４２を一つ除いた構成を有する。その他の構成は、主基材１１０の形状も含めて図４に示した液体導通材１００と同じである。本変形例の液体導通材１００によれば、突条１１１と突条１２１を互いに対向させたままで、奇数個の流路部を形成することができる。従って液体導通材１００の製造時に平板状長尺材１３０は主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０に接合しやすい。
【００２９】
図８は、カートリッジ側端部１００ｂの端面斜視図である。カートリッジ側端部１００ｂにおいて主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０は、それぞれ端面に、液体導通材１００をカートリッジ４５側の接続部と連結するための連結部材１５０を有する。連結部材１５０は、複数の流路部のそれぞれ毎に設けられる。
連結部材１５０の断面外径は、溝部１１２の配列間隔より大きくなっている。このため、主基材１１０及び覆基材１２０は、複数の連結部材１５０を並行に配置できるようにするために、カートリッジ側端部１００ｂで幅方向に広がっている。
【００３０】
図９は、図３のＢ−Ｂ断面を矢印方向から見た図である。連結部材１５０は、主基材１１０又は覆基材１２０とともに、主基材１１０又は覆基材１２０より強度が高い樹脂で２色成型されている。このため、液体導通材１００をカートリッジ４５に連結する際に、連結部材１５０を液体導通材１００に取り付ける必要はない。また連結部材１５０は主基材１１０又は覆基材１２０より強度が高い樹脂で成形されているため、液体導通材１００はインクジェット式記録装置１０に取り付けやすい。
【００３１】
上記説明から明らかなように、本実施形態の液体導通材１００によれば、曲げ伸ばしに伴う主基材１１０と覆基材１２０の接合面の伸縮量は小さいため、液体導通材１００の耐久性は高くなる。またインクの流路部を上下に重ねて形成することができるため、液体導通材１００の幅を小さくすることができる。
【００３２】
なお、インクジェット式記録装置１０は、液体噴射装置の一例である。また、インクジェット式記録装置の記録ヘッド４４は、液体噴射装置の液体噴射部の一例であり、カートリッジ４５は液体供給部の一例である。
しかしながら、本発明はこれらに限られない。液体噴射装置の他の例は、液晶ディスプレイのカラーフィルタを製造するカラーフィルタ製造装置である。この場合、カラーフィルタ製造装置の色材噴射ヘッドが液体噴射部の一例である。液体噴射装置のさらに他の例は、有機ＥＬディスプレイ、ＦＥＤ（面発光ディスプレイ）等の電極を形成する電極形成装置である。この場合、電極形成装置の電極材（電導ペースト）噴射ヘッドが液体噴射部の一例である。液体噴射装置のさらに他の例は、バイオチップを製造するバイオチップ製造装置である。この場合、バイオチップ製造装置の生体有機物噴射ヘッドおよび精密ピペットとしての試料噴射ヘッドが液体噴射部の一例である。本発明の液体噴射装置は、産業用途を有するその他の液体噴射装置も含む。また被記録物１１は、液体が噴射されることにより記録が行われる物であるが、ターゲットはこれに限定されず、例えば記録用紙、ディスプレイの電極等の回路パターンが記録される回路基板、ラベルが印刷されるＣＤ−ＲＯＭ、ＤＮＡ回路が記録されるプレパラートが含まれる。
【００３３】
以上、本発明を実施の形態を用いて説明したが、本発明の技術的範囲は上記実施の形態に記載の範囲には限定されない。上記実施の形態に、多様な変更又は改良を加えることができる。その様な変更又は改良を加えた形態も本発明の技術的範囲に含まれ得ることが、特許請求の範囲の記載から明らかである。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】液体導通材１００を用いたインクジェット式記録装置１０の斜視図
【図２】インクジェット式記録装置１０のインク供給系の斜視図
【図３】液体導通材１００の平面図
【図４】（Ａ）は、図３における液体導通材１００のＡ−Ａ断面図、（Ｂ）は、（Ａ）において鎖線で囲んだ領域を拡大した図
【図５】液体導通材１００の第１の変形例の断面図
【図６】液体導通材１００の第２の変形例の断面図
【図７】液体導通材１００の第３の変形例の断面図
【図８】液体導通材１００のカートリッジ側端部１００ｂの斜視図
【図９】図３における液体導通材１００のＢ−Ｂ断面図
【符号の説明】
１０…インクジェット式記録装置、４２…キャリッジ、４４…記録ヘッド、４５…カートリッジ、４８…ガイドシャフト、１００…液体導通材、１００ａ…ヘッド側端部、１００ｂ…カートリッジ側端部、１１０…主基材、１１１…突条、１２０…覆基材、１２１…突条、１３０…平板状長尺材、１３１…溶着層、１３２…補強層、１３３…金属層、１４１…溝部、１４２…溝部、１５０…連結部材[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid conducting material and a liquid ejecting apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid conducting material that is used in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target and conducts liquid from a liquid supply unit to a liquid ejecting unit, and a liquid ejecting apparatus that uses this liquid conducting material.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a target such as a recording sheet while reciprocating a liquid ejecting unit. A liquid (for example, ink) ejected to the target is supplied from a liquid supply unit (for example, a cartridge) to a liquid ejection unit (for example, a recording head). As a liquid ejecting apparatus, there is a type in which a liquid ejecting unit is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates and a liquid supply unit is provided in a main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus (see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-212974
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the liquid supply unit is provided in the main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid ejecting apparatus needs to include a liquid conducting material that conducts the liquid from the liquid supplying unit to the liquid ejecting unit. As a liquid conducting material, another member is joined to a grooved long base material formed of a flexible material such as elastomer, and a flow path is formed through the space formed by the groove and the other member. Can be used. By the way, since the liquid supply part is provided in the main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid conducting material bends and extends as the carriage reciprocates. Therefore, when the liquid conducting material has the above-described structure, it is necessary to increase the durability of the joint portion between the base material and the other member.
[0005]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid conducting material and a liquid ejecting apparatus that can solve the above-described problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first aspect of the present invention is used in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target in a liquid ejecting area, and includes a liquid holding unit provided in a main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid. A liquid conducting material that conducts and supplies liquid to the liquid ejecting unit, and is formed of a flexible material on one side with a required number of first protrusions spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction. A long main body formed of a flexible material that covers a surface of the long main body and a first flow path portion that covers one surface of the main base material and flows along with a gap between the first protrusions. A covering base material, and when the covering base material is curved in a direction in which one surface of the main base material is curved in the longitudinal direction, Provided is a liquid conducting material which is formed to be smaller than that of the liquid conducting material.
According to this liquid conducting material, the amount of expansion / contraction of one surface of the main base material is small, and thus the covered base material is difficult to peel off from the main base material.
[0007]
The liquid conducting material further includes a flexible plate-like long material including a metal layer and bonded to both the main base material and the covering base material between the main base material and the covering base material. Also good. In this case, the amount of the liquid solvent that permeates through the covered substrate and the amount of the outside air that permeates through the covered substrate and dissolves in the liquid can be reduced.
[0008]
Here, the covering base material may be joined to a flat plate-like long material to form a second flow path portion through which the liquid flows by the gap between the second protrusions and the flat plate-like long material. . If it does in this way, a plurality of channel parts can be piled up in the thickness direction of a liquid conduction material. Accordingly, the width of the liquid conducting material can be reduced as compared with the case where the flow path portions are formed side by side in the width direction.
Note that the cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the covering base material is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the main base material, and the main base material and the covering base material are the first and second protrusions. May be arranged so as to face each other. If it does in this way, it will become easy to join a tabular long material to a main base material and a covering base material.
[0009]
The second aspect of the present invention is used in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target in a liquid ejecting area, and includes a liquid holding unit provided in a main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid. A liquid conducting material that conducts and supplies a liquid to the liquid ejecting unit, and has a first main groove having a first groove along the longitudinal direction on one surface and formed of a flexible material; A long covering base material made of a flexible material that covers the opening surface of the first groove portion and forms a first flow path portion through which the liquid flows together with the first groove portion. The material is formed so that the amount of expansion / contraction of one surface of the main base material is reduced as compared with the case where there is no covering base material when the one surface of the main base material is curved in the direction of bending in the longitudinal direction. A liquid conducting material is provided.
According to the 2nd form, the same effect as a 1st form can be acquired.
[0010]
In the second embodiment, a flat plate-like long material having flexibility and bonded to both the main base material and the cover base material may be further provided between the main base material and the cover base material. Moreover, the covering base material may join the one surface to a flat plate-shaped long material, and form the 2nd flow-path part through which a liquid flows with a 2nd groove part and a flat plate-shaped long material.
The cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the covering base material is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the main base material, and the first groove portion or the second groove portion of the main base material and the covering base material face each other. May be arranged as follows. Also in these structures, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0011]
A third aspect of the present invention is a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target in a liquid ejecting area, the liquid holding unit provided in the main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid, A liquid conducting material that conducts the liquid holding unit and the liquid ejecting unit and supplies the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit, and the liquid conducting material has a predetermined number of first protrusions along the longitudinal direction on one surface. An elongated main base material formed with a flexible material, and a first flow path portion covering one surface of the main base material and allowing a liquid to flow with a gap between the first protrusions And a long covering base material formed of a flexible material, and the covering base material is curved when the one surface of the main base material is curved in the longitudinal direction. A liquid ejecting apparatus is provided that is formed so that the amount of expansion and contraction on one surface is reduced as compared with the case where there is no covering substrate.
According to the 3rd form, the same effect as a 1st form can be acquired.
[0012]
A fourth aspect of the present invention is a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target in a liquid ejecting area, a liquid holding unit provided in a main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus, a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid, A liquid conducting material that conducts the liquid holding unit and the liquid ejecting unit and supplies the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit. The liquid conducting material has a first groove along the longitudinal direction on one side and is flexible. It is formed of a flexible material that covers a long main base material made of a conductive material and an opening surface of the first groove portion and forms a first flow path portion through which liquid flows together with the first groove portion. A long covering base material, and when the covering base material is curved in a direction in which one surface of the main base material is curved in the longitudinal direction, the covering base material Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus which is formed to be smaller than the case where there is no liquid ejecting apparatus.
According to the 4th form, the same effect as a 1st form can be acquired.
[0013]
The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are included. It is not necessarily essential for the solution of the invention.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover removed, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ink supply system of the ink jet recording apparatus 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 includes a carriage 42 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction on a recording material 11 that is an example of a target, and a recording head 44 that is mounted on the carriage 42. A plurality of cartridges 45 that hold inks of different colors and a liquid conducting material 100 that connects the recording head 44 to the plurality of cartridges 45 are provided. The carriage 42 is driven by a motor (not shown) and reciprocates along the guide shaft 48. The recording head 44 performs recording by ejecting a plurality of colors of ink onto the recording material 11 while reciprocating together with the carriage 42. The cartridge 45 is detachably fixed to the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus 10. The liquid conducting material 100 has a long shape, and the main part is formed of a flexible material (for example, a thermoplastic elastomer). The liquid conducting material 100 has a plurality of flow path portions through which ink flows, and supplies ink to the recording head 44 from each of the plurality of cartridges 45.
[0016]
For this reason, it is possible to supply the recording head 44 with a plurality of colors of ink held by the plurality of cartridges 45 only by using one liquid conducting material 100. Therefore, compared with the case where a plurality of polyethylene tubes are used as the liquid conducting material, the number of steps for mounting the liquid conducting material 100 in the ink jet recording apparatus 10 is reduced. Further, the cost of the liquid conducting material 100 is reduced.
[0017]
Since the liquid conducting material 100 is formed of a flexible material, as the recording head 44 moves, the surface bends and extends in a direction in which the surface curves along the longitudinal direction. When an elastomer mainly composed of a SEPS (polystyrene-polyethylene-polypropylene-polystyrene) polymer is used as a flexible material forming the main part of the liquid conducting material 100, the liquid conducting material 100 is more easily bent than a polyethylene tube. Become. In this case, since the liquid conducting material 100 can be curved with a small curvature, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 can be miniaturized. In addition, the load applied to the motor that drives the carriage 42 can be reduced.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the liquid conducting material 100. This figure shows a planar shape before the liquid conducting material 100 is attached to the ink jet recording apparatus 10. The liquid conducting material 100 is partially bent in a planar shape, and the head side end portion 100 a connected to the recording head 44 and the cartridge side end portion 100 b connected to the cartridge 45 are near the center in the longitudinal direction of the liquid conducting material 100. Are facing each other. Specifically, a portion that is approximately 1/4 of the length of the liquid conducting material 100 from the head side end portion 100a and a portion that is approximately 1/4 of the length of the liquid conducting material 100 from the cartridge side end portion 100b. However, each is bent into a substantially U shape.
[0019]
4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the liquid conducting material 100 in FIG. FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of a region surrounded by a chain line in FIG. The liquid conducting material 100 has a covering base 120 formed in the same shape with the same material as that of the main base 110 on a long main base 110 and arranged upside down with respect to the main base 110. The main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 are joined via the flat plate-like long material 130. The plate-like long material 130 is bonded to the surface of the main substrate 110 by, for example, welding or bonding using an adhesive. The flat plate-like long material 130 has flexibility in a state where it is not joined to the main base material 110. For this reason, the liquid conducting material 100 has flexibility even if it has the flat plate-like long material 130.
[0020]
The main base material 110 has a substantially rectangular shape with a wide cross-sectional shape, and has a plurality of groove portions 141 extending in the longitudinal direction (three in the drawing) spaced apart from each other on the upper surface. In this drawing, the groove portion 141 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and is formed as a gap between a plurality of protrusions 111 (four in this drawing) formed in the width direction of the main substrate 110. The flat plate-like elongate material 130 covers the opening surface of the groove 141 and forms an ink flow path together with the groove 141 (or the plurality of protrusions 111). Specifically, the flat plate-like long material 130 covers the opening surface of the groove 141 while being joined over the width direction of the main base material 110 while covering the end surfaces in the thickness direction of the plurality of protrusions 111. .
[0021]
Moreover, the covering base material 120 has the protrusion 121 and the groove part 142 on the lower surface. The shapes of the protrusions 121 and the groove portions 142 are the same as the shapes of the protrusions 111 and the groove portions 141 of the main substrate 110. The covering base 120 has the protrusion 121 and the groove 142 that are the protrusion 111 and the groove 141, respectively, so that the plate-like long member 130 can be easily joined to the main base 110 and the covering base 120 when the liquid conducting material 100 is manufactured. Are arranged to face each other. The flat plate-like material 130 covers the opening surface of the groove 142 and forms an ink flow path together with the groove 142 (or the plurality of protrusions 121). Specifically, the flat plate-like long material 130 covers the opening surface of the groove 142 while being bonded over the width direction of the covering base material 120 while covering the end surfaces in the thickness direction of the plurality of protrusions 121. .
[0022]
With such a structure, the plurality of flow path portions can be formed so as to overlap in the thickness direction of the liquid conducting material 100. Therefore, the width of the liquid conducting material 100 can be reduced as compared with the case where all of the plurality of flow paths are arranged in the width direction.
In addition, since the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 have the same configuration, the flat plate-like long material 130 is positioned substantially at the center in the thickness direction of the liquid conducting material 100. Therefore, even if the liquid conducting material 100 bends and extends in a direction in which one surface of the main base material 110 is curved in the longitudinal direction as the carriage reciprocates, the joint surface of the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 accompanying the bending extension. The amount of expansion / contraction is smaller than when the covering base 120 is not provided. For this reason, the expansion / contraction amount of the flat plate-like long material 130 becomes small. Accordingly, the flat plate-like long material 130 is difficult to be separated from the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120.
[0023]
The liquid conducting material 100 is formed by, for example, pouring a flexible material (for example, a thermoplastic elastomer) into a mold to injection-mold the main base material 110 and the cover base material 120, and a flat plate-like long material on the upper surface of the main base material 110. It is manufactured by joining the lower surface of 130 and joining the upper surface of the same long plate-like material 130 to the lower surface of the covering substrate 120. For this reason, the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 can be made into a complicated shape compared with the case of extrusion molding. Moreover, the manufacturing cost of the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 can be suppressed low. In addition, it is preferable that the flexible material which forms the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 contains paraffin oil as a soft material.
[0024]
In addition, among the plurality of protrusions 111 included in the main base 110, the protrusions 111 at both ends are wider than the other protrusions 111. Also in the some protrusion 121 which the covering base material 120 has, the protrusion 121 of both ends is wider than the other protrusion 121. FIG. In this way, the amount of ink solvent (for example, water) permeates the side surfaces of the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120, and the outside air permeates the side surfaces of the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 and dissolves in the ink. The amount to do can be reduced respectively.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 4B, the flat plate-like long member 130 includes a welding layer 131, a reinforcing layer 132, a metal layer 133, a reinforcing layer 132, and a welding layer 131 in this order from the side in contact with the main substrate 110.
The welding layer 131 joins the flat plate-like long material 130 to the main base material 110 or the covering base material 120 by welding. When main substrate 110 includes polypropylene, welding layer 131 is formed of polyethylene or polypropylene.
The reinforcing layer 132 reinforces the flat plate-like long material 130. In addition, the reinforcing layer 132 improves the heat resistance of the flat plate-like long material 130. The reinforcing layer 132 is made of polyamide, for example.
The metal layer 133 is a layer for preventing the solvent and the outside air contained in the ink from passing through the long plate-like material 130, and is an aluminum layer, for example. In this embodiment, the plate-like long material 130 does not need to have the metal layer 133.
[0026]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a first modification of the liquid conducting material 100. In this modification, the liquid conducting material 100 is formed by bonding the covering base material 120 directly on the main base material 110. In this modification, the main base material 110 has the same configuration as the main base material 110 shown in FIG. Moreover, the covering base material 120 has the same configuration as the covering base material 120 shown in FIG. 4 except that the covering base material 120 does not have the groove 142. The covering base 120 is bonded to the upper surface of the ridge 111 and covers the opening surface of the groove 141.
In the present modification, the joint surface between the main base material 110 and the cover base material 120 is located at the approximate center in the thickness direction of the liquid conducting material 100. For this reason, even if the liquid conducting material 100 is bent and stretched along with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 42, the amount of expansion / contraction of the joint surface due to the bending and stretching is small compared to the case where there is no covering substrate 120. Therefore, the covering base 120 is not easily separated from the main base 110. In this modification, when the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 are joined via the flat plate-like material 130 shown in FIG. 4, the ink solvent permeates the covering base material 120 and evaporates. And the amount of outside air that permeates through the covering substrate 120 and dissolves in the ink can be reduced.
[0027]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a second modification of the liquid conducting material 100. In the present modification, the number of the groove portions 142 and the ridges 121 included in the covering base material 120 is different from the number of the groove portions 141 and the ridges 111 included in the main base material 110. For example, there are three groove portions 141 and two groove portions 142. Other configurations are the same as those of the liquid conducting material 100 shown in FIG. In this way, an odd number of channel portions can be formed in the liquid conducting material 100. In this modification, the groove 142 and the ridge 121 are provided at positions different from the groove 141 and the ridge 111 in the width direction of the liquid conducting material 100.
[0028]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a third modification of the liquid conducting material 100. In the present modification, the covering base 120 has a configuration in which one groove 142 is removed from the covering base 120 illustrated in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the liquid conducting material 100 shown in FIG. According to the liquid conducting material 100 of this modification, an odd number of channel portions can be formed with the ridges 111 and the ridges 121 facing each other. Accordingly, the plate-like long material 130 is easily joined to the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 when the liquid conducting material 100 is manufactured.
[0029]
FIG. 8 is an end perspective view of the cartridge side end portion 100b. In the cartridge side end portion 100b, the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 have connection members 150 for connecting the liquid conducting material 100 to the connection portion on the cartridge 45 side at their end faces. The connecting member 150 is provided for each of the plurality of flow paths.
The cross-sectional outer diameter of the connecting member 150 is larger than the arrangement interval of the grooves 112. For this reason, the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 are spread in the width direction at the cartridge side end portion 100b so that the plurality of connecting members 150 can be arranged in parallel.
[0030]
FIG. 9 is a view of the BB cross section of FIG. 3 as viewed from the direction of the arrow. The connecting member 150 is molded in two colors with a resin having higher strength than the main base material 110 or the covering base material 120 together with the main base material 110 or the covering base material 120. For this reason, when connecting the liquid conducting material 100 to the cartridge 45, it is not necessary to attach the connecting member 150 to the liquid conducting material 100. Further, since the connecting member 150 is formed of a resin having higher strength than the main base material 110 or the covering base material 120, the liquid conductive material 100 can be easily attached to the ink jet recording apparatus 10.
[0031]
As is clear from the above description, according to the liquid conducting material 100 of the present embodiment, the amount of expansion / contraction of the joint surface of the main base material 110 and the covering base material 120 that accompanies bending and stretching is small. Becomes higher. Further, since the ink flow path portions can be formed to be stacked one above the other, the width of the liquid conducting material 100 can be reduced.
[0032]
The ink jet recording apparatus 10 is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus. The recording head 44 of the ink jet recording apparatus is an example of a liquid ejecting section of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and the cartridge 45 is an example of a liquid supply section.
However, the present invention is not limited to these. Another example of the liquid ejecting apparatus is a color filter manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a color filter for a liquid crystal display. In this case, the color material ejecting head of the color filter manufacturing apparatus is an example of the liquid ejecting unit. Still another example of the liquid ejecting apparatus is an electrode forming apparatus that forms electrodes such as an organic EL display and an FED (surface emitting display). In this case, an electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting head of the electrode forming apparatus is an example of the liquid ejecting unit. Still another example of the liquid ejecting apparatus is a biochip manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a biochip. In this case, the bio-organic matter ejecting head of the biochip manufacturing apparatus and the sample ejecting head as a precision pipette are examples of the liquid ejecting unit. The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes other liquid ejecting apparatuses having industrial use. The recording object 11 is an object on which recording is performed by ejecting a liquid. However, the target is not limited to this, and for example, a circuit board on which a circuit pattern such as recording paper or display electrodes is recorded, a label CD-ROM on which is printed, and a slide on which a DNA circuit is recorded.
[0033]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus 10 using a liquid conducting material 100. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ink supply system of the ink jet recording apparatus 10. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the liquid conducting material 100. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the liquid conducting material 100 in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of a region surrounded by a chain line in FIG. 5A. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second modification of the liquid conducting material 100. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a third modification of the liquid conducting material 100. FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid conducting material 100 in FIG.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet recording apparatus, 42 ... Carriage, 44 ... Recording head, 45 ... Cartridge, 48 ... Guide shaft, 100 ... Liquid conducting material, 100a ... Head side edge part, 100b ... Cartridge side edge part, 110 ... Main base material , 111 ... protrusions, 120 ... covering base material, 121 ... protrusions, 130 ... flat plate-like material, 131 ... welding layer, 132 ... reinforcing layer, 133 ... metal layer, 141 ... groove part, 142 ... groove part, 150 ... Connecting member

Claims

Used in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target in a liquid ejecting area, and electrically connects a liquid holding unit provided in a main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus and a liquid ejecting section that ejects the liquid, A liquid conducting material to be supplied to the liquid ejecting unit,
A long main substrate formed of a flexible material on the one side, along with a required number of first protrusions along the longitudinal direction, spaced apart from each other, and
An elongate covered base material formed of a flexible material that covers the one surface of the main base material and forms a first flow path portion through which the liquid flows together with a gap between the first protrusions. Prepared,
The covering substrate is
On one side, the required number of second protrusions provided along the longitudinal direction are spaced apart from each other,
The one surface is joined to the main base material, and a second flow path portion through which the liquid flows is formed by the gap between the second protrusions and the main base material,
When the one surface of the main base material is bent in a direction in which the one surface of the main base material is curved in the longitudinal direction, the amount of expansion / contraction of the one surface of the main base material is smaller than that in the case where there is no cover base material. A liquid conducting material that is formed to

The plate-shaped elongate material which contains a metal layer and has flexibility which is joined to both the main substrate and the covering base material between the main base material and the covering base material further. The liquid conducting material according to 1.

The cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the covering base material is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the main base material,
The liquid conducting material according to claim 1 , wherein the main base material and the covering base material are arranged such that the first protrusion and the second protrusion are opposed to each other. .

The liquid conducting material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein among the plurality of protrusions of the main base material, the protrusions at both ends are wider than the other protrusions.

Used in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target in a liquid ejecting area, and electrically connects a liquid holding unit provided in a main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus and a liquid ejecting section that ejects the liquid, A liquid conducting material to be supplied to the liquid ejecting unit,
An elongated main base material having a first groove portion along the longitudinal direction on one surface and formed of a flexible material;
An elongated covering base material formed of a flexible material that covers the opening surface of the first groove portion and forms a first flow path portion through which the liquid flows together with the first groove portion;
The covering substrate is
One surface has a second groove formed along the longitudinal direction,
The one surface is joined to the main base material, and the second channel portion and the main base material form a second flow path portion through which the liquid flows,
When the one surface of the main base material is bent in a direction in which the one surface of the main base material is curved in the longitudinal direction, the amount of expansion / contraction of the one surface of the main base material is smaller than that in the case where there is no cover base material. A liquid conducting material that is formed to

The plate-shaped elongate material which contains a metal layer and has flexibility which is joined to both the main substrate and the covering base material between the main base material and the covering base material further. 5. The liquid conducting material according to 5.

The cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the covering base material is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the main base material,
Furthermore, the said main base material and the said covering base material are the liquid conduction | electrical_connection materials of Claim 5 or Claim 6 arrange | positioned so that the said 1st groove part and the said 2nd groove part may mutually oppose.

A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target in a liquid ejecting area,
A liquid holding unit provided in a main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus;
A liquid ejecting section for ejecting the liquid;
A liquid conducting material that conducts the liquid holding unit and the liquid ejecting unit and supplies the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit;
The liquid conducting material is
A long main substrate formed of a flexible material on the one side, along with a required number of first protrusions along the longitudinal direction, spaced apart from each other, and
An elongate covered base material formed of a flexible material that covers the one surface of the main base material and forms a first flow path portion through which the liquid flows together with a gap between the first protrusions. Prepared,
The covering substrate is
On one side, the required number of second protrusions provided along the longitudinal direction are spaced apart from each other,
The one surface is joined to the main base material, and a second flow path portion through which the liquid flows is formed by the gap between the second protrusions and the main base material,
When the one surface of the main base material is bent in a direction in which the one surface of the main base material is curved in the longitudinal direction, the amount of expansion / contraction of the one surface of the main base material is smaller than that in the case where there is no cover base material. A liquid ejecting apparatus which is formed to

A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target in a liquid ejecting area,
A liquid holding unit provided in a main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus;
A liquid ejecting section for ejecting the liquid;
A liquid conducting material that conducts the liquid holding unit and the liquid ejecting unit and supplies the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit;
The liquid conducting material is
An elongated main base material having a first groove portion along the longitudinal direction on one surface and formed of a flexible material;
An elongated covering base material formed of a flexible material that covers the opening surface of the first groove portion and forms a first flow path portion through which the liquid flows together with the first groove portion;
The covering substrate is
One surface has a second groove formed along the longitudinal direction,
The one surface is joined to the main base material, and the second channel portion and the main base material form a second flow path portion through which the liquid flows,
When the one surface of the main base material is bent in a direction in which the one surface of the main base material is curved in the longitudinal direction, the amount of expansion / contraction of the one surface of the main base material is smaller than that in the case where there is no cover base material. A liquid ejecting apparatus which is formed to