JPH07266607A - Formation of developer insertion hole of printing head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of irregularity in the opening areas of the developer insertion holes of a printing head. CONSTITUTION:Either one of first electrode members 21, 30 and second electrode members 22, 40 is formed of a metal material and the other one of them is formed of a conductive polymeric material capable of being subjected to laser processing by energy lower than the processing energy of the metal material and an insulating layer 20 is formed of an insulating polymeric material capable of being subjected to laser processing by energy lower than the processing energy of the metal material. A hole 23a is formed to each of the electrode members formed of the metal material at a position having to form a developer insertion hole 23 and a printing head member is irradiated with laser beam through the electrode member having the hole 23a to make the communication holes 23b, 23c connected to the hole 23a in the insulating layer 20 and the electrode member formed of the conductive polymeric material.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for forming a developer insertion hole in a print head of a powder jet image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant has already developed a powder jet image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. This powder jet image forming apparatus has a print head 2 that controls passage of toner charged with a predetermined polarity, for example, negative polarity.
A toner supply roller 1 for supplying toner to the print head 2, a recording paper transport roller 3 for guiding the recording paper P to the print head 2, and a toner transferred onto the recording paper P. And a fixing roller 4 for fixing.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the print head 2 has an insulating substrate 20 and a plurality of first electrodes 21 on which the toner supply roller 1 of the insulating substrate 20 is formed.
And a plurality of second electrodes 22 formed on the surface of the recording paper carrying roller 3 of the insulating substrate 20. The plurality of first electrodes 21 and the plurality of second electrodes 22 form a matrix electrode. FIG. 4 shows a view of the print head 2 as seen from the recording paper carrying roller 3. A toner passage hole 23 penetrating the print head 2 is formed at each intersection of each first electrode 21 and each second electrode 22.

An on-voltage (for example -100V) and an off-voltage (for example + 300V) are selectively applied to each first electrode 21. Each second electrode 22 has an on-voltage (for example, 0 V) and an off-voltage (for example, -200 V).
V) and are selectively applied. FIG. 6 shows each first electrode 21.
Of the applied voltage V1-0 to V1-7. As shown in FIG. 6, each first electrode 21 is subjected to dynamic scan control, and the applied voltage is sequentially turned on at predetermined unit time intervals. Then, only when the applied voltage to both the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 is the on-voltage, the toner passes through the toner insertion hole 23 at the intersection thereof, and the dot printing is performed.

The recording paper P is moved in the direction perpendicular to the first electrode 21 by the recording paper conveying roller 3 and in the direction in which control by dynamic scanning of the first electrode 21 proceeds (arrow A in FIG. 4).
Is conveyed in the direction indicated by. The recording paper transport roller 3 has
A voltage of + 500V is applied. The toner supply roller 1 is grounded and its surface potential is 0V.

The print head 2 is provided with an ultrasonic vibrator 5 for applying ultrasonic vibration to the print head 2 to prevent the toner insertion hole 23 from being clogged with toner.

FIG. 7 shows a method of manufacturing the print head 2.

First, a double-sided copper-clad printed board having copper foils formed on both sides of an insulating layer 20 made of, for example, a polyimide polymer material is prepared. Then, the second electrode 22 is formed on one surface of the insulating layer 20 by removing the non-electrode forming portions of the copper foil on both surfaces of the insulating layer 20 by etching.
The first electrode 21 is formed on the other surface of the insulating layer 20 (FIG. 7A).

Next, circular holes 23a and 23b are formed at the intersections of the second electrode 22 and the first electrode 21 by the etching process (FIG. 7B).

Next, the insulating layer 20 is irradiated with laser light from one of the second electrode 22 and the first electrode 21 using the peripheral portion of the holes 23a and 23b in the second electrode 22 or the first electrode 21 as a mask. Then, a hole 23c for communicating the holes 23a and 23b is formed in the insulating layer 20 to form a toner insertion hole 23 (FIGS. 7C and 7D).

[0011]

In the method of manufacturing the print head 2 as described above, the center of the hole 23a formed in the second electrode 22 and the hole 23b formed in the first electrode 21 correspondingly. 8A and 8B, the toner insertion hole 23 having a predetermined opening area (hatched portion in FIG. 8A) defined by the diameter of the hole 23c is formed as shown in FIG. However, in the method of manufacturing the print head 2 described above, as shown in FIG. 9, the center of the hole 23a formed in the second electrode 22 and the center of the hole 23b formed in the first electrode 21 correspondingly. Sometimes slipped. Then, the opening area of the toner insertion hole 23 (hatched portion in FIG. 9A) becomes smaller than the predetermined opening area defined by the diameter of the hole 23c.

At present, the diameter of the toner insertion hole 23 is 100-.
It is 150 μm. On the other hand, the etching alignment accuracy when opening the hole 23a and the corresponding hole 23b is ± 3.
The limit is about 0 μm. Therefore, the toner insertion hole 2
With respect to the hole diameter of 3, the etching alignment error when opening the holes 23a and 23b has a non-negligible value. For example, when an etching alignment error of 30 μm occurs in the toner insertion hole 23 having a diameter of 100 μm, the opening area of the toner insertion hole 23 is about 60% of the specified value.
Becomes If the opening area of the toner insertion hole 23 varies by 40%, a problem such as uneven density of the output image occurs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a developer insertion hole of a print head in which the opening area of the developer insertion hole of the print head does not vary.

[0014]

According to the method for forming a developer insertion hole of a print head according to the present invention, an insulating layer, a first electrode member formed on one surface of the insulating layer and the other surface of the insulating layer are formed. A method for forming a developer insertion hole of a print head, the method comprising forming a developer insertion hole in a print head member including a second electrode member, comprising: the first electrode member;
One of the electrode members is formed of a metal material, and the other of the first electrode member and the second electrode member is formed of a conductive polymer material having a laser processing threshold value smaller than that of the metal material. The insulating layer is formed of an insulating polymer material having a laser processing threshold value smaller than that of the metal material, and a hole is formed at a position where a developer insertion hole in the electrode member formed of the metal material is to be formed. By irradiating the print head member with laser light from above the electrode member in which holes are formed, a communication hole connected to the holes is formed in the electrode member formed of the insulating layer and the conductive polymer material. Is characterized by.

The first electrode member includes not only the first electrode itself but also an electrode material layer for forming the first electrode. Similarly, the second electrode member includes not only the second electrode itself but also an electrode material layer for forming the second electrode. As the metal material, for example, copper, aluminum, stainless steel or the like is used. As the conductive polymer material, for example, polyaniline is used. As the insulating polymer material, for example, polyimide, polyethylene, epoxy resin or the like is used.

[0016]

Operation One of the first electrode member and the second electrode member is made of a metal material. Further, the other of the first electrode member and the second electrode member is formed of a conductive polymer material having a laser processing threshold value smaller than that of the metal material. Further, the insulating layer is formed of an insulating polymer material having a laser processing threshold value smaller than that of the metal material.

A hole is formed at a position where the developer insertion hole of the electrode member made of a metal material is to be formed. Then, by irradiating the print head member with laser light from above the electrode member in which the holes are formed, the electrode member formed of the insulating layer and the conductive polymer material is provided with a communication hole connected to the hole. .

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a method of manufacturing a print head.

First, the insulating layer 2 made of an insulating polymer material
A single-sided copper-clad printed circuit board having a metal foil 30 formed on one side of No. 0 is prepared (FIG. 1A). As the material of the metal foil 30, copper, aluminum, stainless steel or the like is used. Here, copper is used as the material of the metal foil 30. The insulating polymer material of the insulating layer 20 is a material having a laser processing threshold value smaller than that of the metal foil 30. As this type of insulating polymer material, for example, polyimide, polyethylene, epoxy resin or the like is used. Here, polyimide is used as the material of the insulating layer 20.

Next, the non-electrode forming portion and the toner insertion hole forming portion 23a of the metal foil 30 formed on one surface of the insulating layer 20 are removed by an etching process, so that one surface of the insulating layer 22 is covered with the first electrode. An electrode pattern of one of the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 and a hole 23a are formed (FIG. 1B). Here, the pattern of the second electrode 22 is formed.

Next, on the surface of the insulating layer 20 on which the metal foil 30 is not formed, an electrode pattern different from the already formed electrode of the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 is electrically conductive. Printing is performed with a hydrophilic polymer material (FIG. 1C).
Here, the pattern of the first electrode 21 is printed.
The conductive polymer material is a material having a laser processing threshold value smaller than that of the metal foil 30. As the conductive polymer material of this type, for example, polyaniline (trade name “Alinide” manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation) is used. Such a conductive polymer material can be formed into a film by printing in a solution state, and by drying after forming the film, an electrode pattern having high solvent resistance and high heat resistance can be obtained.

Next, using the second electrode 22 made of metal as a mask, laser light is irradiated from above the second electrode 22 (FIG. 1D), and the insulating layer 20 made of polymer material and the second 1
The toner insertion hole forming portions 23b and 23c of the electrode 21 are removed (FIG. 1E). As a result, the toner insertion hole 2
3 is formed. As the laser, for example, a KrF excimer laser is used.

The main molecular binding energy in polyimide, which is the material of the insulating layer 20, and polyaniline, which is the material of the first electrode 21, is 80 kcal / mol in C--C,
78kcal / mol for C-N and 88kcal for C-O
/ Mol, C-H is 98 kcal / mol, and both are 115 k of the photon energy of the KrF excimer laser.
It is smaller than cal / mol and can be ablated.

Since the toner insertion hole 23 formed as described above is not displaced in position between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22, the opening area of the toner insertion hole 23 varies. Disappear.

In the above example, the metal foil 30 is etched to form an electrode pattern (in the above example, the second electrode 2).
The pattern 2) and the holes 23a are formed at the same time, but they may be formed as follows.

That is, first, only the toner insertion hole forming portion 23a of the metal foil 30 is removed by etching to remove the hole 23.
A is formed on the metal foil 30. Next, an electrode pattern (the pattern of the first electrode 21 in the above example) is printed on the other surface of the insulating layer 20 with a conductive polymer material. Then, using the metal foil 30 as a mask, laser light is applied from above the metal foil 30 to remove the insulating layer 20 made of a polymer material and the toner insertion hole forming portion of the first electrode 21. After that, the non-electrode portion of the metal foil 30 is removed by etching to form the pattern of the second electrode 22.

FIG. 2 shows another method of manufacturing the print head.

First, the insulating layer 2 made of an insulating polymer material
A single-sided copper-clad printed circuit board having a metal foil 30 formed on one side of No. 0 is prepared (FIG. 2A). As the material of the metal foil 30, copper, aluminum, stainless steel or the like is used. Here, copper is used as the material of the metal foil 30. As the insulating polymer material, for example, polyimide, polyethylene, epoxy resin or the like is used. Here, polyimide is used as the material of the insulating layer 20.

Next, the non-electrode forming portion and the toner insertion hole forming portion 23a of the metal foil 30 formed on one surface of the insulating layer 20 are removed by an etching process, so that one surface of the insulating layer 22 is covered with the first electrode. An electrode pattern and a hole 23a of either one of the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 are formed (FIG. 2B). Here, the pattern of the second electrode 22 is formed.

Next, a conductive polymer film 40 having a thickness of 18 to 35 μm is formed on the surface of the insulating layer 20 on which the metal foil 30 is not formed and dried (FIG. 2C). As the conductive polymer material, for example, polyaniline (trade name “anilead” manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation) is used.

Next, of the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22, a mask 50 having a pattern shape of an electrode different from the already formed electrode is placed on the conductive polymer film 40, and the excimer is placed on the mask 50. Irradiation with a laser removes the non-electrode formation part of the electroconductive polymer film 40 (FIG.2 (d)).
As a result, the pattern of the first electrode 21 is formed as shown in FIG. As the material of the mask 50, a material having a higher excimer laser processing threshold value than the conductive polymer film 40, for example, a stainless sheet is used.

Since the excimer laser has a very high etching depth accuracy of 0.2 μm per pulse, for example, the conductive polymer film 40 does not corrode the insulating layer 20.
The non-electrode forming part of can be completely removed.

Next, using the metal second electrode 22 as a mask, laser light is irradiated from above the second electrode 22 (FIG. 2 (e)), and the insulating layer 20 made of a polymer material and 1
The toner insertion hole forming portions 23b and 23c of the electrode 21 are removed (FIG. 2 (f)). As a result, the toner insertion hole 2
3 is formed. As the laser, for example, a KrF excimer laser is used.

The toner insertion hole 23 formed as described above does not cause a positional deviation between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22, so that the opening area of the toner insertion hole 23 varies. Disappear.

In the above example, by etching the metal foil 30, the electrode pattern (in the above example, the second electrode 2
2) and the toner insertion hole forming portion 23a are formed at the same time, but they may be formed as follows.

That is, first, only the toner insertion hole portion 23a of the metal foil 30 is removed by etching. Next, the conductive polymer film 40 is formed on the other surface of the insulating layer 20. next,
A mask 50 is placed on the conductive polymer film 40, and an excimer laser is radiated on the mask 50 to remove the non-electrode forming portion of the conductive polymer film 40, and the electrode pattern (the first electrode 21 in the above example) is removed. Pattern) is formed. And metal foil 3
Laser light is radiated from above the metal foil 30 using 0 as a mask to remove the insulating layer 20 made of a polymer material and the toner insertion hole forming portion of the first electrode 21. After this, the metal foil 30
The non-electrode part of the second electrode 22 is removed by etching.
Pattern is formed.

[0038]

According to the present invention, there is realized a method for forming a developer insertion hole of a print head in which the opening area of the developer insertion hole of the print head does not vary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a process chart showing a method of manufacturing a print head.

FIG. 2 is a process drawing showing another method of manufacturing the print head.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a powder jet image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged plan view showing an arrangement of first electrodes and second electrodes in a conventional print head.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a conventional print head.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing changes in applied voltage to each first electrode.

FIG. 7 is a process diagram showing a conventional method for manufacturing a print head.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a toner insertion hole when the center of the hole formed in the second electrode and the center of the hole formed in the first electrode coincide with each other in the conventional manufacturing process of the print head.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a toner insertion hole when the center of the hole formed in the second electrode is deviated from the center of the hole formed in the first electrode in the conventional manufacturing process of the print head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 print head 20 insulating layer 21 first electrode 22 second electrode 23 toner insertion hole 23a hole formed in second electrode 23b hole formed in insulating layer 23c hole formed in first electrode

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A developer insertion hole in a print head member including an insulating layer, a first electrode member formed on one surface of the insulating layer, and a second electrode member formed on the other surface of the insulating layer. A method of forming a developer insertion hole of a print head, wherein any one of the first electrode member and the second electrode member is formed of a metal material, and the first electrode member and the second electrode member are formed. The other of the two electrode members is formed of a conductive polymer material having a laser processing threshold value lower than that of the metal material, and the insulating layer is formed of an insulating polymer material having a laser processing threshold value lower than that of the metal material, A hole is formed at a position where a developer insertion hole is to be formed in the electrode member formed of the metal material, and the print head member is irradiated with laser light from above the electrode member in which the hole is formed. Insulation layer and The electrode members formed by Kishirube conductive polymer material, the developer through hole forming method of the print head is characterized in that opening the communication hole leading to the hole. 2. The method for forming a developer insertion hole of a print head according to claim 1, wherein the metal material is copper, the conductive polymer material is poaniline, and the insulating polymer material is polyimide.