JP4612873B2 - INJET HEAD AND INKJET METHOD OF INKJET HEAD - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ink injection method for an ink jet head and the ink jet head for discharging Lee down click.

  The ink jet recording apparatus is a so-called non-impact recording type recording apparatus, which can record at high speed and various recording materials, and has a feature that noise in recording hardly occurs. . For this reason, the ink jet recording apparatus is widely adopted as an apparatus that bears a recording mechanism such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile, a word processor, or the like.

  As a typical ink ejection method in a recording head mounted on such an ink jet recording apparatus, an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element is used. And the like that discharge ink droplets, or those that heat ink by an electrothermal conversion element having a heating resistor and discharge ink droplets by the action of film boiling, are known. An ink jet recording head using an electrothermal conversion element is provided with an electrothermal conversion element in a recording liquid chamber, and supplies heat energy to the ink by supplying an electric pulse as a recording signal to the electrothermal conversion element to generate heat. Recording is performed on the recording material by ejecting minute ink droplets from minute ejection ports using the bubble pressure when the recording liquid is foamed (at the time of boiling) caused by the phase change of the recording liquid at that time. Is.

  In such an ink jet recording head, pressure vibration when ink is ejected is also transmitted to the common liquid chamber communicating with the nozzles and the ink supply flow path. May cause problems.

  For this reason, an air chamber (also referred to as an air buffer) is provided in communication with a part of the common liquid chamber and the ink supply flow path so as to confine bubbles in a part of the ink flowing through the ink supply flow path. Thus, the transmitted vibration is absorbed by the air bubbles in the air chamber, and the device is designed to prevent the adverse effect caused by the vibration transmitted to the adjacent nozzle.

Such an air chamber needs to be a closed space in order to prevent bubbles in the air chamber from being replaced with ink. For this reason, as a configuration of the air chamber, for example, a space portion having a communication path communicating with the ink supply flow path is formed, and an opening is provided in the space portion in a molded product state, and this opening is cleaned and assembled. Examples include a type that is sealed with heat welding, an adhesive, or the like, and a type that is plugged with additional parts.
JP 2004-122463 A

  However, the conventional ink jet recording head as described above has the following problems.

  As described above, the structure of the air chamber provided in the conventional ink jet recording head is a type in which the opening provided in the space portion in the state of a molded product is plugged with heat welding or adhesive after cleaning and assembly, There is a type that plugs by adding, but in any case, additional processing steps and parts are added.

  Specifically, in the heat welding process, it is necessary to manage the heating temperature and the heating time in the welding apparatus, and since the air chamber is an important part of the airtightness, it is necessary to manage it strictly in terms of quality.

  In addition, in the method of sealing the opening of the space part with an adhesive or the like, similarly, the curing state of the adhesive must be strictly controlled, and further, the selection of the adhesive considering the influence on the ink is important. It becomes an element. In addition, when plugging with additional parts, there are many items that should be considered in the joining method of the parts in addition to the increase in the manufacturing cost due to the parts cost.For example, there is a problem related to the generation of dust during ultrasonic welding. It is necessary to solve this problem, and there is a problem similar to that described above when bonding with an adhesive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet head that can reliably accumulate bubbles in an air chamber and improve the reliability of the discharge operation with the simplest possible configuration.

In order to achieve the above-described object, an inkjet head according to the present invention includes a head unit and a tank unit that stores ink supplied to the head unit, and an ink supply member that interposes a filter on the tank unit side. Concatenated. The ink supply member includes an ink supply channel that connects the head unit and the tank unit, a partition wall and an ink supply member that are open to face the tank unit side and are not connected to the head unit side. An air chamber surrounded by the peripheral wall and a communication port communicating with the ink supply channel are provided at the end of the partition wall on the tank portion side.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably accumulate bubbles in the air chamber in the ink supply channel, and the reliability of the ejection operation can be improved with a relatively simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, each component of the recording head of the embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the recording head of the present embodiment is configured integrally with an ink tank, and black ink is applied to the first recording head H1000 shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). In the second recording head H1001 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, color inks (cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink) are respectively mounted. The first and second recording heads H1000 and H1001 are fixedly supported by a positioning mechanism and electrical contacts of a carriage placed on the ink jet recording apparatus main body. Moreover, it is detachable with respect to the carriage, and each is replaced when the mounted ink is consumed.

  Next, the recording heads will be described in detail for each component constituting the recording head.

(1) Recording Head The first recording head H1000 and the second recording head H1001 of this embodiment use thermal energy for causing film boiling in ink according to an electrical signal, and an electrothermal conversion element such as a heater. The ink is ejected by bubbles generated in the ink and generated in the ink. This recording head is a so-called side shooter type recording head that is disposed so that the main surface of the electrothermal conversion element faces the ink discharge port.

(1-1) First recording head The first recording head H1000 is used for black ink. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording element substrate H1100, an electric wiring tape H1300, an ink supply member H1500, a filter H1700, an ink absorber H1600, a lid member H1900, and a seal member H1800 are included.

(1-1-1) First Recording Element Substrate FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view for explaining the configuration of the first recording element substrate H1100. The first recording element substrate H1100 is anisotropic, for example, in which a Si substrate H1110 having a thickness of about 0.5 to 1 mm and an ink supply port H1102 having a long groove-like through-hole serving as an ink flow path uses the crystal orientation of Si. Formed by a method such as reactive etching or sandblasting.

  On both sides of the ink supply port H1102 between, the electrothermal conversion elements H1103 are arranged and arranged in a row, and an unillustrated made of Al or the like for supplying electric power to the electrothermal conversion elements H1103. Electrical wiring is formed. These electrothermal conversion elements H1103 and electric wiring are formed by a film forming technique. The electrothermal conversion elements H1103 are arranged in a staggered manner in each row, that is, the positions of the ejection ports H1107 in each row are slightly shifted so as not to line up in a direction orthogonal to the row direction. Furthermore, electrode portions H1104 for supplying electric power to the electric wiring or supplying an electric signal for driving the electrothermal conversion element H1103 are arranged along both outer sides of the electrothermal conversion element H1103. Is formed. A bump H1105 made of Au or the like is formed on the electrode portion H1104.

  Further, a fuse H1117 for storing information unique to the head is formed in the Si substrate H1110. FIG. 7 shows an outline of the Si substrate. In this embodiment, the fuse H1117 is formed of a polysilicon resistor, and is disposed on the short side of the ink supply port. A second drive element H1118 that is driven to blow and read the fuse H1117 is disposed adjacent to the first drive element H1116. Since the selection signal for selectively driving the fuse H1117 by the second driving element H1118 uses the signal for selecting the electrothermal conversion element H1103 as it is, it can be selected in the same manner as the electrothermal conversion element H1103. . That is, the first drive in which the electrothermal conversion element H1103 is driven from the signal line input from the outside of the inkjet recording substrate to the signal line near the second drive element H1118 through the shift register, the latch circuit, and the decoder. It is driven using the same circuit as the circuit that selects the element H1116. A selection circuit H1112 that finally selects the second drive element H1118 from a signal line output from a shift register or the like has the same form as the circuit for the first drive element H1116.

  Note that the VH power supply wiring H1114 extended from the VH power supply pad H1104c for supplying the VH power to the electrothermal conversion element H1103 is connected to the electrothermal conversion element H1103. A GNDH power supply wiring H1113 extended from a GNDH power supply pad H1104d for supplying a GNDH power supply is connected to the first drive element H1116 connected to the electrothermal conversion element H1103 and the second drive connected to the fuse H1117. It is shared by the element H1118.

  The ID pad H1104a functions as a fuse cutting power supply terminal that applies a voltage when the fuse H1117 is blown, and functions as a signal output terminal when information is read by the fuse H1117. That is, when the fuse H1117 is blown, a voltage (for example, 24V for driving the electrothermal conversion element H1103) is applied to the ID pad H1104a to drive the second drive element H1118 selected by the selection circuit and the corresponding fuse. H1117 is blown instantaneously. At this time, the ID power supply pad H1104b which is a fuse reading power supply terminal is open. On the other hand, when reading information, by applying a voltage (for example, 3.3 V of the power supply voltage of the logic circuit) to the ID power supply pad H1104b, the Hi level is output if the fuse H1117 is blown. If not blown, the Lo level is output to the ID pad H1104a by the read resistor H1111 that is clearly larger than the resistance value of the fuse H1117.

  On the surface of the Si substrate H1110 on which these patterns are formed, an ink flow path wall H1106 that forms an ink flow path corresponding to the electrothermal conversion element H1103, and a ceiling portion that covers the top of the ink flow path wall H1106 Have In addition, a structure body made of a resin material having a discharge port H1107 opened in the ceiling is formed by a photolithography technique. The discharge port 1107 is provided to face the electrothermal conversion element H1103, and forms a discharge port group H1108. In the first recording element H1100, the ink supplied from the ink flow path H1102 is ejected from an ejection port 1107 that is opposed to each electrothermal conversion element H1103 by the pressure of bubbles generated by the heat generated by each electrothermal conversion element H1103. It is discharged from.

(1-1-2) Electric Wiring Tape The electric wiring tape H1300 forms an electric signal path for applying an electric signal for ejecting ink to the first recording element substrate H1100. An opening H1303 for incorporating the recording element substrate is formed in the electric wiring tape H1300, and an electrode terminal H1304 connected to the electrode portion H1104 of the recording element substrate is formed near the edge of the opening H1303. Yes. The electrical wiring tape H1300 has an external signal input terminal H1302 for receiving an electrical signal from the main unit, and the electrode terminal H1304 and the external signal input terminal H1302 are connected by a continuous copper foil wiring pattern. ing.

  The electrical connection between the electrical wiring tape H1300 and the first recording element substrate 1100 is, for example, the bump H1105 formed on the electrode portion H1104 of the first recording element substrate H1100 and the electrode portion of the first recording element substrate H1100. The electrode terminal H1304 of the electric wiring tape H1300 corresponding to H1104 is electrically joined by a thermosonic bonding method.

(1-1-3) Ink Supply Member The ink supply member H1500 is formed by, for example, injection molding using a resin material. In order to improve the shape rigidity, it is desirable to use a fiber reinforced resin material in which about 5 to 40% of glass filler is mixed in the resin material. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the ink supply member H1500 has an ink absorber H1600 for holding ink therein and generating negative pressure, thereby functioning as an ink tank, and a recording element substrate. By forming an ink flow path for guiding the ink to the H1100, a function of an ink supply path is provided. As the ink absorber H1600, a compressed PP fiber is used, but a compressed urethane fiber may be used. A filter H1700 for preventing dust from entering the recording element substrate H1100 is joined to the boundary with the ink absorber H1600, which is the upstream portion of the ink flow path, by welding. The filter H1700 may be a SUS metal mesh type, but is preferably a SUS metal fiber sintered type.

  An ink supply port H1200 for supplying black ink to the first recording element substrate H1100 is formed in the downstream portion of the ink flow path. Further, the first recording element substrate H1100 is adhesively fixed to the ink supply member H1500 with high positional accuracy so that the ink supply port 1102 of the first recording element substrate H1100 communicates with the ink supply port H1200 of the ink supply member H1500. The The first adhesive used for the bonding is desirably a low viscosity, low curing temperature, cured in a short time, has a relatively high hardness after curing, and has ink resistance. For example, a thermosetting adhesive mainly composed of an epoxy resin is used as the first adhesive, and the thickness of the adhesive layer at that time is preferably about 50 μm.

  In addition, a part of the back surface of the electric wiring tape H1300 is bonded and fixed to the plane around the bonding surface of the first recording element substrate H1100 by the second adhesive. As shown in FIG. 8, the electrical connection portion between the first recording element substrate H1100 and the electrical wiring tape H1300 is sealed with the first sealant H1307 and the second sealant H1308, and the electrical connection portion is Protected from ink corrosion and external impact. The first sealing agent H1307 mainly seals the back surface side of the connection portion between the electrode terminal H1302 of the electric wiring tape H1300 and the bump H1105 of the recording element substrate and the outer peripheral portion of the recording element substrate, and the second sealing agent. The agent H1308 seals the front side of the connection portion described above. The unbonded portion of the electric wiring tape H1300 is bent and fixed to the side surface of the ink supply member H1500 that is substantially perpendicular to the bonding surface of the first recording element substrate H1100 with heat welding or an adhesive.

(1-1-4) Lid Member The lid member H1900 is welded to the opening on the upper end side of the ink supply member H1500, whereby the inside of the ink supply member H1500 is closed. As shown in FIG. 2B, the lid member H1900 has a narrow hole H1910 for releasing pressure fluctuation inside the ink supply member H1500 and a fine groove H1920 communicated with the narrow hole H1910. . Further, most of the narrow opening H1910 and the fine groove H1920 are covered with a seal member H1800, and one end of the fine groove H1920 is opened to form an atmosphere communication opening. Further, the first recording head H1000 has an engaging portion H1930 for fixing the first recording head H1000 to the ink jet recording apparatus.

(1-2) Second recording head The second recording head H1001 is for ejecting ink of three colors, cyan, magenta, and yellow. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the recording element substrate H1101, the electric wiring tape H1301, the ink supply member H1501, the filters H1701, H1702, and H1703, the ink absorbers H1601, H1602, and H1603, the lid member H1901, and And a sealing member H1801. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second recording element substrate, the electric wiring tape, the ink supply member, and the lid member have basically the same configurations as those in the above-described embodiment.

(1-3) Mounting of Recording Head to Inkjet Recording Device As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first recording head H1000 and the second recording head H1001 includes a mounting guide H1560 for guiding the carriage mounting position of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, an engaging portion H1930 for mounting and fixing the carriage to the carriage by the head set lever, and a positioning for a predetermined mounting position of the carriage. An abutting portion H1570 in the X direction (carriage scan direction), an abutting portion H1580 in the Y direction (recording medium conveyance direction), and an abutting portion H1590 in the Z direction (ink ejection direction) are provided. The external signal input terminals H1302 on the electric wiring tapes H1300 and H1301 are in good electrical contact with the contact pins of the electric connection portions provided in the carriage by being positioned by the respective abutting portions H1570, H1580, and H1590. The

(2) Inkjet recording apparatus Next, an inkjet recording apparatus capable of mounting the above-described cartridge type recording head will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an ink jet recording apparatus in which the recording head of this embodiment can be mounted.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 9, the recording heads H1000 and H1001 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 are positioned with respect to the carriage 102 and detachably mounted. The carriage 102 is provided with an electrical connection unit for transmitting a drive signal and the like to each ejection unit via external signal input terminals on the first and second recording heads H1000 and H1001.

  The carriage 102 is guided and supported so as to reciprocate along a guide shaft 103 installed in the apparatus main body extending in the main scanning direction. The carriage 102 is driven by a main scanning motor 104 via a driving mechanism such as a motor pulley 105, a driven pulley 106, and a timing belt 107, and its position and movement are controlled. The carriage 102 is provided with a home position sensor 130. As a result, the position of the shielding plate 136 can be detected when the home position sensor 130 on the carriage 102 passes.

  The recording material 108 such as printing paper or a plastic thin plate is separated and fed one by one from an auto sheet feeder (ASF) 132 by rotating a pickup roller 131 from a paper feed motor 135 via a gear. Further, by the rotation of the conveyance roller 109, the conveyance roller 109 is conveyed through a position (printing unit) facing the discharge port surface of the recording heads H1000 and H1001. The conveyance roller 109 is performed via a gear by the rotation of the LF motor 134. At this time, the determination of whether or not the paper has been fed and the determination of the cueing position at the time of paper feeding are performed when the recording material 108 passes through the paper end sensor 133. Further, the paper end sensor 133 is used to finally determine the current recording position from the actual rear end position, which position is actually the rear end of the recording material 108 in the transport direction.

  Note that the back surface of the recording material 108 is supported by a platen (not shown) so as to form a flat print surface in the print unit. In this case, the recording heads H1000 and H1001 mounted on the carriage 102 are held such that their ejection port surfaces protrude downward from the carriage 102 and are parallel to the recording material 108 between the two pairs of conveying rollers. ing.

  The recording heads H1000 and H1001 are mounted on the carriage 102 so that the arrangement direction of the ejection ports H1107 in each ejection section intersects the scanning direction of the carriage 102 described above, and ejects ink from these ejection port arrays. And record.

  The present invention is not limited to a general printing apparatus such as the above-described ink jet recording apparatus, but also a copying machine, a facsimile having a communication system, a word processor having a printing unit, or a multi-functional combination of these apparatuses. It is suitable to be applied to a recording device or the like.

  The configuration of the main part of the recording head of the embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating the recording head according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10A shows the entire recording head, and FIG. 10B is an enlarged view for explaining the A portion in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, an ink absorber H1600 is accommodated in the ink supply member H1500, and ink is injected and held in the ink absorber H1600. The ink supply member H1500 is closed by the lid member H1900 being joined to the opening by ultrasonic welding or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, the ink supply flow path H1510 of the ink supply member H1500 is provided with an air chamber H1520, and the ink is filled in the ink supply flow path H1510 via the filter H1700, and the ink is supplied. Ink is supplied to the recording element substrate H1100 through the supply port H1120. At this time, ink hardly enters the air chamber H1520 and accumulates as bubbles.

  Next, the structure of the air chamber will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 including the assembly process.

  As shown in FIG. 11 and FIGS. 12A and 12B, the ink supply member H1500 has an ink supply that allows an ink absorber H1600 that forms an ink reservoir and an ink supply port H1102 on the recording element substrate H1100 side to communicate with each other. A flow path H1510 is formed. The ink supply member H1500 has an annular filter welding rib H1530 for integrally welding the filter H1700 on one end surface where the filter H1700 is disposed. The filter H1700 is joined by, for example, heat welding of the filter welding rib H1530.

  In addition, in the ink supply flow path H1510, a part of the peripheral wall of the air chamber H1520 and a filter receiving rib H1540 that supports the filter H1700 are integrally formed. The ink supply flow path H1510 and the air chamber H1520 are partitioned.

  The filter receiving rib H1540 is provided with an ink communication port H1550 for communicating the ink supply flow path H1510 and the air chamber H1520. The other surfaces are extended to the filter welding surface and are formed so as to abut when the filter H1700 is joined. Therefore, the filter receiving rib H1540 is prevented from being bent and dented to the ink supply flow path H1510 side that is the downstream side in the ink flow direction even when pressure such as ink or cleaning liquid is applied to the filter H1700. It also acts to reinforce.

  Here, when the filter H1700 is welded, the filter receiving rib H1540 has a structure in which the portion of the ink communication port H1550 does not contact the filter H1700, and the filter receiving rib H1540 is provided between the ink supply channel H1510 and the air chamber H1520. The ink is always in communication. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10B, the ink is also present immediately below the filter H1700 in a portion adjacent to the filter H1700 in the air chamber H1520. Thereby, the effective area of the filter H1700 is not reduced, and the pressure loss caused by the filter H1700 is not increased.

  Air can be easily trapped in the air chamber H1520 configured as described above. For this reason, even if the pressure vibration when ejecting ink from the recording element substrate H1100 is transmitted to the ink supply port H1102 and the ink supply flow path H1510 communicating with the nozzle, the vibration wave is favorably generated in the bubbles in the air chamber H1520. Absorb. In addition, transmission of vibrations to adjacent nozzles can be prevented, and as a result, the reliability of the discharge operation can be improved.

  In addition, the configuration of the air chamber H1520 is a type in which the opening formed in the state of the molded product is sealed with heat welding or an adhesive after cleaning and assembly, as in the conventional case described above, and a plug is added by adding parts. The manufacturing cost is reduced compared to the type that performs. Further, in the assembling process, there is no need for a processing process that causes an increase in manufacturing cost such as temperature management in the welding apparatus in the thermal welding process and management of the cured state of the adhesive.

  Also, when ink is filled into the ink supply flow path H1510, either in a state where the recording element substrate H1100 is directed vertically downward or in a state where the recording element substrate H1100 is directed vertically upward in the recovery process. Even if it goes, air bubbles can be reliably accumulated in the air chamber H1520 in the same manner. Therefore, the recording head H1000 having a configuration of the air chamber H1520, which is a very effective configuration from the viewpoint of the reliability of the discharge operation, and can improve the reliability of the discharge operation with the simplest possible configuration. H1001 can be provided.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the main part of the recording head of the second embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the air chambers H1520 are arranged at the four corners in the ink supply flow path H1510. Each air chamber H1520 is provided with an ink communication port H1550 that communicates with the ink supply flow path H1510.

  As in the first embodiment, the air chamber H1520 is filled with ink in the vicinity of the filter H1700, which is directly below the filter H1700, so that the pressure loss due to the filter H1700 does not increase.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, in the filter H1700, the region H1700a adjacent to each air chamber H1520 has a larger channel resistance than the other regions H1700b, and the pressure loss of the filter H1700 is increased. It is also preferable to configure. According to this configuration, there is an effect of preventing ink from easily entering the downstream side of the filter H1700 when the ink is pressurized and injected to the upstream side of the filter H1700.

  Further, even if ink has entered and filled in one air chamber under various conditions after the ink is filled or the recording heads H1000 and H1001 are completed, the inside of the other air chamber H1520 is filled. Air remains as bubbles. Thereby, compared with 1st Embodiment provided with only one air chamber H1520, the reliability of discharge operation can further be improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the air chambers H1520 are respectively disposed at the four corners of the ink supply flow path H1510 having a substantially rectangular cross section, thereby greatly preventing the flow of ink from the filter H1700 to the ink supply port H1102. It becomes possible to suppress.

(Third embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the main part of the recording head of the third embodiment will be described.

  In the second embodiment, the air chambers H1520 are respectively arranged at the four corners in the ink supply flow path H1510. As shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, at least one air chamber H1520 of the air chambers H1520 arranged at the four corners in the ink supply flow path H1510 has a plurality of filter receiving ribs H1540 that support the filter H1700. It is partitioned by a partition wall H1540a and divided into a plurality of air chambers (small air chambers) H1520a. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of small air chambers H1520a having different volumes are arranged in communication with the ink supply channel H1510.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of small air chambers H1520a partitioned by a plurality of partition walls H1540a are communicated with each other through an ink communication port H1550 formed so as to penetrate each partition wall H1540a. For this reason, as in the first embodiment, immediately below the filter H1700, the plurality of small air chambers H1520a in the air chamber H1520 are filled with ink, so that the pressure loss due to the filter H1700 increases. Absent.

  This is also the case where ink enters and fills one small air chamber H1520a out of the small air chambers H1520a divided under various conditions after the ink is filled or the recording head is completed. However, bubbles remain in the other small air chambers H1520a. Therefore, the reliability of the ejection operation can be further improved as compared with the first embodiment.

  Further, the air chambers H1520 are arranged at the four corners in the ink supply flow path H1510, so that the flow of ink from the filter H1700 to the ink supply port H1102 can be prevented from being hindered.

(Fourth embodiment)
Although not particularly illustrated, in each configuration of the above-described first to third embodiments, the water repellent treatment is performed on the peripheral wall in the air chamber H1520 and the peripheral wall of the small air chamber H1520a, thereby further improving the reliability of the discharge operation. Can be improved.

  That is, the water is repelled on the peripheral wall of the air chamber H1520, so that the ink is repelled well. As a result, even if the ink enters the air chamber H1520 and is about to be filled, the ink repelled on the peripheral wall is smoothly discharged to the outside, so that the bubbles are surely confined in the air chamber H1520. It becomes possible.

  The ink injection method of the recording heads H1000 and H1001 configured as described above will be briefly described. In the ink injection method, ink is pressurized and injected into the ink absorber H1600 disposed on the upstream side in the ink flow direction with respect to the filter H1700. Thereafter, suction is performed from the nozzle to fill the ink supply flow path H1510 with ink, so that the ink supply flow path H1510 of the recording heads H1000 and H1001 is almost filled with ink and air is present in the air chamber H1520. Can be easily.

  The present invention is also effective when the ink is injected again after using the ink in the ink reservoir. In this case, a hole can be formed in the lid member with a drill or the like to form an ink injection port, and ink can be injected from the ink injection port into the ink reservoir. Thereby, the state in which air exists in the air chamber described above can be reliably configured.

  Note that when sucking from the nozzle, ink is filled in the ink supply flow path H1510 in the same manner, even if the nozzle is directed vertically upward or vertically downward, and air bubbles are formed in the air chamber H1520. Can be stored.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first recording head. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a first recording head. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a first recording element substrate with a part thereof broken. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second recording head. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a second recording head. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second recording element substrate with a part broken away. It is a top view for demonstrating the outline of Si substrate. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the vicinity of a recording element substrate of a recording head. It is a figure which shows an inkjet recording device. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a recording head according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded view schematically showing a recording head. It is a figure for demonstrating an ink supply flow path. It is a figure for demonstrating the ink supply flow path of 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view for demonstrating a filter. It is a figure for demonstrating the ink supply flow path of 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

H1000 First recording head H1001 Second recording head H1100 First recording element substrate H1101 Second recording element substrate H1102 Ink supply port H1107 Ejection port H1500, H1501 Ink supply member H1510 Ink supply channel H1520 Air chamber H1540 Filter receiver Rib H1550 Ink communication port H1600, H1601, H1602, H1603 Ink absorber H1700, H1701, H1702, H1703 Filter

Claims (7)

In an inkjet head configured by connecting a head part and a tank part for storing ink supplied to the head part by an ink supply member with a filter interposed on the tank part side ,
The ink supply member includes an ink supply channel that communicates the head unit and the tank unit, a partition wall that opens to face the tank unit side, and is not communicated with the head unit side. An air chamber surrounded by a peripheral wall of the ink supply member, and a communication port communicating with the ink supply flow path at an end of the partition wall on the tank side. Inkjet head. The inkjet head according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the air chambers. The inkjet head according to claim 2, wherein each of the air chambers is arranged to be separated from each other. 4. The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the filter has a fluid resistance greater in a region forming a peripheral wall of the air chamber than in other regions of the filter. 5. The air chamber according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the air chambers is divided into a plurality of air chambers by a plurality of partition walls, and the plurality of air chambers communicate with each other through a communication port provided in the partition wall. 2. An ink jet head according to item 1. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral wall of the air chamber is subjected to a water repellent treatment. A head unit and a tank unit for storing ink supplied to the head unit are configured to be connected by an ink supply member with a filter interposed on the tank unit side, and the ink supply member includes the head unit And an ink supply channel that communicates with the tank portion, and is surrounded by a partition wall and a peripheral wall of the ink supply member so as to open facing the tank portion side and not communicate with the head portion side. An ink injection method for an ink-jet head, comprising: an air chamber configured as described above; and a communication port communicating with the ink supply channel at an end of the partition wall on the tank side .
After injecting pressurized ink to the upstream side of the ink flow direction with respect to the filter, the ink to perform the suction from the nozzle meets the ink supply channel in the ink, wherein the air chamber air is present ink injection method for an ink jet head, characterized in that filling.

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