JP5310406B2 - Channel structure and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a channel structure obtained by sealing an opening of a groove with a film and a method for manufacturing the same.

  For example, in an ink cartridge of an ink jet printer, it is necessary to communicate the inside of the ink cartridge with the atmosphere in order to discharge the ink from the nozzles satisfactorily. However, air freely flows into the air flow path for the atmosphere communication. In this case, since the ink inside the ink cartridge evaporates, the air flow path is required to have a function that does not allow air to pass easily. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, a labyrinth-like groove 2 is formed on the upper surface of the ink cartridge 1, and the opening 2 a of the groove 2 is sealed with a film 3. The long air flow path 4 was comprised (refer patent document 1). Then, by using the film 3 having low gas permeability (that is, having high gas barrier properties) or by narrowing the width of the opening 2a, the ink is prevented from evaporating from the opening 2a through the film 3. .

JP-A-9-156124 (FIG. 8)

  According to the conventional air flow path 4 (FIG. 10), it is possible to suppress the ink from evaporating from the opening 2a to some extent by the above configuration, but even when the film 3 having low gas permeability is used. In order to obtain a sufficient anti-evaporation effect, a higher-performance film 3 has to be used, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases. Further, when the width of the opening 2a is narrowed, it is necessary to increase the depth of the groove 2 in order to ensure the necessary minimum cross-sectional area of the flow path. Therefore, there is a problem that the ink cartridge 1 is increased in size. there were.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has excellent airtightness, and can be easily and inexpensively manufactured without increasing the size of a device (for example, an ink cartridge) that is an application target. An object of the present invention is to provide a channel structure and a manufacturing method thereof.

In order to solve the above problems, a flow channel structure according to the present invention includes a flow channel main body having a groove through which a fluid flows, at least a side wall portion of the groove being formed of a resin, and a depth direction of the groove. A sealing film that hermetically seals the opening provided on the side opposite to the bottom side of the groove, and at least one of an inner surface located on the bottom side of the sealing film and an outer surface located on the opposite side thereof The resin on the side wall is melted and flows to the inside of the opening, and is welded to the joint, and the joint closes the opening .

  According to this structure, since the resin of the side wall part is melted and flows inside the opening part, the joint part is configured, so the opening part can be blocked by the joint part, and the sealing function of the sealing film Together, it can improve airtightness. Therefore, if an airtightness comparable to that of the prior art is obtained, an inexpensive sealed film having a lower performance than that of the film 3 (FIG. 10) can be used, and the width of the opening is widened to increase the depth of the groove. The depth can be reduced. Furthermore, since the sealing film is welded to the joint formed by the resin in the side wall portion flowing inside the opening, it is possible to ensure a wide welding area for welding the sealing film to the flow path body. it can.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a manufacturing method of a flow channel structure according to the present invention provides (a) a flow channel body having a groove through which a fluid flows, and at least a side wall portion of the groove being formed of a resin. And (b) sealing the opening provided on the side opposite to the bottom of the groove in the depth direction of the groove, so that the end of the side wall of the opening is airtight. A step of disposing a sealing film; and (c) heating the sealing film and the side wall at the same time so that the melted side wall flows inside the opening and closes the opening. Forming, and welding the joining portion to at least one of an inner surface located on the bottom side of the sealing film and an outer surface located on the opposite side.

  According to this configuration, since the side wall portion of the flow channel body is melted to form the joint portion, the joint portion is welded to the inner surface or the outer surface of the sealing film. The structure can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

  According to the liquid ejection device and the manufacturing method thereof of the present invention, the airtightness can be dramatically increased by the two-layer structure of the joint portion and the sealing film, so that it is possible to use a low-performance and inexpensive sealing film. The manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, the width of the opening can be increased to reduce the depth of the groove, and the device (for example, an ink cartridge) to which the opening is applied can be downsized. Furthermore, since the welding surface for welding the sealing film to the flow path body can be widely secured by the joint portion, the welding strength can be increased.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flow channel structure according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow channel structure according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 3A and 3B are process diagrams showing the manufacturing method of the flow channel structure according to the first embodiment, in which FIG. 3A shows a process of preparing a flow channel main body and a sealing film, and FIG. The figure which shows the process of arrange | positioning a sealing film, (C) is a figure which shows the process of heating and welding a sealing film and a side wall part simultaneously. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a flow channel structure according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the main part of the flow channel structure according to the second embodiment. FIGS. 6A and 6B are process diagrams showing a method of manufacturing the flow channel structure according to the second embodiment, wherein FIG. 6A shows a process of preparing a flow channel main body and a sealing film, and FIG. 6B seems to block the opening. The figure which shows the process of arrange | positioning a sealing film, (C) is a figure which shows the process of heating and welding a sealing film and a side wall part simultaneously. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a part of the flow channel structure according to the third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a part of the flow channel structure according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another application of the channel structure. FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a conventional channel structure, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view showing the conventional channel structure.

Hereinafter, a “channel structure” and a “method for manufacturing a channel structure” according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
[Flow channel structure]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flow path structure 10 according to the first embodiment is configured as an “atmospheric communication path” that connects the internal space 14 and the external space 16 of the ink cartridge 12 used in the ink jet printer. The flow path body 18 and the sealing film 20 are provided.

  The flow path body 18 is integrally formed on a part of the upper wall portion 12a of the ink cartridge 12 with the same resin as the upper wall portion 12a such as polypropylene (PP). A groove 22 formed on the upper surface, a through hole 24 (FIG. 2) formed through the upper wall portion 12a at one end in the length direction of the groove 22, and an outside at the other end in the length direction of the groove 22 And an air communication port 26 formed in communication with the space 16.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of (in this embodiment, five) grooves 22 are arranged in parallel with each other in order to make it difficult for air to flow and to suppress evaporation of ink contained in the internal space 14. The straight grooves 28a to 28e and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) bent portions 30 connecting the straight grooves 28a to 28e are formed in a meandering maze shape. Note that the shape of the groove 22 in plan view is not particularly limited, and may be any of a spiral shape, a U-shape, a single linear shape, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the groove 22 includes a bottom portion 22 a and two side wall portions 22 b and 22 c facing each other with the bottom portion 22 a interposed therebetween in each of the straight grooves 28 a to 28 e and the bent portion 30. An opening 32 is provided on the side opposite to the bottom 22a side in the depth direction of 22 and at least a part (all in this embodiment) of the opening 32 is on the side of the opening 32 of the side walls 22b and 22c. It is blocked by a joint portion 34 formed to extend from the end portion to the inside of the opening portion 32. The joint portion 34 is formed integrally with the side wall portions 22b and 22c by melting the resin of the side wall portions 22b and 22c and flowing inside the opening portion 32. In the opening portion 32, the joint portion 34 is formed. The sealing film 20 is supported by.

  The “opening 32” is a name given by paying attention to a manufacturing method (FIG. 3) of a flow channel structure to be described later, and in the initial manufacturing process (FIGS. 3A and 3B), it is a physical name. However, the completed flow channel structure 10 is closed by the joint 34.

  The through hole 24 is a flow path that communicates the internal space 14 of the ink cartridge 12 and the groove 22, and the air communication port 26 is a flow path that communicates the groove 22 and the external space 16 of the ink cartridge 12. Therefore, the internal space 14 is communicated with the atmosphere via the through hole 24, the groove 22, and the atmosphere communication port 26, and the free flow of air is suppressed by the labyrinth-shaped groove 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sealing film 20 is made of the same kind of resin as the side walls 22 b and 22 c, such as polypropylene (PP), and has a weld layer 40 that is welded to the joint 34 and a gas that is more gas than the weld layer 40. It has a gas barrier layer 42 made of a material with low permeability and a surface protective layer 44 such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for protecting the gas barrier layer 42, and a welding layer 40 is formed on one surface of the gas barrier layer 42. The surface protective layer 44 is formed on the other surface. As will be described later, the weld layer 40 is melted for welding to the joint portion 34. At this time, if the gas barrier layer 42 and the surface protective layer 44 are melted at the same time, these functions are effectively exhibited. I can't do that. Therefore, a material having a melting point higher than that of the resin constituting the weld layer 40 is used for the gas barrier layer 42 and the surface protective layer 44.

  And the opening part 32 of the groove | channel 22 is sealed from the outer side of the junction part 34 by the sealing film 20 being welded by the surface (including the junction part 34) of the flow-path main body 18. FIG.

According to the flow path structure 10 according to the first embodiment, since the opening 32 is closed by the two-layer structure of the sealing film 20 and the joint 34, high airtightness can be obtained. Therefore, an inexpensive sealed film 20 having a lower performance than the conventional film 3 (FIG. 10) can be used, and the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge 12 can be reduced. In addition, the width of the opening 32 can be increased and the depth of the groove 22 can be reduced, so that the ink cartridge 12 can be made compact. Furthermore, since the sealing film 20 is welded to the joint portion 34 formed to extend to the inside of the opening 32, a wide welding area for welding the sealing film 20 to the flow path body 18 can be secured, The sealing film 20 for the pair can be firmly welded to the flow path body 18.
[Manufacturing method of channel structure]
Next, a method for manufacturing the flow path structure 10 will be described.

  When the flow path structure 10 is manufactured, first, as shown in FIG. 3A, a groove 22 through which a fluid (air in this embodiment) flows is provided, and at least the side wall portions 22b and 22c of the groove 22 are made of resin. 1 is prepared. Moreover, the above-mentioned sealing film 20 is prepared. In this step, since the side wall portions 22b and 22c are not yet melted, the flow path body 18 does not have the joint portion 34, and the height of the side wall portions 22b and 22c is reduced by melting. In anticipation, it is designed to be sufficiently higher than the height after melting.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3B, the openings of the side walls 22b and 22c are formed so as to close the opening 32 provided on the side opposite to the bottom 22a side of the groove 22 in the depth direction of the groove 22. The sealing film 20 having airtightness is disposed at the end on the part 32 side. That is, the sealing film 20 is placed in contact with the end face 23 on the side of the opening 32 of the side walls 22b and 22c. At this time, in order to secure the air communication port 26, the sealing film 20 is disposed excluding the region 27 where the air communication port 26 is located.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3C, the surface heater 50 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the sealing film 20, and the sealing film 20 and the side wall portions 22b and 22c are simultaneously heated at a temperature about 10 ° C. higher than their melting temperature. The heated side walls 22b and 22c are heated to flow inside the opening 32 to form the joint 34, and the joint 34 is welded to the inner surface 20a located on the bottom 22a side of the sealing film 20. Here, heating at a temperature about 10 ° C. higher than the melting temperature of the resin to be welded means heating at a temperature about 20 ° C. lower than the normal welding temperature, which means that the welding temperature is high. In this case, the flow of the molten resin becomes unstable and it becomes difficult to obtain accuracy.

In addition, as a heating mode, it is possible to arbitrarily select and use a mode in which the temperature is gradually increased from a low temperature or a mode in which switching between the low temperature and the high temperature is used. When heated, the damage to the resin increases, so it is desirable to heat in one cycle. Further, in this step, the flow direction of the melted resin may be regulated so as to face the inside of the opening 32 by blowing air to a position where the flow path body 18 and the sealing film 20 are welded.
(Second Embodiment)
[Flow channel structure]
In the flow channel structure 60 according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the end portions 68 on the opening 66 side of the side wall portions 64b and 64c constituting the groove 64 of the flow channel main body 62 protrude upward. It has the part 68a and the film receiving part 68b which receives the sealing film 70 in the base end part of the protrusion 68a. In the sealing film 70, the surface protective layer 44, the gas barrier layer 42, and the welding layer 40 are laminated in order from the side facing the groove 64, contrary to the above-described flow path structure 10. Is formed with a through hole 70a through which the protrusion 68a is inserted from below. At least a part of the opening 66 is closed by a joint portion 72 formed to extend from the end 68 on the opening 66 side of the side walls 64b and 64c to the inside of the opening 66. The joint portion 72 is formed integrally with the side wall portions 64b and 64c by melting the resin of the protrusion 68a in the side wall portions 64b and 64c and flowing inside the opening portion 66. The sealing film 70 is covered up.

  In addition, since the other part of the flow-path main body 62 and the sealing film 70 is the same as that of the flow-path main body 18 and the sealing film 20 which concern on 1st Embodiment, about the said other parts, the flow-path main body 18 and the sealing film The same reference numerals as in the corresponding parts of 20 are attached, and redundant description is omitted.

According to the flow path structure 60 according to the second embodiment, the surface protective layer 44 of the sealing film 70 is positioned facing the groove 64, and the protrusion 68 a protruding upward from the through hole 70 a of the sealing film 70 is provided. Since the joining portion 72 is welded to the welding layer 40, the volume of the groove 64 can be made constant regardless of the degree of welding, and even if ink flows into the groove 64, the flow is not blocked. A road cross-sectional area can be secured.
[Manufacturing method of channel structure]
Next, a method for manufacturing the flow path structure 60 will be described.

  When the flow path structure 60 is manufactured, first, as shown in FIG. 6A, a groove 64 through which a fluid (air in this embodiment) flows is provided, and at least the side wall portions 64b and 64c of the groove 64 are made of resin. 1 is prepared. Moreover, the above-mentioned sealing film 70 is prepared. In this step, since the side wall portions 64b and 64c are not yet melted, the flow path main body 62 does not have the joint portion 72, and the height of the protrusion 68a is expected to be melted and flowed. Designed high enough.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6B, the protrusion 68a of the end 68 on the opening 66 side of the side walls 64b and 64c is inserted into the through hole 70a, and the bottom of the groove 64 in the depth direction of the groove 64 The sealing film 70 having airtightness is disposed on the film receiving portion 68b of the end portion 68 on the opening 66 side of the side wall portions 64b and 64c so as to close the opening portion 66 provided on the side opposite to the 64a side.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6C, the surface heater 50 is brought into contact with the upper end surface of the protrusion 68a, and the sealing film 70 and the protrusions 68a (that is, the side walls 64b and 64c) are heated preferably in one cycle. The melted protrusion 68a is caused to flow inside the opening 66 to form the joint 72, and the joint 72 is welded to the outer surface (that is, the surface located on the opposite side of the inner surface) 70b of the sealing film 70. To do. Then, after the heating surface of the heater 50 is cooled, the heater 50 is separated from the completed flow path structure 60. In this step, the flow direction of the melted resin may be regulated so as to face the inside of the opening 66 by blowing air to a position where the flow path main body 62 and the sealing film 70 are welded.

In this embodiment, the welding layer 40 is located above the surface protective layer 44 and the gas barrier layer 42 having a high melting point, and the protrusion 68a protruding upward from the through hole 70a of the sealing film 70 is melted to melt the sealing film 70. Therefore, the flow of the resin can be regulated by the surface protective layer 44 and the gas barrier layer 42, and the joint portion 72 can be formed uniformly with a constant thickness. Therefore, even when the welding temperature is increased, the accuracy is not impaired, and the welding speed can be increased to about the normal welding temperature to increase the welding speed.
(Other embodiments)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the grooves 22 and 64 have the bent portions 30 (FIG. 1). However, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, these bent portions 30 are at right angles (90 degrees). When bent (indicated by a two-dot chain line), the maximum width W1 of the grooves 22 and 64 becomes wide.

  Therefore, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 7, in the flow path structure 80 according to the third embodiment, the groove 82 is formed at a right angle (90 degrees) or more in order to prevent the maximum width W2 of the groove 82 from becoming too wide. Even in the case of bending, the bent portion 84 is bent by being divided into a plurality of times (four times in the third embodiment) at a right angle or less (45 degrees in the third embodiment).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, in the manufacturing method of the flow path structure 90 according to the fourth embodiment, even when the maximum width W1 of the groove 92 is increased, the resin constituting the joint is prevented from being insufficient. In addition, the amount of resin in the portion constituting the bent portion 98 (the portion indicated by the oblique lines in FIG. 8) at the end portions of the side wall portions 94a and 94b on the opening 96 side is increased.

  The present invention relates to a channel structure obtained by sealing an opening of a groove with a sealing film and a method for manufacturing the same, and in a field different from the above-described embodiments and in the field of the same inkjet printer. Can be used for various other purposes. For example, in the field of the same inkjet printer, it can be used in a head accommodating device 100 as shown in FIG. The head accommodating device 100 accommodates the head unit 102 and the tank unit 104, and communicates the inside of the head unit 102 and the tank unit 104 with the atmosphere while ensuring a certain degree of airtightness. A waste ink container 100b attached to the lower part of the storage container 100a. A cap 106 that covers the nozzle surface 102a of the head unit 102 is disposed inside the storage container 100a, and an absorber 108 that absorbs waste ink is disposed inside the waste ink container 100b. The inside of the container 100b is open to the atmosphere. The inside of the cap 106 and the inside of the waste ink container 100b are communicated with each other via the communication path 110, and any of the flow path structures 10, 60, 80, and 90 of the above-described embodiments is connected to the communication path 110. However, a part (the atmosphere communication port 26 etc.) is changed and adopted. In this application, ink (liquid) and air (gas) as “fluid” flow in the groove of the flow channel structure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Flow path structure 12 ... Ink cartridge 14 ... Internal space 16 ... External space 18 ... Flow path main body 20 ... Sealing film 22 ... Groove 23 ... End surface 22a, 22b ... Side wall part 24 ... Through-hole 26 ... Atmospheric communication port 28a-28e ... Linear groove 30 ... Bent part 32 ... Opening part 34 ... Joint part 40 ... Welding layer 42 ... Gas barrier layer 44 ... Surface protective layer 50 ... Surface heater 60 ... Channel structure 62 ... Channel body 64b, 64c ... Side wall part 64 ... Groove 70 ... Sealing film 72 ... Joint 80, 90 ... Channel structure 100 ... Head accommodating device

Claims (6)

A flow path body having a groove through which a fluid flows, wherein at least a side wall of the groove is formed of a resin;
A sealing film that hermetically seals the opening provided on the side opposite to the bottom side of the groove in the depth direction of the groove;
At least one of the inner surface located on the bottom side of the sealing film and the outer surface located on the opposite side is a joint obtained by melting the resin of the side wall and flowing inside the opening. Has been welded ,
A flow channel structure in which the joint portion closes the opening .   The said sealing film consists of resin of the same kind as the said resin, and has the welding layer welded to the said junction part, and the gas barrier layer which consists of a material whose gas permeability is lower than the said welding layer. 2. The flow channel structure according to 1.   The flow channel structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the groove has a bent portion that is bent in a plurality of times at an angle equal to or less than a right angle. (A) preparing a flow path body having a groove through which a fluid flows, and at least a side wall portion of the groove being formed of a resin;
(B) A sealing film having airtightness is formed at an end portion of the side wall portion on the opening portion side so as to close an opening portion provided on the side opposite to the bottom portion side of the groove in the depth direction of the groove. Arranging, and
(C) The sealing film and the side wall are heated at the same time, and the melted side wall is caused to flow inside the opening to form the joint so as to close the opening. And a step of welding to at least one of an inner surface located on the bottom side of the sealing film and an outer surface located on the opposite side thereof. In the step (b), the sealing film is brought into contact with an end surface of the side wall portion on the opening side,
The flow path structure manufacturing method according to claim 4, wherein in the step (c), at least a part of the inner surface is covered with the joint portion. The sealing film has a through hole,
In the step (b), the end of the side wall on the opening side is inserted through the through hole,
5. The flow path according to claim 4, wherein in the step (c), the melted end portion is flowed to form a joint portion, and at least a part of the outer surface is covered with the joint portion. Structure manufacturing method.

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