JPH04211959A - Ink jet recording head and recording apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ink jet recording head obtaining the stable emitting state of ink by providing a film containing a polymer having a fluorine- containing heterocyclic structure in its main chain to at least the peripheral edge part of an emitting orifice. CONSTITUTION:In a grooved top plate 3 formed by integrally molding a liquid chamber, a flow path and an orifice surface, a water repelling treatment agent is applied to the orifice surface and thermally cured to form a liquid repelling film 1. Thereafter, the grooved top plate having emitting orifices formed by the perforation due to excimer laser and a substrate 5 having a heating body being a means for emitting a recording liquid from the orifices are bonded to form a recording head.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a recording head that ejects and flies a recording liquid generally called ink as small droplets from a minute opening (discharge port), and a recording head that performs recording by adhering the droplets to a recording surface. The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device equipped with a cap and a cleaning mechanism.

0002

[Prior Art] Among the various recording methods currently known, the non-impact recording method generates almost no noise during recording, is capable of high-speed recording, and uses a special fixing process on plain paper. The so-called inkjet recording method, which can perform recording without the need for a recording medium, is recognized as an extremely useful recording method.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a typical ink jet recording head.

In this recording head, an energy generating element 12 is installed on a substrate 11 made of glass, ceramics, etc., and the energy generating element is formed by patterning a cured photosensitive resin film 13 by photolithography. A liquid passage 15 and an ejection port 14 corresponding to the liquid passage 12 and a liquid chamber 16 for supplying ink to the flow passage 15 are formed. On the photosensitive resin cured film 13, a top plate 17 made of, for example, glass, ceramics, metal, etc. is laminated and fixed with an adhesive 19. Also,
A recording liquid (ink) supply port 18 is formed in the top plate 17 .

In the recording head having such a configuration, the physical properties (physical properties) of the surfaces of the substrate 11, photosensitive resin cured film 13, and top plate 17 surrounding the ejection port 14 are as follows.
This is extremely important in order to constantly and stably eject the recording liquid from step 4. That is, the recording liquid may enter or adhere to the outer surface of the ejection port 14 (periphery of the ejection port),
If a liquid puddle occurs in even a part of the liquid, when the recording liquid in the liquid path 15 is ejected from the ejection port 14, the flight direction of the liquid will deviate from the normal predetermined direction, and furthermore, the state of the liquid puddle may become worse. Due to the instability of the liquid, the flying direction is disturbed each time it is ejected, which causes the inconvenience that stable liquid ejection cannot be performed and good recording cannot be performed.

Furthermore, if the entire outer surface of the ejection port 14 is covered with a film of recording liquid, a so-called splash phenomenon occurs and the recording liquid is scattered, making it impossible to perform stable recording. Furthermore, if the liquid pool covering the outer surface of the orifice becomes large, the recording head may become unable to eject liquid.

Further, in a normal recording head as shown in FIG. 8, the members surrounding the ejection port include, for example, silicon (substrate 1), glass (top plate 17), and resin (cured photosensitive resin film 13). Different materials are often used, such as The recording liquid leaks from the material that is most likely to leak out of the three types at the periphery of the ejection port. Of the three materials mentioned above, glass is the most likely to leak from normal ink (recording liquid), so ink may leak from that part. The glass part is a material that is normally used because it is preferable in terms of manufacturing and performance of the head, and other materials are used to prevent ink from leaking due to manufacturing reasons.
This is undesirable in terms of performance and cost.

As explained above, in order to solve the problem that in the conventional recording head, stable ejection becomes impossible when recording liquid accumulates around the periphery of the orifice, as shown in FIG. There have been proposals to solve the above-mentioned problems by forming a so-called water-repellent layer 20 on at least the peripheral edge of the discharge port 14, for example, in JP-A-56-89569 and JP-A-62- There have been many disclosures in the past, such as No. 55154 and JP-A-2-153744. Various water repellent agents used for this water repellent treatment include silicone polymers, oligomers, fluorine polymers, and oligomers.

[0009]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The water-repellent layer 20 formed on an inkjet recording head is not only good in water repellency, but also has good durability during normal inkjet recording. If the points are not sufficient, it will not be practical. The durability will be described below.

When performing inkjet recording, even if the periphery of the orifice is treated to be water repellent, the periphery of the orifice is always in contact with the recording liquid, so the orifice surface is coated with an absorbent material such as polyurethane foam. Wipe the
Normally, a recovery operation is performed to suck up the adhered ink. Therefore, the water-repellent layer is required to have adhesion to the extent that it will not peel off even when rubbed by an absorbent material, and abrasion resistance to the extent that the layer will not be destroyed. If these durability is insufficient, the water-repellent layer may gradually peel off or fall off while the head is being used, and the water-repellent layer will no longer exhibit water-repellent effects, resulting in stable ejection printing. I won't be able to do it.

[0011] In terms of the durability required for such an inkjet recording head, there have been cases where a water repellent layer formed using a conventional water repellent agent is not sufficient.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, when wiping with a rubber blade, etc., in the case of a conventional liquid repellent treatment agent, when a softer fluorine-based compound is used, wiping with a rubber blade, etc. There was a problem in that the liquid repellent agent that was scraped off penetrated into the discharge port. If this happens, the meniscus position of the ink will shift, and the ink ejection direction will shift, causing wobbling and deteriorating print quality. For this reason, there has been a need for a liquid-repellent coating made of rubber blades or the like that is resistant to wiping and is hard.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, there were cases in which peeling occurred from the periphery of the discharge port.

Furthermore, when the member surrounding the orifice is made of a plurality of different materials, as in the inkjet head shown in FIG. 2, it is necessary to form a liquid-repellent layer that adheres well to all of the materials. Must be. Water-repellent layers formed using conventional liquid-repellent agents are particularly insufficient in some cases.

On the other hand, in the case of an inkjet head using a grooved top plate in which the liquid chamber, liquid path, and discharge port forming surface are integrally formed,
Since the grooved top plate is made by molding, it is made of one material. In this way, even when the material is made of one material, the material must often be selected from among a limited number of materials due to constraints such as moldability and ink wettability. Generally, materials such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone polyester, and polyacetal are used, but these molding materials sometimes have insufficient adhesion to the liquid repellent agent, causing problems such as peeling.

[0016]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an inkjet recording head using a polymer having a fluorine-containing heterocyclic structure in its main chain, at least in the periphery of the ejection port. An inkjet recording head and an inkjet recording apparatus using this head are characterized by comprising a film containing the following.

In the present invention, since the problem is solved in the vicinity of the ejection ports, only the portion including the ejection ports of the recording head will be extracted and described in detail hereinafter, but the gist of the present invention is The invention is not limited to the recording head shown in FIG. 1, for example, and any type of recording head can be applied to the present invention as long as it complies with the invention, as long as it discharges ink from its discharge ports. be.

In addition to the type in which the terminal end of the liquid path forms a discharge port as shown in FIG. 7, there is also an orifice plate separate from the flow path in which a hole of a predetermined diameter is provided at the end of the flow path. The present invention also includes a type in which a discharge port is attached.

According to the present invention, stable ink jet recording can be performed indefinitely by treating the outer surface of the ink jet recording head surrounding the ejection ports with a compound specific to the present invention to make it liquid repellent.

[0020] In the present invention, the fluorine-containing heterocyclic structure is an organic substance having a 5- to 8-membered ring containing 1 to 2 heteroatoms in the chemical structural formula.

[0021]Heteroatoms are atoms other than carbon (C), and specifically, oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), etc. are used, and in particular oxygen (O) is preferably used in terms of chemical stability and safety.

In the present invention, the fluorine-containing polymer having a heterocyclic structure has a fluorine content of 10% by weight or more, more preferably 25% by weight in terms of ink repellency (contact angle).
Above, more preferably 50% by weight or more.

In addition, the proportion of the ring structure in the main chain is 10% or more, preferably 20% or more, from the viewpoint of the strength of the desired coating, solubility in solvents, or adhesion to the base material.
More preferably, it is 30% or more.

In the present invention, it is particularly preferable to use an amorphous polymer among the fluorine-containing polymers having a heterocyclic structure. Amorphous polymers have excellent film strength, adhesion to the substrate, uniformity of the film, and the like, so that the effects of the present invention can be exhibited even more.

In the present invention, examples of the fluorine-containing polymer having a heterocyclic structure in the main chain include those disclosed in US Pat.
, 418,302, U.S. Patent No. 3,978,030, JP-A-63-238111, JP-A-63-23
Polymers described in JP-A No. 8115, JP-A-1-131214, JP-A-1-131215, etc. are preferably used.

Among these, the following polymers having a heterocyclic structure are typical. However, the content of the present invention is not limited to these only.

[0027]

[Outside 1]

[0028]

[Outside 2]

[0029]

[Outer 3]

[0030]

[Outside 4]

Furthermore, in order to improve adhesion to the base material, control Tg, and solubility in solvents,

00
32]

[5] (R3, R4, R5 are H, F, Cl, Rf (fluorine-containing alkyl), respectively. X is H, F, Cl, Rf
3, Rf4. However, Rf3 is a fluorine-containing organic substituent having a functional group such as an acid, ester, alcohol, amine, or amide at its terminal, and Rf4 is a fluorine-containing alkyl or a fluorine-containing ether. ) may be introduced, and these structures can be obtained by copolymerizing with the following comonomers.

CF2=CF-O-CF2CF(CF3)-O-C
F2CF2SO2F, CF2=CF-O-CF2C
F2CF2COOCH3, CF2=CF-CF2C
F(CF3)-O-CF2CF2SO2F

[0034]
Cytop CTX-105 has the specific chemical structure shown above and is suitable as a liquid repellent treatment agent.
(Product name: Asahi Glass) or Cytop CTX-80
5 (product name: Asahi Glass) or Teflon AF (product name: DuPont).

[0035] In the present invention, methods for forming a liquid-repellent film using a polymer having a specific ring structure can be roughly divided into two types depending on the difference in the head forming process.

That is, the type shown in FIG. 1 in which a discharge orifice is formed after forming a liquid-repellent film, and the type shown in FIG.
There are two types in which a liquid-repellent film is formed after the discharge orifice is formed, as shown in FIG. In the former case, it may be immersed in a stock solution or diluted solution of the polymer having a specific ring structure in the present invention, or transferred using an absorber, etc.
Alternatively, it can be created by a general coating method such as spray coating or spin coating. In the latter case, in the method described above, the liquid repellent agent flows around from the ejection port to the inner wall surface of the ink path, so it is necessary to take measures to prevent this. For example, it is necessary to use a transfer method using silicone rubber, fill the liquid path with a liquid or solid that is not miscible with the liquid repellent, or perform liquid repellent treatment by jetting gas from a nozzle. JP-A-63-122557, JP-A-63-
239063 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-48953 are disclosed.

The solvent to be used is not limited as long as it dissolves the polymer of the present invention, but examples include perfluorobenzene, "Afluid" (trade name: fluorinated solvent manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), "Florinart FC-75" ( A fluorine-containing solvent such as a liquid containing perfluoro (2-butyltetrahydrofuran) manufactured by 3M Company is suitable. As a matter of course, two or more appropriate types can be used in combination as a solvent. Especially in the case of mixed solvents, hydrocarbons,
Chlorinated hydrocarbons, fluorochlorinated hydrocarbons, alcohols, and other organic solvents can also be used in combination. Solution concentration is 0.01wt%~5
0 wt%, preferably 0.01 wt% to 20 wt%. In the present invention, if the thickness of the liquid-repellent film made of the compound unique to the present invention is 0.1 μm or more, the above object can be sufficiently achieved, but it is preferably used within the range of 0.1 to 2 μm.

In the present invention, the heat treatment conditions (temperature) of the fluorine-containing polymer having a specific heterocyclic structure are determined by the boiling point of the solvent, the glass transition point of the polymer, and the heat resistance temperature of the substrate. That is, the temperature may be selected to be higher than the boiling point of the solvent and the glass transition point of the polymer, and lower than the heat resistance temperature of the base material.

The glass transition point of this polymer varies depending on its structure. For example, most of the structures of the above general formulas 1 to 2 are about 50 to 110°C, so the heat treatment conditions are as follows: temperature is 120 to 170°C, time is 30 minutes to 2.
About an hour is preferable. In addition, there is a structure of ■ in the main chain.

0
040]

A copolymer having the structure [6] is produced by DuPont under the trade name "Teflon AF". This Teflon AF can have various glass transition temperatures by changing its copolymerization ratio. That is, P.D.D.
As the ratio of the [perfluoro(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole)] component increases, the glass transition point increases. Depending on the component ratio, it exists from 80℃ to 330℃, and the commercially available temperature is 160℃ (AF160
0) and 240°C (AF2400). For example, the heat treatment temperature of 160°C is preferably about 165°C to 180°C, taking into account the heat resistance temperature of the base material.

[0041]

[Example] Figure 1 shows an example of the present invention, including a liquid chamber, a flow path,
A water-repellent treatment agent is applied to the orifice surface of the grooved top plate 3 whose orifice surface is formed by integral molding, and then thermally cured to form a liquid-repellent film 1. Thereafter, a grooved top plate having a discharge orifice formed by drilling with an excimer laser or the like and a substrate 5 having a heating element serving as a means for discharging recording liquid from the discharge orifice are bonded together.

2 to 6 illustrate preferred inkjet units IJU, inkjet heads IJH, ink tanks IT, inkjet cartridges IJC, inkjet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and carriage HC, and their relationships, to which the present invention is implemented or applied. It is an explanatory diagram for explaining. The configuration of each part will be explained below using these drawings.

Inkjet cartridge IJ in this example
As can be seen from the perspective view of FIG. 3, in C, the ink storage ratio is large, and the tip of the inkjet unit IJU is slightly protruded from the front surface of the ink tank IT. This inkjet cartridge IJC is fixedly supported by a positioning means and electrical contacts (described later) of a carriage HC (FIG. 5) mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and is a disposable cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the carriage HC. It is a type. 2 to 6 of this example have configurations to which a number of new techniques developed at the stage of establishment of the present invention are applied, so the overall explanation will be given while briefly explaining these configurations. Make it.

(i) Inkjet unit IJU configuration description The inkjet unit IJU uses a bubble jet method for recording using an electrothermal transducer that generates thermal energy to cause film boiling in ink in response to an electrical signal. It is a unit of

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 indicates a structure in which electrothermal converters (discharge heaters) arranged in a plurality of rows on a Si substrate and electrical wiring made of Al or the like for supplying power to the converters are formed by film-forming technology. This is a heater board consisting of 200 is a wiring board for the heater board 100;
It has a wiring corresponding to the wiring 0 (for example, connected by wire bonding) and a pad 201 located at the end of this wiring and receiving an electric signal from the main device.

Reference numeral 1300 denotes a grooved top plate provided with partition walls for dividing a plurality of ink channels, a common liquid chamber for storing ink, and the like for supplying ink to each ink channel.
An ink receiving port 1500 that receives ink supplied from the ink tank IT and introduces it into the above-mentioned common liquid chamber, and an orifice plate 400 having a plurality of ejection ports corresponding to each ink flow path are integrally molded. Although polysulfone is preferable as the material for integrally molding these, other resin materials for molding may also be used.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a support made of metal, for example, which supports the back surface of the wiring board 200 on a flat surface, and serves as a bottom plate of the inkjet unit. Reference numeral 500 denotes a pressing spring, which has an M-shape and presses the common liquid chamber with light pressure at the center of the M-shape, and uses a front sag 501 to concentrate linear pressure on a part of the liquid path, preferably in the area near the discharge port. Press. The feet of the springs that press the heater board 100 and the top plate 1300 fit into the holes 3121 of the support body 300.
The heater board 100 and the top plate 1300 are pushed together by the concentrated biasing force of the press spring 500 and its front sagging portion 501 by engaging the back side of the support body 300 through the support body 300 and engaging the two in a sandwiched state. Crimp and fix. Further, the support body 300 has two positioning protrusions 1012 for the ink tank IT and a protrusion 180 for positioning and maintaining heat sealing.
Positioning hole 312, 1900 that engages with 0, 1801
, 2000, and protrusions 2500, 2600 for positioning the apparatus main body IJRA with respect to the carriage HC on the back side. In addition, the support body 300 has an ink supply pipe 2200 (
It also has a hole 320 that allows it to pass through (described later). The wiring board 200 is attached to the support body 300 by adhering it with an adhesive or the like. Note that the recess 2400 of the support body 300,
2400 are positioning protrusions 2500 and 260, respectively.
It is provided near 0 (on the back side). Parallel grooves 3000 are formed on three sides around the head end region of the assembled inkjet cartridge IJC (FIG. 3).
, 3001. Therefore, parallel groove 3
This prevents unnecessary objects such as dust and ink that have moved along lines 000 and 3001 from reaching the protrusions 2500 and 2600. This parallel groove 3000 is formed. As seen in FIG. 5, the lid member 800 forms the outer wall of the inkjet cartridge IJC, and together with the ink tank forms a space in which the inkjet unit IJU is accommodated. Further, the ink supply member 600 in which the parallel groove 3001 is formed is similar to the ink supply pipe 2 described above.
200, the ink conduit 1600 is connected to the supply tube 2200.
The side is formed as a fixed cantilever beam, and a sealing pin 602 is inserted to ensure capillary action between the fixed side of the ink conduit and the ink supply tube 2200. Note that 601 is a packing that seals the connection between the ink tank IT and the supply pipe 2200, and 700 is a filter provided at the tank side end of the supply pipe.

Since this ink supply member 600 is molded, it is not only inexpensive, has high positional accuracy, and eliminates deterioration in manufacturing precision, but also has a cantilever structure for the ink supply conduit 1600. Therefore, the pressure contact state of the conduit 1600 with the ink receptacle 1500 can be stabilized, so that the structure is suitable for mass production. In this example, a more complete communication state can be reliably obtained by simply pouring the sealing adhesive from the ink supply member side under this pressure-contact state. In addition, the ink supply member 6
00 to the support body 300, the pins (not shown) on the back side of the ink supply member 600 are connected to the holes 1901, 1902 of the support body 300.
This can be easily done by projecting through the support body 300 through the support body 300 and heat-sealing the protruding portion to the back side of the support body 300. still,
This slightly protruding area of the heat-sealed back surface is accommodated in a recess (not shown) in the side wall surface of the inkjet unit IJU mounting surface of the ink tank IT.
The positioning plane of U can be accurately obtained.

(ii) Ink tank IT configuration description After inserting the cartridge main body 1000, ink absorber 900, and ink absorber 900 from the side of the cartridge main body 1000 opposite to the unit IJU mounting surface, It is configured with a lid member 1100 that seals this.

[0050] Reference numeral 900 denotes an absorber for impregnating ink, and is disposed within the cartridge body 1000. 1
200 is a unit IJ consisting of the above parts 100 to 600.
It is a supply port for supplying ink to U, and also connects the unit to the portion 10 of the cartridge body 1000.
It is also an injection port for impregnating the absorber 900 with ink by injecting ink from the supply port 1200 in a step before disposing the absorber 900 in the absorber 10 .

In this example, the parts that can supply ink are the atmosphere communication port and the supply port, but the rib 2300 inside the main body 1000 and the lid member are used to ensure good ink supply from the ink absorber. 1100 partial ribs 2302, 23
01 is connected to the ink supply port 120 from the atmosphere communication port 1401 side.
0, it is important that relatively good and uniform ink supply to the absorber is performed from the supply port 1200 side. This method is extremely effective in practice. This rib 2300 has four ribs parallel to the carriage movement direction on the rear surface of the ink tank main body 1000.
This prevents the absorber from coming into close contact with the rear surface. Further, the partial ribs 2400, 2500 are similar to the rib 230.
The rib 2300 is provided on the inner surface of the lid member 1100 in an extension corresponding to the rib 2300, but unlike the rib 2300, the rib 2300 is divided to increase the space in which air can exist. Note that the partial ribs 2302 and 2301 are
It is distributed over less than half of the total area of 00. These ribs made it possible to more stably guide the ink in the region of the corner of the ink absorber farthest from the tank supply port 1200 to the supply port 1200 side reliably by capillary force. Reference numeral 1401 denotes an atmosphere communication port provided in the lid member to communicate the inside of the cartridge with the atmosphere. 1400 is a liquid repellent material placed inside the atmosphere communication port 1401;
This prevents ink from leaking from the atmosphere communication port 1400.

The ink storage space of the ink tank IT described above has a rectangular shape with its long sides on the sides, so the arrangement of the ribs described above is particularly effective. When the lid member 1100 has sides or is cube-shaped, the ink supply from the ink absorber 900 can be stabilized by providing ribs on the entire lid member 1100. A rectangular parallelepiped shape is suitable for storing as much ink as possible within a limited space, but in order to use the stored ink for recording without wasting it, as mentioned above,
It is important to provide ribs capable of performing the above-mentioned action in two-sided regions adjacent to the corner regions. Furthermore, the inner surface ribs of the ink tank IT in this embodiment are arranged in a substantially uniform distribution in the thickness direction of the rectangular parallelepiped-shaped ink absorber. This configuration reduces the ink consumption of the entire absorber.
This is an important configuration because it can make the atmospheric pressure distribution uniform and almost eliminate the remaining amount of ink. Further, to explain the technical idea behind the arrangement of the ribs in detail, when an arc is drawn with the long side as the radius and centered on the position where the ink supply port 1200 of the ink tank is projected on the quadrangular top surface of the rectangular parallelepiped, It is important to arrange the ribs on the surface outside the arc so that the atmospheric pressure can be quickly applied to the absorbent body located outside the arc. In this case, the atmosphere communication port of the tank is not limited to this example, as long as it is at a position where the atmosphere can be introduced into the rib arrangement area.

In addition, in this embodiment, the rear surface of the inkjet cartridge IJC with respect to the head is flattened to minimize the space required when it is incorporated into the apparatus, and to maximize the amount of ink that can be accommodated. Because of this, it has an excellent configuration that not only allows the device to be made smaller, but also reduces the frequency of cartridge replacement. And inkjet unit IJ
Utilizing the rear part of the space for integrating the U, a protruding part for the atmosphere communication port 1401 is formed therein, and the inside of this protruding part is hollowed out to form the above-mentioned absorber 900.
An atmospheric pressure supply space 1402 is formed throughout the thickness. With this configuration, we were able to provide an excellent cartridge that has never been seen before. Note that this atmospheric pressure supply space 1402 is a much larger space than the conventional one,
Since the atmosphere communication port 1401 is located above, even if the ink leaves the absorber due to some abnormality, the atmospheric pressure supply space 1402 can temporarily hold the ink, ensuring that the ink is transferred to the absorber. Since the cartridge can be recovered, it is possible to provide an excellent cartridge with no waste.

[0054] Also, the above unit IJU of the ink tank IT
The configuration of the mounting surface is shown in FIG. If L1 is a straight line that passes approximately through the center of the protrusion of the orifice plate 400 and is parallel to the mounting reference plane on the bottom surface of the tank IT or the surface of the carriage, two positioning protrusions that engage with the holes 312 of the support body 300 are formed. 1012 is on this straight line L1. The height of this protrusion 1012 is slightly lower than the thickness of the support 300, and positions the support 300. In this drawing, the claw 2100 that engages with the 90-degree engagement surface 4002 of the carriage positioning hook 4001 is located on the extension of the straight line L1, and the positioning force on the carriage includes this straight line L1. It is configured to act in a plane region parallel to the reference plane. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, these relationships are effective because the positioning accuracy of only the ink tank is equivalent to the positioning accuracy of the ejection ports of the head.

Further, the protrusions 1800 and 1801 of the ink tank corresponding to the fixing holes 1900 and 2000 on the side surface of the ink tank of the support body 300 are longer than the aforementioned protrusion 1012, and protrude through the support body 300. This is for fixing the support body 300 to the side surface of the support body 300 by heat-sealing the parts. Let L3 be a straight line that is perpendicular to the line L1 and passes through this protrusion 1800, and L2 be a straight line that passes through the protrusion 1801. Since the approximate center of the supply port 1200 is located on the straight line L3, the port 1200 of the supply section and This is a preferable configuration because it acts to stabilize the connection state with the supply pipe 2200 and reduces the load on these connection conditions even if dropped or impacted. Also, the straight lines L2 and L3 do not match, and the head IJH
There are protrusions 1800 and 180 around the protrusion 1012 on the discharge port side.
1 exists, it further produces the effect of reinforcing the positioning of the head IJH with respect to the tank. Note that the curve indicated by L4 is the outer wall position when the ink supply member 600 is attached. Since the protrusions 1800 and 1801 are along the curve L4, they provide sufficient strength and positional accuracy even for the weight of the distal end side configuration of the head IJH. In addition, 2700
is the tip flange of the ink tank IT, and is attached to the front plate 4 of the carriage.
This is provided in case of an abnormal situation where the ink tank is inserted into the 000 hole and the displacement of the ink tank becomes extremely poor. 210
1 is a retainer for the carriage, and the carriage HC
is provided for a bar (not shown) in the cartridge IJC.
As will be described later, this is a protective member for maintaining the mounted state even if a force is applied in the upward direction that enters the bar at the pivoted mounted position and causes the bar to be unnecessarily removed from the positioned position. The ink tank IT has a shape that surrounds the unit IJU except for the lower opening by covering it with the lid 800 after the unit IJU is installed, but the inkjet cartridge IJC has a lower opening for placing it on the carriage HC. Since it is close to the carriage HC, it forms a substantial four-sided surrounding space. Therefore, although the heat generated from the head IJH in this enclosed space is effective as a heat-retaining space within this space, for long-term continuous use,
The temperature will rise slightly. For this reason, in this example, a slit 1700 with a width smaller than this space is provided on the upper surface of the cartridge IJC in order to aid the natural heat dissipation of the support, thereby preventing a rise in temperature and ensuring a uniform temperature distribution throughout the unit IJU. We were able to make the process unaffected by the environment.

When assembled as an inkjet cartridge IJC, ink is supplied from inside the cartridge into the supply tank 600 through the supply port 1200, the hole 320 provided in the support 300, and the introduction port provided on the inner back side of the supply tank 600. After passing through the inside of the ink supply pipe, a suitable supply pipe and the ink introduction port 15 of the top plate 1300 are connected from the outlet.
00 into the common liquid chamber. A packing made of, for example, silicone rubber or butyl rubber is disposed at the above-mentioned connection portion for ink communication, and this seals the ink supply path to ensure an ink supply path.

In this embodiment, the top plate 1300 is made of a resin such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene oxide, or polypropylene, which has excellent ink resistance, and is molded together with the orifice plate portion 400 in a mold. There is.

As described above, the integrally molded parts include the ink supply member 600, the top plate 1300, and the orifice plate 400.
Since the ink tank body 1000 is an integral member, not only the assembly accuracy is at a high level, but also it is extremely effective in improving the quality of mass production. Furthermore, since the number of parts can be reduced compared to the prior art, excellent desired characteristics can be reliably exhibited.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, in the above-described assembled shape, as shown in FIGS.
A slit S is formed as shown in FIG.
04 forms a slit (not shown) similar to the slit S described above between the lower lid 800 of the ink tank IT and the head side end 4011 of the thin plate member to which the lid 800 is bonded. These slits between the ink tank IT and the ink supply member 600 substantially act to further promote heat dissipation through the slit 1700, and even if there is unnecessary pressure applied to the tank IT, it is directly removed from the supply member. At best, this prevents the inkjet unit IJT from being affected.

In any case, the above configuration of this embodiment is as follows:
This is a configuration that has not been seen in the past, and each component individually provides an effective effect, and the combination of each component creates an organic configuration.

(iii) Explanation of Attachment of Inkjet Cartridge IJC to Carriage HC In FIG. 5, 5000 is a platen roller that guides the recording medium P from the bottom to the top of the page. Carriage HC is
A front plate 4000 (2 mm thick) that moves along the platen roller 5000 and is located on the front side of the inkjet cartridge IJC on the front platen side of the carriage.
and the pad 20 of the cartridge IJC wiring board 200.
a flexible sheet 4005 equipped with pads 2011 corresponding to 1 and a support plate 4003 for an electrical connection portion holding a rubber pad sheet 4007 for generating elastic force to press the flexible sheet 4005 against each pad 2011 from the back side;
A positioning hook 4001 for fixing the inkjet cartridge IJC at the recording position is provided. The front plate 4000 connects the positioning protrusion 4010 to the above-described positioning protrusion 2500 of the cartridge support 300.
2600, and after the cartridge is installed, it receives a vertical force toward the protruding surface 4010. For this reason, reinforcing ribs are placed on the platen roller side of the front plate.
It has a plurality of ribs (not shown) facing in the direction of the perpendicular force. This rib also forms a head protection protrusion that protrudes slightly (approximately 0.1 mm) toward the platen roller from the front position L5 when the cartridge IJC is installed. The electrical connection support plate 4003 has a plurality of reinforcing ribs 4004 not in the direction of the ribs but in the vertical direction, and the proportion of lateral protrusion is reduced from the platen side toward the hook 4001 side. This also serves the function of tilting the position when the cartridge is installed as shown in the figure. In addition, in order to stabilize the electrical contact state, the support plate 4003 has a hook-side positioning surface 4006 for applying force to the cartridge in the opposite direction to the direction in which the two positioning protruding surfaces 4010 act on the cartridge. It has two corresponding to the protruding surface 4010, forms a pad contact area between these two positioning surfaces, and uniquely defines the amount of deformation of the notch of the rubber sheet 4007 with a notch corresponding to the pad 2011. . These positioning surfaces are
When the cartridge IJC is fixed in a recordable position,
It comes into contact with the surface of the wiring board 200. In this example, the pad 201 of the wiring board 200 is further connected to the above-mentioned line L.
Since the distribution is symmetrical with respect to 1, the amount of deformation of each notch of the rubber sheet 4007 is made uniform, and the contact pressure of the pad 2011 is made more stable. The distribution of pads 201 in this example is two rows above, two rows below, and two columns vertically.

The hook 4001 has an elongated hole that engages with the fixed shaft 4009, and after rotating counterclockwise from the position shown in the figure using the movement space of this elongated hole, the hook 4001 moves to the platen roller 500.
0 to the left side, the inkjet cartridge IJC is positioned with respect to the carriage HC. The hook 4001 may be moved in any way, but a configuration in which it can be moved using a lever or the like is preferable. In any case, when the hook 4001 rotates, the cartridge IJC moves toward the platen roller and the positioning protrusion 2500,
2600 moves to a position where it can come into contact with the positioning surface 4010 of the front plate, and as the hook 4001 moves to the left, the 90 degree hook surface 4002 contacts the claw 2100 of the cartridge IJC.
The cartridge IJC is rotated in a horizontal plane around the contact area of the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010 while in close contact with the 90-degree surface of the pads 201 and 2011, and finally the pads 201 and 2011 start coming into contact with each other. When the hook 4001 is held in a predetermined position, that is, a fixed position, the pads 201 and 2011 are in complete contact with each other, the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010 are in complete surface contact, and the 90-degree surface 4002 and the 90-degree surface of the claw are in complete contact with each other. A two-surface contact and a surface contact between the wiring board 300 and the positioning surface 4006 are formed at the same time, and the cartridge I relative to the carriage is
JC retention is completed.

(iv) Schematic explanation of the main body of the apparatus FIG. 6 shows an inkjet recording apparatus IJ to which the present invention is applied.
In the general view of RA, the carriage HC that engages with the line groove 5004 from the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the drive force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 is a pin (not shown). , and is moved back and forth in the directions of arrows a and b. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper holding plate that holds the paper against the platen 500 in the direction of carriage movement.
Press against 0. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 are home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage in this area using photocouplers to switch the rotational direction of the motor 5013, etc. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head, and 5015 is a suction means for suctioning the inside of this cap to perform suction recovery of the recording head through an opening 5023 in the cap. 5017 is a cleaning blade, 501
Reference numeral 9 denotes a member that allows this blade to move in the front and back direction, and these are supported by a main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, the blade is not of this type, but a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Also, 502
Reference numeral 1 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves as the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage moves;
The movement of the driving force from the drive motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching.

These capping, cleaning, and suction recovery operations are configured so that the desired processes can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the home position side area, but the well-known timing Any of these can be applied to this example as long as the desired operation is carried out using the following. Each of the configurations described above is an excellent invention whether viewed singly or in combination, and represents a preferable configuration example for the present invention.

In order to explain in detail the configuration technically related to FIGS. 2 to 6 described above, FIGS. 1 and 7 will be described below.
This will be explained using the following.

(Example 1-1) In order to remove the mold release agent adhering to the molded grooved top plate, it was cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaning bath for 5 minutes with Freon 113 (Daiflon S3 manufactured by Daikin Industries). To apply, cut the absorbent Bel Eater F mesh (manufactured by Kanebo) to the specified size, soak the absorbent in a liquid repellent treatment agent, and apply it to the outlet forming surface of the cleaned grooved top plate. Application was performed by moving while pressing. As a liquid repellent treatment agent, a 5% solution of Cytop CTX-105 (manufactured by Asahi Glass) was used as CT-solv. 100 (boiling point 100℃, manufactured by Asahi Glass)
The solution was diluted to 0.5 wt%.

The application range of the liquid repellent (l×m in FIG. 1) is determined by the width of the absorber and the distance traveled. At this time, the width of the absorber was cut to be 0.2 mm shorter than the required width of the liquid repellent agent (FIG. 1l). This is because the liquid repellent agent itself spreads (approximately 0.1 mm in both directions) during application. The moving distance is the dimension (Fig. 1 m) that leaves the part not coated by the absorber (Fig. 1 c).

[0068] Here, the reason why the application range is not the entire surface on which the discharge ports are formed, but a certain application range is specified is to prevent the coating from moving around during application and heat treatment. This time, Figure 1A,
Both B and C were measured at 0.5 mm. However, A, B, and C may all be 0 if there is no concern about backward rotation.

[0069] Place the coated grooved top plate into the tray,
It was placed in an oven at 150°C for 2 and a half hours for heat treatment. At this time, the actual heat treatment time is 2 hours because 30 minutes after the injection is used to raise the temperature of the grooved top plate and the tray to the predetermined temperature of 150°C.

After 2 and a half hours, the mixture was slowly cooled, and when the temperature reached 80° C. or lower, it was taken out of the oven. A discharge orifice was formed on the grooved top plate that had been subjected to the liquid repellent treatment using an excimer laser or the like, and the plate was bonded to a substrate having a discharge pressure generating element.

(Example 1-2) As in Example 1-1, after cleaning the mold release agent from the grooved top plate,
The same absorber was used and the application was carried out in the same manner. As a liquid repellent treatment agent, a 5 wt% solution of Cytop CTX-805 (manufactured by Asahi Glass) was used as CT-solv. 180 (boiling point 18
The solution was diluted to 0.5 wt% with 0°C (manufactured by Asahi Glass).

This solvent has a boiling point of 180°C, but polysulfone, which is the material of the grooved top plate, has a heat resistance temperature of 173°C.
The heat treatment temperature was set at 150° C. and the time was set at 2 and a half hours.

After 2 and a half hours, it was slowly cooled, and when the temperature reached 80° C. or lower, it was taken out of the oven. A discharge orifice was formed on the grooved top plate that had been subjected to the liquid repellent treatment using an excimer laser or the like, and the plate was bonded to a substrate having a discharge pressure generating element.

(Example 1-3) As in Example 1-1, after cleaning the mold release agent from the grooved top plate,
The same absorber was used and the application was carried out in the same manner. As a liquid repellent treatment agent, AF1600 (Teflon AF, trade name: DuPont) was used as Fluorinert FC-75 (trade name).
3M Company) diluted to 0.5 wt%. Since the glass transition point of AF1600 is 160°C, the heat treatment conditions were set at 165°C for 2 and a half hours.

After 2 and a half hours, it was slowly cooled, and when the temperature reached 80° C. or lower, it was taken out of the oven. A discharge orifice was formed on the grooved top plate that had been subjected to the liquid repellent treatment using an excimer laser or the like, and the plate was bonded to a substrate having a discharge pressure generating element.

As a liquid repellent treatment agent, instead of the above AF1600, AF2400 (Teflon AF, trade name: DuPont), which has a higher glass transition point, was used with Fluorinert FC-
75 (trade name: 3M Company) diluted to 0.5 wt%, the same performance can be obtained. The heat treatment conditions are also the same as above. However, if the base material has a high heat-resistant temperature, the performance will be better if the heat treatment temperature is further increased.

(Example 2) As shown in FIG. 7, unlike Examples 1-1 to 1-3, a case in which liquid is repelled by having a discharge orifice formed first will be described below.

First, a multi-nozzle head as shown in FIG. 7 was created. Next, the outer wall surface of the discharge orifice was thoroughly washed with distilled water, and then with an organic solvent.

As the liquid repellent treatment agent, Cytop CTX-
105 (trade name manufactured by Asahi Glass), CT-solv. 1
00 (manufactured by Asahi Glass) and CT-solv. 180 and ratio 1
: A solution diluted to 0.2 wt % with a solution mixed at 1 was used.

[0080] Place silicone rubber on a spinner, and drop this liquid onto 2 cc of silicone rubber. After dropping, rotate on a spinner to form a uniform film. The rotation speed is 1st:10
00 rpm, 5 seconds, 2nd: 3000 rpm, 20 seconds.

Transfer was performed by pressing the orifice surface of the multi-nozzle head onto this silicone rubber. The pressing was performed 3 times at a pressing pressure of 2 kg/head.

After the transfer was completed, the entire head was placed in an oven at 150° C. for 2.5 hours for heat treatment. Transfer can be performed under similar conditions when Cytop CTX-805 (trade name, manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) is used as a liquid repellent treatment agent.

(Example 3) Similar to Example 4, a multi-nozzle head as shown in FIG. 7 was first created. Next, the outer wall surface of the discharge orifice was thoroughly washed with distilled water, and then with an organic solvent.

As a liquid repellent agent, AF1600 (Teflon AF, trade name: DuPont) was used as Fluorinert FC.
A solution diluted to 0.5 wt% with -75 (trade name: 3M Company) was used.

[0085] As in Example 2, silicone rubber was placed on a spinner, and this liquid was dropped onto 2 cc of silicone rubber. After dropping, rotate on a spinner to form a uniform film. The rotation speed is 1st: 1000 rpm, 5 seconds, 2nd: 3000
rpm, 20 seconds.

Transfer was performed by pressing the orifice surface of the multi-nozzle head onto this silicone rubber. The pressing was performed 3 times at a pressing pressure of 2 kg/head.

After the transfer was completed, the entire head was placed in an oven at 165° C. for 2.5 hours for heat treatment. AF2400 (Teflon AF, trade name: DuPont) as a liquid repellent treatment agent
Transfer can be performed under similar conditions when using .

(Comparative Example 1) After cleaning the mold release agent from the grooved top plate in the same manner as in Example 1, the same absorbent material was used and coating was performed in the same manner. As a liquid repellent treatment agent, KP801 (product name: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)
) was diluted to 1 wt% with Freon 113 (Daiflon S3, Daikin Industries).

[0089] The heat treatment conditions were similarly set at 150°C for 2 and a half hours. After 2 and a half hours, it was allowed to cool down, and when the temperature reached 80°C or lower, it was taken out of the oven. A discharge orifice was formed using an excimer laser or the like on the grooved top plate that had been subjected to the liquid repellent treatment, and a substrate having a discharge pressure generating element was bonded to the grooved top plate.

Next, in order to investigate the liquid repellency performance of the inkjet recording head treated with the specific polymer of the present invention, evaluations were made of the applicability to the substrate, initial characteristics, contact angle persistence, etc. The contents are shown below.

[Evaluation details] (1) Applicability to substrate ■Applicability → Presence of uneven coating (absorbent Bel Eater is used) (2) Initial properties ■Initial contact angle → Contact angle (advancing and receding) ■Adhesion Properties → Presence of peeling in peel test (using capping tape) (3) Contact angle persistence ■ Abrasion resistance → Change in front and rear contact angle (using a rubbing durability tester, 2000 times) ■ Ink immersion test → Front and rear contact angle (60℃) ■ PCT (pressure, cracker, test) → Change in front and back contact angle (120℃, 2atm, checked after 10 hours while immersed in ink) (4) Printing evaluation In an environment of 30℃ and 80% RH , the alphabet “H”
The characters were printed continuously and the probability of dot misalignment was visually compared.

[0092] Regarding print wrinkling, if wrinkling occurred at even one place on an A4 size sheet, it was considered to be print wrinkling, and the number of sheets where wrinkling occurred per 100 sheets was determined.

The evaluation results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0094]

[Table 1]

As shown in the table above, in Example 1-2, there is a problem of unevenness during application, but there is no problem with durability. Further, in Example 1-1, superior results were obtained compared to Comparative Example 1.

[0096] The method of measuring the contact angle, which is an important point when evaluating the above items, will be described below. The contact angle normally listed in catalogs is what is called the advancing contact angle. For measurement, after dropping ink as shown in (■) in Fig. 11, the stage is lowered and the angle of the separated droplet is read.

On the other hand, in the evaluation of inkjet water repellency, the receding contact angle was used. This method involves dropping ink once as shown in (1) and (2) in FIG. 11, absorbing the ink after wetting the surface, and then measuring the angle of the remaining droplet. Here, the receding contact angle was divided into θR1 and θR2 and measured depending on the range (amount) of the ink initially dispensed. The conventional receding contact angle is indicated by θR1. When θR1 and θR2 are compared, θR2 naturally has stricter conditions, so it is easier to see a difference in water repellency, which is effective for evaluation.

The results of a comparison using the receding contact angle measuring method as described above are shown in FIGS. 12 to 16.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in the rubbing durability test using a rubber blade, no difference was observed using the conventional measurement method, but a large difference was observed using the QR2 data. Further, in the ink immersion test, in Comparative Example 1, a decrease in contact angle was observed in QA (advancing contact angle) as well as QR2. Furthermore, when PCT was applied while immersed in ink, a large difference was observed regardless of the contact angle measurement method.

[0100] The results of Examples 1-1 and 1-2 compared with Comparative Example 1 have been shown above, but Practical Examples 1-3, 2, and 3 are also at the same level as Example 1-1. shows the performance of

As described above, when we performed discharge observation and printing tests on the inkjet recording head treated with the liquid repellent treatment of the present invention, which has excellent performance, we found that the head without treatment or the head treated with the conventional product showed Flight direction instability,
Even under conditions where ejection failure may occur, that is, when all nozzles (64 or 128 nozzles) were driven simultaneously at an ejection signal application frequency of 4 KHz, stable ejection was always performed in a predetermined direction. or,
The printed matter was also good, with no problems such as crooked vertical lines or blank spots in solid print.

(Embodiment 4) Here, the recording head shown in FIG. 17 (which can also be adopted in FIG. 2) has the following configuration.

[0103] The ink path is formed by joining the base member and a top member provided with a recessed portion for forming an ink path communicating with the ejection port for ejecting ink, with the recessed portion inside. The discharge port is provided in a plate-like member integrally formed with the top member so as to extend both upward and downward from the end of the top member, and the discharge port is provided on the side of the plate-like member where the discharge port is provided. The surface has a stepped side cross-sectional shape with a gentle slope.

[0104] A plurality of the discharge ports are provided at locations of the plate-like member corresponding to the ends of the top member.

[0105] An electrothermal converter is provided in a portion of the base body corresponding to the ink path as a thermal energy generating means for generating thermal energy used for ejecting ink from the ejection port. .

Further, the ink path is formed by joining the base body and a top member provided with a recessed portion for forming an ink path communicating with an ejection port for ejecting ink, with the recessed portion inside, The discharge port is provided in a plate member integrally formed with the top member so as to extend both upward and downward from the end of the top member, and the side of the plate member where the discharge port is provided is provided. has an inkjet head having a step-like side cross-sectional shape with a gentle slope, and an ink supply member for supplying ink to the ink path.

Furthermore, the ink path is formed by joining the base body and a top member provided with a recessed portion for forming an ink path communicating with an ejection port for ejecting ink, with the recessed portion inside. , the discharge port is provided in a plate-like member integrally formed with the top member so as to extend in both up and down directions from an end of the top member, and the discharge port of the plate-like member is provided. an inkjet unit including an inkjet head whose side surface has a stepped side cross-sectional shape with a gentle slope; an ink supply member for supplying ink to the ink path; and an ink jet unit that supplies ink to the ink path by the ink supply member. and an ink tank for storing ink.

Further, the ink path is formed by joining the base member and a top member provided with a recessed portion for forming an ink path communicating with an ejection port for ejecting ink, with the recessed portion inside, The discharge port is provided in a plate member integrally formed with the top member so as to extend both upward and downward from the end of the top member, and the side of the plate member where the discharge port is provided is provided. An inkjet unit includes an inkjet head having a step-like side cross-sectional shape with a gentle slope, an ink supplying member for supplying ink to the ink passage, and an inkjet unit having an inkjet head having a step-like side cross-sectional shape with a gentle slope; an inkjet cartridge comprising an ink tank for storing ink; a carriage for mounting the inkjet cartridge;
Equipped with.

According to these configurations, it is possible to easily obtain an inkjet head that does not cause any inconvenience due to wiping or capping. That is, it becomes possible to reliably and easily wipe off the residual ink on the orifice plate, and it is also possible to ensure sufficient airtightness during capping. Furthermore, since the surface of the plate-shaped member on which the ejection ports are provided has a stepped side cross-sectional shape with a gentle slope, there is no problem with capping, and residual ink on the orifice plate can be removed from the orifice row. This makes it possible to wipe more reliably and easily from a direction perpendicular to, or in some cases from a direction parallel to. This increases the degree of freedom in attaching the head to the main body of the apparatus.

FIG. 17 shows the configuration shown in the above embodiment,
That is, this is a schematic exploded perspective view of the integrally molded member of the orifice plate (plate-like member) 400 and the grooved top plate (top member with recesses) 1300 and the heater board (substrate) 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. be. Reference numeral 41 indicates a portion where an orifice 4 is formed by penetrating an orifice plate having a maximum thickness of 200 μm using an excimer laser.

Reference numeral 91 denotes a heat generating part (heater) of an electrothermal converter as a thermal energy generating element that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink, and pulse signals corresponding to input data are sent to each heater 91. The input causes the ink on the heater to bubble, and by utilizing this energy, the ink is ejected as droplets from the ejection port 41. This droplet is 0.5 to 1.0 mm from the orifice 41.
The ink lands on the paper surface approximately 0 mm away, and recording is realized according to the input information.

In this embodiment, the grooved top plate 13
00 and the orifice plate 400 arranged to extend both upward and downward from the end of the top plate are integrally molded by casting etc., and the thickness of the thickest part of the orifice plate 400 body is set to 200 μm to ensure strength. A water repellent film is formed by taking into account the above-described process of applying the water repellent of the present invention in a state in which it is dissolved in a solvent for the water repellent. After this, using this excimer laser, the formation portion 4 of the discharge port 4 is
1, the angle θ is 5 to 10 from the back side opposite to the discharge side.
The portion 4 where the discharge port 4 is formed is irradiated at a predetermined angle within the range of
Although the discharge port 4 is formed in the discharge port 1, the figure shows a state in which the discharge port 4 is not formed.

In this configuration, in consideration of the strength of the orifice plate and the reliability of cleaning during wiping, the surface of the orifice plate on the side where the discharge port is provided has a step-like side cross-sectional shape with a gentle slope. It is configured to consist of three planes as shown in FIG.

[0114] Grooved top plate 1300 and orifice plate 4
As the material for the integrally molded member with 00, thermoplastic resins such as polyether ether ketone, polyimide, polysulfone, etc. are preferably used in consideration of material cost and ink resistance. In this example, polysulfone, which has a small amount of thermal deformation even at high temperatures, was used.

[0115] When the suction recovery operation was performed on the inkjet head before the surface film of the water repellent was formed, the ejection port surface was almost smooth, so the airtightness was very good and sufficient suction was achieved. I found out that it can be done. In addition, during the ink wiping operation, the wiping direction (perpendicular to the ejection port row) is almost smooth, so residual ink can be sufficiently removed without causing blade flapping or ink pooling in specific areas. Ta. Furthermore, the orifice plate 400 was not wrinkled or damaged due to insufficient strength.

However, if the dimension a is too thin, the angle θ is too small, or the dimension b is too small, the flow of resin during molding will be insufficient and the intended shape will not be obtained. was used to form an orifice, but if the dimension (dimension a) required for the laser to penetrate is too thick, there is a limit to the laser power, so the desired orifice size may not be obtained or the orifice shape may become dirty. As a result of consideration, the present applicant stated in the previous application that the dimension a is 0.02 or more, the angle θ1 is 5 degrees or more, and the ink may not be able to be removed depending on the shape.
Dimensions b, c, d, e are 0.05 or more and 0.15, respectively.
As mentioned above, it is extremely preferable that it is 2.5 or less and 0.12 or more. Also, in order to obtain the characteristics of butterbur, the angle θ1 must be 1
5 degrees or less, angle θ2 is 0 degrees or more and 6 degrees or less, dimensions b, d,
It is extremely preferable that e is 1.0 or less, 1.0 or more, and 1.0 or less, respectively.

[0117] To summarize, ■ 0.02≦a≦0.05 ■ 5°≦θ1≦15° ■ 0.05≦b≦0.8 ■ 0.15≦c ■ 1.5≦d≦2.5 ■ It has been proposed that by satisfying the following conditions: 0.12≦e≦0.5 ■ 0≦θ2≦6, it is possible to obtain an inkjet head that exhibits particularly good printing.

[0118] In the figure, S indicates a recording medium.
Recording is performed so that the extension of the center of the orifice is perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium.

In this example, since the water repellent of the present invention is formed as a solid film before forming the orifice of the orifice plate, the applied water repellent does not enter the orifice and disturb the discharge characteristics. Furthermore, since the water repellent is applied in a state dissolved in a solvent, an appropriate curved surface can be formed for the step part of the above-mentioned micro-step structure, and cleaning performance or capping performance can be improved. Allowable range can be expanded. Furthermore, since the amorphous polymer having a fluorine-containing heterocyclic structure of the present invention was used, the water-repellent surface was uniform and smooth, and exhibited superior effects compared to conventional recording heads.

Furthermore, since the surface of the orifice plate on which the discharge port is provided has a stepped side cross-sectional shape with a gentler slope, the reliability of cleaning during wiping is further improved.

[0121] In the above recording head, the grooved top plate and the orifice plate are integrally molded, and the above-mentioned water repellent is applied before the orifice is formed (in addition, as described above, the hole is formed from the back side of the orifice plate. (Opening this prevents the water repellent from entering the discharge port.) This improves the airtightness when capping, allowing for sufficient suction, and ensuring that no residue is left behind when wiping. sex has improved. In addition, it is also possible to reduce costs by reducing the number of parts. In addition, since the surface of the plate member on the side where the discharge port is provided has a stepped side cross-sectional shape with a gentle slope,
The reliability of cleaning during wiping is further improved without installing any special parts inside or outside the cap, and the effect of preventing the ink meniscus from receding at the ejection port during capping is also improved, thus reducing the risk of ink ejection failure. Various problems derived from this can be solved even better with a simple configuration.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show the relative movement direction of the absorber and the orifice plate by the member 5017 serving as a blade. It moves relatively in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the plurality of steps, and both of the above embodiments are possible, but when compared, it is preferable to use the former.

[0123] In particular, the present invention is an inkjet recording system that is equipped with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, etc.) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, This provides excellent effects in recording heads and recording apparatuses that use energy to cause changes in the state of ink. In other words, heat-treating the water repellent agent mentioned above at a temperature of 100°C or higher ensures that even if the temperature of the orifice plate rises due to thermal energy, the water repellent agent is in a thermally stable state. This is because it is preferable for people. Furthermore, as shown in the above examples, applying the water repellent in a solution state to the orifice plate does not damage the shape of the orifice plate.
This is a preferred invention because it allows maximum use of the properties of the water repellent. In this case, the orifice plate is
Since a material having sufficient durability against the thermal energy for discharging is used, it is advantageous for long-term use.

[0124] In addition to the above, or alone, it is also possible to prevent the water repellent from entering the discharge port by drilling holes from the back side of the orifice plate on which the water repellent solid film is formed as described above. There are preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0125] For its typical configuration and principle, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat.
Preferably, it is carried out using the basic principles disclosed in the '796 specification. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but
In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, an electrothermal transducer is placed corresponding to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the liquid path, and the electrothermal transducer is placed at a temperature that rapidly exceeds nucleate boiling, corresponding to the recorded information. By applying at least one drive signal that provides a rise, the electrothermal transducer generates thermal energy that causes film boiling on the thermally active surface of the recording head, resulting in a liquid ( This is effective because it can form air bubbles within the ink. The growth and contraction of these bubbles causes the liquid (ink) to be ejected through the ejection opening.
Form at least one drop. It is more preferable to use this drive signal in a pulse form, since the growth and contraction of bubbles can be carried out immediately and appropriately, so that ejection of liquid (ink) with particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved. This pulse-shaped drive signal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 and U.S. Pat.
262 is suitable. Furthermore, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 regarding the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, even more excellent recording can be achieved.

[0126] In addition to the configuration of the recording head that combines ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4 disclose a configuration in which a heat acting part is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 123670 of 1982 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a hole that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy is disclosed. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461 of 1982, which discloses a configuration in which the discharge portion corresponds to the discharge portion.

Furthermore, a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus can be produced by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either a configuration that satisfies the length or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally may be used, but the present invention can more effectively exhibit the above-mentioned effects.

[0128] In addition, a replaceable chip-type recording head that is attached to the apparatus main body enables electrical connection with the apparatus main body and ink supply from the apparatus main body, or a print head that is integrated into the print head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. for the recording head, which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, these include capping means, cleaning means, pressure or suction means, preheating means for the recording head using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element, or a combination thereof. ,
It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing in order to perform stable printing.

Furthermore, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode for only mainstream colors such as black, but may also include a recording head that is configured integrally or a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or multiple colors of different colors or The present invention is also extremely effective for devices equipped with at least one of the following: , full color by color mixing.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is explained as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, and is softened or liquid at room temperature, or in the above-mentioned inkjet, the ink itself is ℃ or more 7
Since the temperature is generally controlled within a range of 0° C. or lower so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range, it is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the recording signal is applied. In addition, the temperature rise caused by thermal energy can be actively prevented by using the energy to change the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or an ink that solidifies when left standing is used to prevent ink evaporation. In any case, the ink may be liquefied by application of thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal and ejected as liquid ink, or the ink may have already begun to solidify by the time it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to the use of ink that is liquefied for the first time. In such a case, the ink is held as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, and is It may also be in a form such that it faces the heat converter. In the present invention, the most effective method for each of the above-mentioned inks is to implement the above-mentioned film boiling method.

[0132]

As explained above, the compound of the present invention provides a recording head which can always perform stable ejection with a substantially uniform amount of liquid in a predetermined direction and which can be satisfactorily applied to high-speed recording.

Furthermore, the fluoropolymer used in the present invention can be dissolved and used in fluorinated solvents other than specified fluorocarbons (chlorine-based) such as Freon 113, which is recently said to be a cause of environmental problems such as ozone layer depletion. It is also extremely effective as a countermeasure.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are diagrams showing a liquid-repellent recording head according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the inkjet cartridge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ink tank of the inkjet cartridge of FIG. 1, viewed from the side where the inkjet unit is installed.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing a location where the inkjet cartridge of FIG. 1 is attached to a carriage.

6 is a perspective view showing a main part of an inkjet recording apparatus in which the inkjet cartridge of FIG. 1 is installed; FIG.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of a multi-type recording head according to the present invention.

FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are schematic explanatory diagrams showing a typical example of an inkjet recording head according to the present invention.

FIGS. 9(a), (b), and (c) are diagrams showing the effect when the liquid-repellent film of the present invention enters the discharge orifice due to rubber.

FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing a phenomenon in which the liquid-repellent film of the present invention peels off.

FIG. 11: ■, ■, ■ are process diagrams illustrating a contact angle measurement method.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing characteristics of a rubbing durability test.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the results of measuring receding contact angles.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the results of an ink immersion test.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the results of an ink immersion test.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the characteristics of PTC.

FIG. 17 is a schematic enlarged sectional view showing the main part of the configuration of a recording head for explaining a more preferable invention of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a schematic side view showing a state in which vertical wiping is performed on an inkjet head.

FIG. 19 is a schematic side view showing a state in which horizontal wiping is performed on an inkjet head.

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claim 1: In an inkjet recording head,
An inkjet recording head characterized in that at least a peripheral portion of an ejection port is provided with a film containing a polymer having a fluorine-containing heterocyclic structure in its main chain. 2. The thickness of the film at the peripheral edge of the discharge port is 0.1.
The inkjet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording head has a film thickness of 2 μm. 3. The ejection energy generating means for ejecting and flying the ink droplets is a thermal energy generating means for causing film boiling in the ink by supplying an electric signal from the recording device. The inkjet recording head according to any one of the above. 4. A recording apparatus equipped with the inkjet recording head according to claim 1.