JPH04327944A - Ink jet printing head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ink jet printing head which enables data to be printed in high density and quality. CONSTITUTION:Grooves 2 extending from the rear end to the front end of a substrate 1 are formed at a fixed interval on the substrate, and a conductor pattern 3 is provided on a strip projecting part 2 formed by the grooves 2 on the surface of the substrate where the grooves 2 are formed, and a conductor pattern 4 is provided on the surface other than the surface of the substrate 1. Next, a lid 6 is placed on the substrate 1, and further, magnets (magnetic field generation devices) 7, 8 are arranged over the lid 6 and under the substrate 1 respectively. Subsequently, if an electric current I is allowed to run between any conductor pattern 3 and any conductor pattern 4. As a magnetic field H is applied in an arrow direction, the strip projecting part 21 where the conductor pattern 3 is formed tilts to the right, receiving an electromagnetic force F in an arrow direction according to Fleming's left-hand rule. Thus ink in the groove 2 adjacent to the right of the projecting part 21 is squeezed out.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel inkjet printhead that ejects ink using Fleming's left-hand rule.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art One type of ink jet print head uses an electrostrictive element. This print head generally surrounds individual ink paths that branch off from a common ink path with an electrostrictive element, and applies an electric field to the electrostrictive element to displace the electrostrictive element. It is pushed out from the tip of the tract.

[0003] Furthermore, in order to improve the printing quality and to increase the definition, it is also practiced to tilt the head with respect to the scanning direction of the head to increase the density of printed dots.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the printing mechanism employed in general inkjet printheads, including the above-mentioned printhead, it is important to improve the printing quality by making the printing dots denser than ever before. It is extremely difficult. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet print head that achieves higher density and higher quality printing.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the inkjet print head of the present invention has a plurality of grooves extending from one end to the other end formed in the base at regular intervals. A conductive pattern is provided on the surface of the side base, and magnetic field generating means are arranged above and below the base.

The print head of the present invention incorporates a completely new printing mechanism, and in principle utilizes Fleming's left-hand rule. As is well known, this law states that the force (electromagnetic force) that a minute portion of a conductive wire through which a current flows is exerted by a magnetic field is This is the rule that the thumb points perpendicular to the index finger.

This law is widely applied to electric motors, etc., and in the print head of the present invention, among the conductor patterns provided on the surface of the base, the conductor pattern provided on the single protrusion formed by the groove is A current flows from one end of the base to the other end, and a magnetic field is applied in the vertical direction of the base by magnetic field generating means arranged above and below the base. Therefore, since the direction of the current and the direction of the magnetic field are perpendicular to each other, when a current is passed through a conductor pattern on any convex part, the single convex part on which the conductor pattern is provided is perpendicular to the direction of the current and the direction of the magnetic field. , i.e., in a direction that crosses the plurality of grooves at right angles. As a result, the width of the groove adjacent to the convex portion becomes narrower, and the ink supplied to the groove is pushed out from the tip end of the groove.

[0008] The base used for the print head of the present invention is
The single protrusion formed by the groove that becomes the ink flow path quickly tilts due to the electromagnetic force due to Fleming's left hand rule.
There is no limit to the material as long as the ink in the groove next to the convex part is pushed out all at once. However, in reality, a substrate made of photosensitive glass or the like is best as a base because of the ease of forming grooves and the ease of tilting a single convex portion.

[0009] Also, in the conductor pattern on the surface of the base, those on the plurality of single convex portions formed by the grooves are individual electrodes,
The other surface becomes the common electrode, and current flows between the two electrodes. The magnetic field generation means disposed above and below the base are for applying a magnetic field perpendicular to the conductor pattern, particularly the conductor pattern on the single convex portion, and examples include magnets and ferromagnetic materials.

0010

EXAMPLES The inkjet print head of the present invention will be explained below based on examples. FIG. 1 shows a plane of a substrate 1 as a base, and FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the substrate 1 along line XX in FIG. A plurality of (nine in this example) elongated grooves 2 are formed on the substrate 1 at regular intervals, extending from one end (hereinafter referred to as the rear end for convenience) to the other end (hereinafter referred to as the front end for convenience) of the substrate 1. There is. Each groove 2 has a rectangular cross section and becomes a pore (not shown) passing through the inside of the substrate 1 near the front end of the substrate 1 . Each pore further communicates with each orifice 51 of an orifice plate 5 attached to the front end surface of the substrate 1 (see FIG. 5). However, no pores are formed in the grooves at both ends, and no orifice communicating with the pores is provided. Therefore, the number of orifices 51 is seven in total, corresponding to the seven grooves excluding the grooves at both ends. This is due to the printing mechanism of the present invention that utilizes Fleming's left-hand rule.

Each groove 2 serves as an ink flow path, and ink is sent to each groove 2 through a common ink supply path (not shown) provided on the side surface on the rear end side of the substrate 1 or on the rear end surface of the substrate 1. On the surface of the substrate 1 on the side where the grooves 2 are formed, an elongated conductor pattern 3 is placed on the eight elongated single-line protrusions 21 formed by the nine grooves 2, and a relatively wide area on the left and right outside the area where the grooves 2 are formed. A conductor pattern 4 is provided on the surface. Figure 1
As can be seen, the conductor patterns 3 and 4 are continuous near the front end of the substrate 1, with the conductor pattern 3 serving as an individual electrode and the conductor pattern 4 serving as a common electrode. Individual and common electrodes 3, 4
When a current is passed between them, there is no load between the electrodes 3 and 4, but since the conductor pattern 3 is long and thin and the conductor pattern 3 itself has some resistance, there is no need to intentionally add resistance as a load. do not have. However, if a load is required as desired, a suitable resistor may be connected in the wiring circuit of each conductive pattern 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, a lid 6 made of an elastic material or the like is placed over the substrate 1 provided with the conductive patterns 3 and 4 to prevent foreign matter such as dust from getting into the groove 2 which is the ink flow path. To prevent clogging of the groove 2 and orifice 51. A magnet 7 is provided above the lid 6 and below the substrate 1 as a magnetic field generating means.
In this embodiment, a magnetic field H directed downward from the top of the substrate 1 is applied (see FIG. 4).

Next, the operation of the print head constructed as described above will be described. A plan view of the print head is shown in FIG. 3, and a cross section of the head taken along line Y--Y in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, switches 9 are connected to the wiring circuits of the conductor pattern 3 on each of the single-striped protrusions 21, with the conductor pattern 3 serving as a positive individual electrode and the conductor pattern 4 serving as a negative common electrode. Each groove 2, which is an ink flow path, is filled with ink through a common ink supply path.

Now, if the switches 9b, 9d, and 9f are closed, the current I flows through the corresponding conductor patterns 3b, 3d, and 3f in the direction of the arrow. In FIG. 4, the single-line convex portions 21b, 21d, 2
When a current flows through the conductor patterns 3b, 3d, and 3f on 1f, the magnetic field H is applied in the direction of the arrow by the magnets 7 and 8, so the current flows through each convex portion 21b, 21d, and 21f according to Fleming's left-hand rule. An electromagnetic force F perpendicular to the direction of I and the direction of the magnetic field H acts in the direction of the arrow. This electromagnetic force F causes each convex portion 21b, 21d, and 21f to incline to the right in FIG. At this time, although not particularly shown in FIG. 4, each of the convex portions 21b, 21d, and 21f inclines to the right and curves toward the right at the same time. That is, the convex portion curves the most near the center in the longitudinal direction, and the degree of curvature decreases toward the front end and rear end of the substrate 1 (see FIG. 1).

When the single-line convex portions 21b, 21d, and 21f tilt to the right, the widths of the grooves 2b, 2d, and 2f on the right become narrower, and the ink flow path becomes blocked by the wall of the convex portion. . As a result, the ink present in the grooves 2b, 2d, and 2f is pushed to the corresponding orifices 51b, 51d, and 51.
f (see Fig. 5). Note that, on the contrary, the discharge may be performed by returning to the curved state.

When the switches 9b, 9d, and 9f are opened, the single-striped protrusions 21b, 21d, and 21f return to their original states, and
Ink is newly supplied to the grooves 2b, 2d, and 2f. When a current is applied to any conductor pattern 3 in this way, the single protrusion 21 provided with the conductor pattern 3 is inclined, and the ink in the groove 2 adjacent to the protrusion 21 is pushed out. In the above embodiment, the electromagnetic force F acting on the convex portion 21 is in the direction of the arrow (direction from left to right in FIG. 4), but if the direction of flow of the current I is reversed, that is, the common electrode 4 is If the electrode 3 is made negative or the direction of the magnetic field H is reversed, the electromagnetic force F will be in the opposite direction according to Fleming's left hand rule. In this case, the ink in the groove 2 on the left side of the convex portion 21 will be ejected.

[0017]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the inkjet print head of the present invention is constructed as described above, if a current is passed through the conductor pattern provided on the convex portion formed by the groove of the base, Fleming's left-hand rule will be satisfied. This is an epoch-making technology in which an electromagnetic force in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the current and the direction of the magnetic field acts on the convex portion, and this electromagnetic force causes the convex portion to incline and push out the ink in the groove.

Therefore, in the print head of the present invention, the width of the grooves formed on the base and the interval between the grooves (width of the convex portions) are made as narrow as possible, thereby achieving high printing density and high quality. can be easily realized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a substrate on which a plurality of grooves are formed in an inkjet print head of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the substrate shown in FIG. 1 taken along line XX.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an inkjet printhead of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the print head shown in FIG. 3 along line Y-Y.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the print head shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Substrate (base) 2 Groove 3 Conductor pattern (individual electrode) 4
Conductor pattern (common electrode) 5 Orifice plate 6 Lid 7, 8 Magnet (magnetic field generating means) 21 Single protrusion

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A plurality of grooves extending from one end to the other end are formed on a base at regular intervals, a conductive pattern is provided on the surface of the base on the side where the grooves are formed, and magnetic field generating means is provided above and below the base. An inkjet print head characterized by the arrangement of the following.