JP7087453B2 - Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge unit, liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge unit, and a device for discharging a liquid.

As a liquid discharge head for discharging a liquid, there is one in which a plurality of members constituting a flow path such as an individual liquid chamber are joined with an adhesive.

For example, conventionally, it is known that a groove portion (recess) for allowing excess adhesive to escape is provided on a joint surface of an adhesive between a flow path plate and a diaphragm member (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-162159

By the way, when two members are joined with an adhesive, there is a problem that the interface is exposed to a liquid, so that interface peeling occurs between the joint surface and the adhesive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to suppress the progress of interfacial peeling between the joint surface and the adhesive.

In order to solve the above problems, the liquid discharge head according to the present invention is
With the first member
The first member and the second member joined with an adhesive are provided.
Grooves into which the adhesive enters are provided on the joint surfaces of the first member and the second member.
The groove portion of the first member and the groove portion of the second member are provided at non-opposite positions.
There is a gap between the adhesive that has entered the groove and the wall surface of the groove.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the progress of interface peeling between the joint surface and the adhesive.

It is sectional drawing which follows the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the liquid discharge head which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the nozzle arrangement direction of the head along the X-ray line of FIG. It is a plane explanatory view of the main part of the head. It is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of the main part of the part B of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part similar to FIG. 4 provided for explaining the operation of the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part similar to FIG. 4 along a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the liquid discharge head according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part similar to FIG. 4 along a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the liquid discharge head according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the liquid discharge head which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a plane explanatory view of the main part of an example of the apparatus which discharges a liquid which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the main part side surface of the apparatus. It is a plane explanatory view of the main part of another example of the liquid discharge unit which concerns on this invention. It is a front explanatory view of still another example of the liquid discharge unit which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view along a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the liquid discharge head according to the same embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view along the nozzle arrangement direction of the head along the XX line of FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a main part of the head.

The liquid discharge head 100 has a nozzle plate 1, a flow path plate 2, and a diaphragm member 3 as a wall surface member laminated and joined. Further, it includes a piezoelectric actuator 11 that displaces the vibration region (vibration plate) 30 of the diaphragm member 3, and a common liquid chamber member 20 that also serves as a frame member of the head.

The nozzle plate 1 has a plurality of nozzles 4 for discharging a liquid.

The flow path plate 2 includes an individual liquid chamber 6 that communicates with the nozzle 4 via the nozzle communication passage 5, a fluid resistance portion 7 that constitutes a supply flow path that leads to the individual liquid chamber 6, and a liquid introduction portion 8 that communicates with the fluid resistance portion 7. Is forming. The introduction unit 8 is configured to be connected to two or more fluid resistance units 7. In the present embodiment, the flow path plate 2 is composed of three plate-shaped members 2A to 2C from the nozzle plate 1 side.

The diaphragm member 3 has a deformable vibration region 30 that forms the wall surface of the individual liquid chamber 6 of the flow path plate 2. Here, the diaphragm member 3 has a three-layer structure (not limited), and is formed of a first layer that forms a thin wall portion from the flow path plate 2 side, and a second layer and a third layer that form a thick wall portion. A deformable vibration region 30 is formed in the portion corresponding to the individual liquid chamber 6 in the first layer.

Then, on the side of the diaphragm member 3 opposite to the individual liquid chamber 6, a piezoelectric actuator 11 including an electromechanical conversion element as a driving means (actuator means, pressure generating means) for deforming the vibration region 30 of the diaphragm member 3 is provided. It is arranged.

In this piezoelectric actuator 11, the piezoelectric member joined on the base member 13 is grooved by half-cut dicing, and a required number of columnar piezoelectric elements 12A and 12B are formed into comb teeth at predetermined intervals in the nozzle arrangement direction. Is forming.

Then, the piezoelectric element 12A is joined to the convex portion 30a which is an island-shaped thick-walled portion formed in the vibration region (vibration plate) 30 of the diaphragm member 3, and the piezoelectric element 12B is also joined to the convex portion 30b. The piezoelectric element 12B is used as a support portion.

The piezoelectric element 12 is formed by alternately stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes. The internal electrodes are respectively drawn out to the end faces to provide external electrodes, and the flexible wiring member 15 is connected to the external electrodes.

The common liquid chamber member 20 forms a common liquid chamber 10, and a supply path 21 for supplying liquid from the outside is connected to the common liquid chamber 10.

In the liquid discharge head 100 configured in this way, for example, by lowering the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 12A from the reference potential (intermediate potential), the piezoelectric element 12A contracts, and the vibration region 30 of the vibrating plate member 3 is pulled and individually. As the volume of the liquid chamber 6 expands, the liquid flows into the individual liquid chamber 6.

After that, the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 12A is increased to extend the piezoelectric element 12A in the stacking direction, and the vibration region 30 of the vibrating plate member 3 is deformed in the direction toward the nozzle 4 to contract the volume of the individual liquid chamber 6. As a result, the liquid in the individual liquid chamber 6 is pressurized, and the liquid is discharged from the nozzle 4.

The method of driving the head is not limited to the above example (pull-push), and pulling or pushing may be performed depending on the driving waveform.

Next, the details of the joint portion between the flow path plate and the diaphragm member in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part of the part B of FIG.

In the present embodiment, the flow path plate 2 forming the flow path leading to the nozzle 4 such as the individual liquid chamber 6 is used as the first member, and the wall surface member also forming the wall surface of the flow path such as the individual liquid chamber 6. The diaphragm member 3 is used as a second member, and the flow path plate 2 and the diaphragm member 3 are joined with an adhesive 40.

In the example of FIG. 4, the joint interface between the flow path plate 2 and the vibrating plate member 3 is in contact with the flow path connected from the opening 9 of the vibrating plate member 3 to the liquid introduction portion 8 of the flow path plate 2.

A groove 41 into which the adhesive 40 enters is provided in the joint surface 2a of the flow path plate 2 which is the first member, and a groove 41 in which the adhesive 40 also enters the joint surface 3a of the diaphragm member 3 which is the second member. Is provided.

A part of the adhesive 40 for joining the flow path plate 2 and the diaphragm member 3 has entered the groove portion 41.

The adhesive 40 that has entered the groove 41 is a dome-shaped raised portion 40a with respect to the joint surfaces 2a and 3a, and is formed with the wall surface 41a of the groove 41 in the in-plane direction of the joint surfaces 2a and 3a. There is a gap 43 between the raised portion 40a and the raised portion 40a.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part similar to FIG. 4 used for explaining the same operation.

The adhesive 40 cannot be resistant to all of the wide variety of liquids (inks) used in the head, for example, an adhesive that is strong against water-based inks is weak against solvent inks and strong against solvent inks. Adhesives have the property of being vulnerable to water-based inks.

Therefore, the adhesive itself may swell or elute due to contact with the liquid, and interface peeling with the object to be adhered may occur. In particular, when interface peeling occurs, the liquid is sent to the interface by the capillary force, and the peeling progresses at an accelerated rate, so that a leak path from the flow path to the outside of the head is formed in a relatively short time, leading to liquid leakage. It will be.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the interface peeling 45 occurs between the adhesive 40 and the joint surface 3a of the diaphragm member 3, the liquid 300 permeates into the peeled portion by the capillary force, and further by the soaking of the liquid 300. Interfacial peeling 45 will be induced.

Here, in the present embodiment, the raised portion 40a of the adhesive 40 is raised in a dome shape inside the groove portion 41, and a gap 43 is formed between the raised portion 40a and the wall surface 41a of the groove portion 41.

Therefore, no capillary force is generated between the wall surface 41a of the groove portion 41 and the raised portion 40a, and the progress of the interface peeling 45 is stopped.

Therefore, the progress of the interfacial peeling 45 prevents the liquid 300 from leaking to the outside of the head.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the groove portion 41 is arranged so as to surround the entire flow path such as the individual liquid chamber 6 for each channel (flow path corresponding to one nozzle), so that the groove portion 41 can be connected to adjacent flow paths. Leaks are also prevented.

In this case, the closer the groove 41 is to the flow path, the earlier the progress of interface peeling can be stopped, which is preferable.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part similar to FIG. 4 along a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the liquid discharge head according to the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the groove 41 of the diaphragm member 3 and the groove 41 of the flow path plate 2 are provided in a non-opposing position (non-opposing position).

That is, if the groove 41 of the diaphragm member 3 and the groove 41 of the flow path plate 2 are provided in a positional relationship facing each other as in the first embodiment, the adhesive 40 collected in the groove 41 is divided into two. It will enter into each groove 41. Therefore, the swelling of the swelling portion 40a may be reduced.

Therefore, by providing the groove portion 41 of the diaphragm member 3 and the groove portion 41 of the flow path plate 2 in a positional relationship that does not face each other as in the present embodiment, the adhesive 40 that collects in the groove portion 41 is concentrated in one groove portion 41. , The swelling of the swelling portion 40a in the groove 41 can be increased.

By increasing the swelling of the swelling portion 40a, it becomes difficult for the liquid that has progressed due to the capillary force of the interface peeling to exceed the swelling portion 40a. On the contrary, if the swelling portion 40a has a low swelling or no swelling, the liquid may exceed the groove portion 41 and the interface peeling may proceed.

Therefore, by increasing the swelling of the swelling portion 40a, it is possible to more reliably prevent the progress of interface peeling.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part similar to FIG. 4 along a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the liquid discharge head according to the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of groove portions 41 are provided along the in-plane directions of the joint surface 3a of the diaphragm member 3 and the joint surface 2a of the flow path plate 2.

This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the progress of interfacial delamination.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional explanatory view along a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the liquid discharge head according to the same embodiment.

The liquid discharge head according to the present embodiment is a head that uses a piezoelectric actuator 11 including a thin film piezoelectric element as a pressure generating element. The actuator board 60 including the diaphragm member 3 having the piezoelectric actuator 11 and the flow path board 2 and the holding board 50 that holds the actuator board 60 and forms the opening 51 that leads to the opening 9 are joined with an adhesive 40. ing.

A groove 41 is provided at the joint between the diaphragm member 3 (including the insulating film) of the actuator substrate 60 and the holding substrate 50, and the raised portion 40a is lifted in a dome shape as in each of the above-described embodiments. It is supposed to be.

In each of the above embodiments, the example in which the present invention is carried out at the joints between the flow path plate and the diaphragm member and the vibration plate member and the holding substrate is described, but the nozzle plate, the flow path plate, and the diaphragm are described. The same can be applied to each joint portion between the member and the common liquid chamber member, and the holding substrate and the common liquid chamber member.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the example in which the groove portion is provided on each of the joint surfaces of the first member and the second member has been described, but the groove portion is provided on one of the joint surfaces and the adhesion has entered the groove portion. It is also possible to have a gap between the agent and the wall surface of the groove. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the progress of interfacial peeling with the adhesive on the joint surface.

Next, an example of the device for discharging the liquid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the device, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a side surface of the main part of the device.

This device is a serial type device, and the carriage 403 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the main scanning moving mechanism 493. The main scanning movement mechanism 493 includes a guide member 401, a main scanning motor 405, a timing belt 408, and the like. The guide member 401 is bridged over the left and right side plates 491A and 491B to movably hold the carriage 403. Then, the carriage 403 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the main scanning motor 405 via the timing belt 408 bridged between the drive pulley 406 and the driven pulley 407.

The carriage 403 is equipped with a liquid discharge unit 440 in which the liquid discharge head 404 and the head tank 441 according to the present invention are integrated. The liquid discharge head 404 of the liquid discharge unit 440 discharges, for example, liquids of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). Further, the liquid discharge head 404 is mounted by arranging a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and facing the discharge direction downward.

The liquid stored in the liquid cartridge 450 is supplied to the head tank 441 by the supply mechanism 494 for supplying the liquid stored outside the liquid discharge head 404 to the liquid discharge head 404.

The supply mechanism 494 includes a cartridge holder 451 which is a filling part for mounting the liquid cartridge 450, a tube 456, a liquid feeding unit 452 including a liquid feeding pump, and the like. The liquid cartridge 450 is detachably attached to the cartridge holder 451. Liquid is delivered from the liquid cartridge 450 to the head tank 441 by the liquid feeding unit 452 via the tube 456.

This device includes a transport mechanism 495 for transporting the paper 410. The transport mechanism 495 includes a transport belt 412, which is a transport means, and a sub-scanning motor 416 for driving the transport belt 412.

The transport belt 412 attracts the paper 410 and transports it at a position facing the liquid discharge head 404. The transport belt 412 is an endless belt, and is hung between the transport roller 413 and the tension roller 414. Adsorption can be performed by electrostatic adsorption, air suction, or the like.

Then, the transport belt 412 orbits in the sub-scanning direction by rotationally driving the transport roller 413 via the timing belt 417 and the timing pulley 418 by the sub-scanning motor 416.

Further, on one side of the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 for maintaining / recovering the liquid discharge head 404 is arranged on the side of the transport belt 412.

The maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 is composed of, for example, a cap member 421 that caps the nozzle surface (the surface on which the nozzle is formed) of the liquid discharge head 404, a wiper member 422 that wipes the nozzle surface, and the like.

The main scanning movement mechanism 493, the supply mechanism 494, the maintenance / recovery mechanism 420, and the transport mechanism 495 are attached to a housing including the side plates 491A and 491B and the back plate 491C.

In this apparatus configured in this way, the paper 410 is fed onto the transport belt 412 and sucked, and the paper 410 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the circumferential movement of the conveyor belt 412.

Therefore, by driving the liquid ejection head 404 in response to the image signal while moving the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, the liquid is ejected onto the stopped paper 410 to form an image.

As described above, since this device includes the liquid discharge head according to the present invention, it is possible to stably form a high-quality image.

Next, another example of the liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the unit.

This liquid discharge unit includes a housing portion composed of side plates 491A, 491B and a back plate 491C, a main scanning movement mechanism 493, a carriage 403, and a liquid among the members constituting the device for discharging the liquid. It is composed of a discharge head 404.

It should be noted that a liquid discharge unit may be configured in which at least one of the above-mentioned maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 and the supply mechanism 494 is further attached to, for example, the side plate 491B of the liquid discharge unit.

Next, still another example of the liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a front explanatory view of the unit.

This liquid discharge unit includes a liquid discharge head 404 to which the flow path component 444 is attached, and a tube 456 connected to the flow path component 444.

The flow path component 444 is arranged inside the cover 442. A head tank 441 may be included instead of the flow path component 444. Further, a connector 443 that electrically connects to the liquid discharge head 404 is provided on the upper part of the flow path component 444.

In the present application, the liquid to be discharged may have a viscosity and surface tension that can be discharged from the head, and is not particularly limited, but the viscosity becomes 30 mPa · s or less at room temperature, under normal pressure, or by heating or cooling. It is preferable that it is a thing. More specifically, solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, polymerizable compounds, resins, functionalizing materials such as surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids and proteins, and calcium. , Solvents, suspensions, emulsions, etc. containing edible materials such as natural pigments, such as inks for inkjets, surface treatment liquids, components of electronic and light emitting elements, and formation of electronic circuit resist patterns. It can be used in applications such as liquids and material liquids for three-dimensional modeling.

Piezoelectric actuators (laminated piezoelectric elements and thin-film piezoelectric elements), thermal actuators that use electric heat conversion elements such as heat-generating resistors, and electrostatic actuators that consist of a vibrating plate and counter electrodes are used as energy sources for discharging liquid. Includes what to do.

The "liquid discharge unit" is a liquid discharge head integrated with functional parts and a mechanism, and includes a collection of parts related to liquid discharge. For example, the "liquid discharge unit" includes a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance / recovery mechanism, a main scanning movement mechanism in which at least one of the configurations is combined with a liquid discharge head, and the like.

Here, the term "integration" means, for example, a liquid discharge head and a functional component, a mechanism in which the mechanism is fixed to each other by fastening, bonding, engagement, etc., or one in which one is movably held with respect to the other. include. Further, the liquid discharge head, the functional component, and the mechanism may be configured to be detachable from each other.

For example, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a head tank are integrated. In some cases, the liquid discharge head and the head tank are integrated by being connected to each other by a tube or the like. Here, a unit including a filter can be added between the head tank of these liquid discharge units and the liquid discharge head.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a carriage are integrated.

Further, there is a liquid discharge unit in which the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated by holding the liquid discharge head movably by a guide member constituting a part of the scanning movement mechanism. In some cases, the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the main scanning movement mechanism are integrated.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a carriage to which a liquid discharge head is attached, in which a cap member which is a part of the maintenance / recovery mechanism is fixed, and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism are integrated. ..

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a tube is connected to a head tank or a liquid discharge head to which a flow path component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and a supply mechanism are integrated. The liquid of the liquid storage source is supplied to the liquid discharge head through this tube.

The main scanning movement mechanism shall include a single guide member. Further, the supply mechanism includes a single tube and a single loading unit.

The "device for discharging a liquid" includes a device provided with a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and driving the liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid. The device for discharging a liquid includes not only a device capable of discharging a liquid to a device to which the liquid can adhere, but also a device for discharging the liquid into the air or into the liquid.

The "device for discharging the liquid" may include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging paper to which the liquid can adhere, as well as a pretreatment device, a posttreatment device, and the like.

For example, as a "device that ejects a liquid", an image forming device that is a device that ejects ink to form an image on paper, and a three-dimensional model (three-dimensional model) are formed in layers in order to form a three-dimensional model. There is a three-dimensional modeling device (three-dimensional modeling device) that discharges the modeling liquid into the powder layer.

Further, the "device for discharging a liquid" is not limited to a device in which a significant image such as characters and figures is visualized by the discharged liquid. For example, those that form patterns that have no meaning in themselves and those that form a three-dimensional image are also included.

The above-mentioned "thing to which a liquid can adhere" means a material to which a liquid can adhere at least temporarily, such as a material to which the liquid adheres and adheres, and a material to which the liquid adheres and permeates. Specific examples include media such as paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, cloth and other recording media, electronic substrates, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and inspection cells. Yes, and includes everything to which the liquid adheres, unless otherwise specified.

The material of the above-mentioned "material to which a liquid can adhere" may be paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like as long as the liquid can adhere even temporarily.

Further, the "device for discharging the liquid" includes, but is not limited to, a device in which the liquid discharge head and the device to which the liquid can adhere move relatively. Specific examples include a serial type device that moves the liquid discharge head, a line type device that does not move the liquid discharge head, and the like.

In addition, as a "device for ejecting a liquid", a treatment liquid coating device for ejecting a treatment liquid to the paper in order to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper, etc. There is an injection granulator that granulates fine particles of the raw material by injecting a composition liquid in which the raw material is dispersed in the solution through a nozzle.

In addition, in the term of this application, image formation, recording, printing, printing, printing, modeling, etc. are all synonymous.

1 Nozzle plate 2 Flow plate 3 Vibration plate member 4 Nozzle 6 Individual liquid chamber 10 Common liquid chamber 40 Adhesive 41 Groove 100 Liquid discharge head 403 Carriage 404 Liquid discharge head 440 Liquid discharge unit

Claims (8)

With the first member
The first member and the second member joined with an adhesive are provided.
Grooves into which the adhesive enters are provided on the joint surfaces of the first member and the second member.
The groove portion of the first member and the groove portion of the second member are provided at non-opposite positions.
A liquid discharge head, characterized in that there is a gap between the adhesive that has entered the groove and the wall surface of the groove. The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive that has entered the groove portion rises in a dome shape with respect to the joint surface. The first member is a flow path plate that forms a flow path through which a nozzle for discharging a liquid passes.
The liquid discharge head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second member is a wall surface member forming a wall surface of the flow path. The liquid discharge head according to claim 3, wherein the groove portion is provided so as to surround the entire flow path. The liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the groove portions are provided in the in-plane direction of the joint surface. A liquid discharge unit comprising the liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . A head tank that stores the liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head, a carriage on which the liquid discharge head is mounted, a supply mechanism that supplies the liquid to the liquid discharge head, a maintenance / recovery mechanism that maintains and recovers the liquid discharge head, and the liquid. The liquid discharge unit according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the main scanning moving mechanisms for moving the discharge head in the main scanning direction is integrated with the liquid discharge head. A device for discharging a liquid, comprising the liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or the liquid discharge unit according to claim 6 or 7 .

Images