JPH07266608A - Formation of developer insertion hole of printing head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of irregularity in the opening areas of through-holes. CONSTITUTION:First and second electrode members 21, 22 are formed of a conductive polymeric material and an insulating layer 20 is formed of an insulating polymeric material. A printing head member is irradiated with laser beam on the side of either one of the first and second electrode members 21, 22 through a mask 50 having the hole 51 corresponding to the developer insertion hole 23 to be formed to the printing head member and made of a material having a laser processing threshold value higher than that of the conductive polymeric material, the insulating polymeric material and a metal material to bore the developer insertion hole 23 piercing the first and second electrode members 21, 22 and the insulating layer 20 in the printing head member.

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 of forming a developer insertion hole of a print head, comprising: forming a developer insertion hole in a print head member including the above described second electrode member, wherein the first electrode member and the second electrode member have high conductivity. The insulating layer is made of a molecular material, the insulating layer is made of an insulating polymer material, and has holes corresponding to the developer insertion holes to be formed in the print head member and has the conductive polymer material and the insulating polymer. Material The print head member is irradiated with laser light from either one of the first electrode member and the second electrode member through a mask made of a material having a laser processing threshold higher than that of a metal material. By The first electrode member, the second electrode member and the developer insertion hole penetrating the insulating layer, characterized in that opening into the print head element.

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 conductive polymer material, for example, polyaniline is used. As the insulating polymer material, for example, polyimide, polyethylene, epoxy resin or the like is used. As the material of the mask,
For example, stainless steel is used.

[0016]

The first electrode member and the second electrode member are made of a conductive polymer material. Further, the insulating layer is made of an insulating polymer material. Then, through a mask made of a material having a hole corresponding to the developer insertion hole to be formed in the print head member and having a laser processing threshold value higher than the conductive polymer material and the insulating polymer material metal material, When the print head member is irradiated with laser light from which one of the first electrode member and the second electrode member is known, the development that penetrates the first electrode member, the second electrode member, and the insulating layer is performed. An agent insertion hole is formed in the print head member.

[0017]

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
The pattern of the first electrode 21 is printed on one surface of No. 0 with the conductive polymer material, and the pattern of the second electrode 22 is printed on the other surface of the insulating layer 20 with the conductive polymer material (see FIG. a)).

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. As the conductive polymer material, for example, polyaniline (trade name “anilead” 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, a mask 50 having holes 51 corresponding to the toner insertion holes to be formed in the print head member is placed on one of the electrodes 21 or 22, and KrF is placed on the electrode.
Irradiation with an excimer laser (Fig. 1 (b)) causes the second electrode 2
2, the insulating layer 20 and the toner insertion hole forming portions 23a, 23b and 23c of the first electrode 21 are removed (see FIG. 1).
(C)). As a result, the toner insertion hole 23 is formed.

As the material of the mask 50, a material having a higher excimer laser processing threshold value than a polymer material which is a material of the first electrode 21, the second electrode 22 and the insulating layer 20, for example, a stainless sheet is used.

The main molecular bond energy of polyimide, which is the material of the insulating layer 20, and polyaniline, which is the material of the first and second electrodes 21, is 80 kcal in C--C.
/ Mol, C-N 78 kcal / mol, C-O 8
It is 8 kcal / mol and 98 kcal / mol in C-H, both of which are smaller than 115 kcal / mol of the photon energy of the KrF excimer laser, and ablation processing is possible.

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 and therefore the opening area of the toner insertion hole 23 varies. Disappear.

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

First, the insulating layer 2 made of an insulating polymer material
0 to both sides of the conductive polymer film 3 having a thickness of 18 to 35 μm
0 and 40 are formed and dried (FIG. 2A). As the conductive polymer material, for example, polyaniline (trade name “anilead” manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation) is used.

Next, a mask (not shown) having the pattern shape of the first electrode 21 is placed on the conductive polymer film 30, and an excimer laser is irradiated from above the conductive polymer film 30 to form the conductive polymer film 3.
The first electrode 21 is formed by removing the non-electrode forming portion of 0. Further, a mask (not shown) having the pattern shape of the second electrode 22 is placed on the conductive polymer film 40, and an excimer laser is irradiated from above the mask to remove the non-electrode forming portion of the conductive polymer film 40. To form the second electrode 22 (see FIG. 2).
(B)).

As the mask material, a material having a higher excimer laser processing threshold value than the conductive polymer films 30 and 40, for example, a stainless sheet is used.

Since the etch depth accuracy of the excimer laser is very high, for example, 0.2 μm per pulse, the conductive polymer film 3 is not eroded by the insulating layer 20.
The non-electrode-formed portions of 0 and 40 can be completely removed.

Next, a mask 50 having holes 51 corresponding to the toner insertion holes to be formed in the print head is placed on one of the electrodes 21 or 22, and a KrF excimer laser is radiated from above (FIG. 2). (C)), toner insertion hole forming portion 23 of second electrode 22, insulating layer 20 and first electrode 21
a, 23b, and 23c are removed (FIG.2 (d)). As a result, the developer insertion hole 23 is formed.

As a material of the mask 50, a material having a higher excimer laser processing threshold value than a polymer material which is a material of the first electrode 21, the second electrode 22 and the insulating layer 20, for example, a stainless sheet is used.

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 conductive polymer films 30, 40
Although the toner insertion hole 23 is formed after the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 are formed by laser processing, the mask 50 is formed after the conductive polymer films 30 and 40 are formed on the insulating layer 20. The toner insertion hole 23 is formed by laser processing using the conductive polymer film 3
The first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 may be formed by laser processing 0 and 40.

[0034]

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the print head in which the opening area of the developer insertion hole 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 the second electrode 23b hole formed in the insulating layer 23c hole formed in the first electrode 50 mask 51 hole

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 for a print head, comprising: forming the first electrode member and the second electrode member with a conductive polymer material; and forming the insulating layer with an insulating polymer material. Through a mask made of a material having a hole corresponding to a developer insertion hole to be formed in the print head member and having a laser processing threshold value higher than that of the conductive polymer material and the insulating polymer material metal material. , The first electrode member, the second electrode member, and the second electrode member by irradiating the print head member with a laser beam from whichever one of the first electrode member and the second electrode member is known. The current that penetrates the insulating layer A method for forming a developer insertion hole of a print head, comprising forming an image agent insertion hole in the print head member. 2. The conductive polymer material is poaniline and the insulating polymer material is polyimide.
A method for forming a developer insertion hole of a print head as described above.