JPH09164689A - Manufacture of ink jet nozzle forming member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a surface treating film from entering a nozzle by coating a side face of an ink chamber of a nozzle forming member with a resist ink so as to form a protrusion of it on a surface side of the nozzle forming member from the nozzle by using a screen mask, performing surface treatment of the surface side, and peeling the resist ink. SOLUTION: To a side face of an ink chamber of a nozzle plate 15, a screen mask 31 having an ink permeating range corresponding to the nozzle plate 15 is set. Thereafter, a resist ink is applied by using a squeegee 33. At this time, a protrusion 34 formed by protruding the resist ink 32 to the surface of the nozzle plate 15 from a nozzle 14 is formed. As the resist ink 32 can be charged into the nozzle 14 up to the limit of edge of an opening end at the surface side of the nozzle 14, a surface treating film can be prevented from entering the nozzle 14 at the time of surface treatment. Next, the screen mask 31 is removed and the resist ink 32 is cured so as to form the surface treating film, for example, a water repellent film, and the resist ink 32 is peeled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an inkjet nozzle forming member used in an inkjet head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus, such as a printer, a facsimile, or a copier, which records an image using an ink jet head, includes a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink droplets, and an electromechanical transducer provided for each nozzle. Using an inkjet head equipped with an actuator such as a heater or a heating resistor as a printhead, ink droplets are ejected from nozzles in response to print signals on a print medium (one to which ink drops adhere)
By discharging the ink onto the recording medium, high-speed, high-resolution, high-quality recording is performed.

By the way, the ink jet head ejects ink droplets (ink droplets) ejected from the nozzles by driving the energy generating means (actuator) such as the heater and the piezoelectric element as described above.
The shape and accuracy of the nozzles affect the ink droplet ejection characteristics (ink droplet ejection performance), and the surface characteristics of the nozzle forming member forming the nozzles affect the ink droplet ejection characteristics. For example, when the ink adheres to the periphery of the nozzle on the surface of the nozzle forming member and uneven ink pool (so-called uneven wetting) occurs, the ejection direction of the ink droplet is bent, and the size of the ink droplet varies. It is known that inconveniences such as an unstable flying speed of ink droplets occur.

Therefore, conventionally, on the surface of the nozzle forming member,
It is known to improve the uniformity by applying a surface treatment having water repellency. For example, a method of applying a water repellent such as a silicone water repellent or a fluorine water repellent (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-65).
No. 564), a method of surface-treating with fluoroalkoxysilane (see JP-A-56-89569), and a method of forming a plasma polymerized film of a fluorine compound or a silane compound (JP-A-64-87359). (See Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 63-39), a method of treating with a fluorosilicone coating agent (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-39944), and a method of forming a water-repellent layer by fluoropolymer eutectoid plating (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-39).
63, JP-A-4-294145, etc.).

However, when a surface treatment such as water repellent treatment is performed on the surface of the nozzle forming member in this way, for example, if a water repellent material enters the nozzle, the water repellent film is repelled even to a portion where it is not desired to form a water repellent film. A water film is formed and the nozzle diameter is reduced.

Therefore, for example, as described in JP-A-6-143587, a urethane foam impregnated with a water repellent material is brought into contact with the surface of the nozzle forming member, and the water repellent material is applied to the surface of the nozzle forming member. It is known that the water repellent material is prevented from entering the nozzle by transferring the ink.

[0007]

However, in the method of transferring the water-repellent material by bringing the urethane foam impregnated with the water-repellent material into contact with the surface of the nozzle forming member as described above, the repellent material which can be formed is formed. Water film thickness is 0.1μ
m is about m, and when wiping is performed with a blade of silicon rubber or the like after ink ejection to maintain reliability recovery, the water-repellent film wears quickly and the life is shortened.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a method of manufacturing a nozzle forming member for an ink jet, which can form a durable surface-treated film without penetrating into the nozzle. To do.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method of manufacturing an ink-jet nozzle forming member according to claim 1 is a method of manufacturing an ink-jet nozzle forming member for subjecting a peripheral portion of an ink ejecting nozzle to a surface treatment. In the method, after applying a resist ink using a screen mask on the ink liquid chamber surface side of the nozzle forming member, after forming a protruding portion for protruding the resist ink from the nozzle to the surface side of the nozzle forming member, A surface treatment is applied to the surface side of the nozzle forming member, and then the resist ink is peeled off.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an ink jet nozzle forming member, wherein the height of the protrusion from the surface of the nozzle forming member is 11 μm or more.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing an ink jet nozzle forming member according to the first or second aspect, wherein the resist ink has a viscosity of 100 cP or more and thixotropy, and further has a nonvolatile content. The composition is 60% or more.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing an ink jet nozzle forming member according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the surface treatment is electroless nickel plating in which polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles are dispersed. The configuration was performed by either electrolytic nickel plating in which tetrafluoroethylene fine particles were dispersed or electrodeposition coating in which polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles were dispersed.

A method for manufacturing an ink jet nozzle forming member according to a fifth aspect is the method for manufacturing an ink jet nozzle according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the film thickness of the surface treatment is 1 μm to 10 μm.
It was within the range of.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an inkjet head to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of an essential part of the head, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an essential part of the head in a direction different from that of FIG. . In this ink jet head, a plurality of laminated piezoelectric elements 2 are bonded and arranged in two rows on a substrate 1 made of ceramic, glass epoxy resin or the like, and the periphery of each laminated piezoelectric element 2 in each row is surrounded. The frame 3 is joined. Here, the plurality of laminated piezoelectric elements 2 include a laminated piezoelectric element 2 (hereinafter, referred to as a “driving portion piezoelectric element” 4) that serves as a driving portion and a laminated piezoelectric element 2 (hereinafter, referred to as a strut portion). This will be referred to as "strut piezoelectric element 5"). Further, the upper surfaces of the laminated piezoelectric element 2 and the frame 3 are positioned substantially on the same plane.

A vibrating plate 7 is bonded to the upper surfaces of the laminated piezoelectric element 2 and the frame 3. The vibrating plate 7 is formed of a diaphragm 8 serving as a displacement portion, a beam 9 joined to the pillar piezoelectric element 5 and a base 10 joined to the frame 3, and the diaphragm 8 is a convex portion opposed to the driving portion piezoelectric element 4. 11 and the thin film portion 12. The substrate 1 is bonded to the laminated piezoelectric element 2 and the diaphragm 7 with an adhesive 6.

A liquid chamber flow path forming member 13 made of a photosensitive resin film having a two-layer structure is adhered onto the vibrating plate 7, and a plurality of nozzles 14 are formed on the liquid chamber flow path forming member 13. The nozzle plate 15, which is a member, is bonded. The liquid chamber flow path forming member 13 includes an upper partition wall 17 and a lower partition wall 18, and together with the vibrating plate 7 and the nozzle plate 15, a pressurized liquid chamber 19 and a pressurized liquid chamber 19 facing the piezoelectric element 4.
Of the common liquid chamber 20, which is located on both sides of the ink supply channel 2, and the pressurizing liquid chamber 19 and the common liquid chamber 20, which also serve as a fluid resistance portion 2
1 is formed.

On the substrate 1, a common electrode pattern 25 that conducts to all the laminated piezoelectric elements 2 and a selection electrode pattern 26 that individually conducts to the driving portion piezoelectric elements 4 are formed. The common electrode pattern 25 is electrically connected to all the laminated piezoelectric elements 2 by a conductive member (not shown) bonded on the base substrate 1 at a position corresponding to the hole 27 formed in the center of the frame 3. There is. In addition,
Although the selection electrode pattern 26 is also connected to the pillar piezoelectric element 5 in the manufacturing process, the selection signal is not applied.

Further, the substrate 1, the frame 3 and the diaphragm 7
Ink supply holes 30, 31, and 32 for supplying ink supplied from the outside to the common liquid chamber 20 are formed in each of them.

In this ink jet, a driving pulse is applied through the common electrode pattern 25 and a selection signal corresponding to a recorded image is applied through the selection electrode pattern 26, so that the driving portion piezoelectric element 4 is selectively selected. An image is recorded by driving and pressurizing the pressurized liquid chamber 19 and ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 14.

Therefore, a method of manufacturing the nozzle plate 15 which is the nozzle forming member will be described with reference to FIG.
First, as shown in FIG. 3A, a screen mask 31 having an ink transmission range corresponding to the nozzle plate 15 is set on the side surface (rear surface) of the ink liquid chamber of the nozzle plate 15. The screen mask 31 may be made of a general material such as nylon, polyester, stainless steel or the like.

After that, the resist ink 32 is applied by using a squeegee 33 as shown in FIG. A roller or the like may be used instead of the squeegee 33. Further, when the water-repellent film (surface treatment) is formed by plating, the resist ink 32 is usually subjected to acid activation treatment or the like as a pretreatment, so that it is necessary to have acid resistance. As long as it has acid resistance, the types such as thermosetting type and ultraviolet curing type are not limited.

In this way, the resist ink 32 is applied to form a projection 34, which is formed by projecting the resist ink 32 from the nozzle 14 onto the surface (ejection surface) of the nozzle plate 15 as shown in FIG. Here, as the resist ink 32, one having a viscosity of 100 cP or more and thixotropy and a nonvolatile content of 60% or more (for example,
When using Sanei Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name: SPR550CMT, the resist ink 32 protruding from the nozzle 14 to the surface does not spread laterally and rises up like a tower as it is.
Finally, the protrusion 34 having the same diameter as the diameter of the nozzle 14 is formed.

Further, at this time, the resist ink 32 can be filled up to the edge of the opening end on the front surface side of the nozzle 14, so that the surface treatment film can be prevented from entering the nozzle 14 during the surface treatment. In this case, the height of the protrusion 34 from the surface of the nozzle plate 15 needs to be higher than the film thickness of the surface treatment film. When the thickness of the surface treatment film is set to 10 μm at the maximum as described later, the protrusion The height of 34 should be 11 μm or more.

When a resist ink having no thixotropic property is used, the exemplary spring and the ink protruding from the nozzle 14 to the surface when the resist ink is applied protrudes to the peripheral portion of the nozzle, which makes it difficult to perform the surface treatment. May be. Further, if the resist ink has a large amount of volatile components, the shrinkage rate when the resist ink is hardened is large, and there is a risk that the protrusion 34 contracts below the nozzle diameter. Therefore, as the resist ink, it is preferable to use one having a viscosity of 100 cP or more and thixotropy and a nonvolatile content of 60% or more as described above.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3D, the screen mask 31 is removed and the resist ink 32 is cured, and then a surface treatment film, for example, a water repellent film 35 is formed as shown in FIG. After that, the resist ink 31 is peeled off to complete the nozzle plate 15 as shown in FIG.

Here, the water-repellent film 35 is, for example, electroless nickel plating in which polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fine particles are dispersed (for example, Uemura Kogyo Co., Ltd., trade name: Nimflon), and PTFE fine particles are dispersed therein. Electrolytic nickel plating (for example, Uemura Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: Metaflon), electrodeposition coating in which PTFE fine particles are dispersed (for example, Shimizu Co., Ltd., trade name: Elecoat "Niceron")
Alternatively, Elecoat AMF) or the like is used.

In this case, the PTFE-dispersed electroless nickel plating is excellent in film thickness uniformity and is a highly dispersed PTFE type (eg, Uemura Kogyo Co., Ltd., trade name: Nimflon FRS, dispersion rate 30 vol.%). Above). As described above, the PTFE-dispersed electrolytic nickel plating has the advantages that the plating speed can be increased and that the PTFE dispersion ratio in the plating film can be easily increased. In addition, although the physical strength of electrodeposition coating is slightly lower than that of plating, since the paint is neutral, it is not necessary to impart acid resistance to the resist ink, and it is more cost effective than plating. There is an advantage.

As for the film thickness of the water-repellent film 35, if it is too thin, the durability against wiping is poor, and if it is too thick, it takes time and material to form the film, resulting in high cost.
If it is formed in the range of 1 to 10 μm, durability and cost can be harmonized.

Although the present invention is applied to the nozzle plate of the ink jet head using the piezoelectric element as the actuator in the above embodiment, the present invention can be similarly applied to the nozzle plate of the ink jet head using the heating element as the actuator.

[0032]

As described above, according to the method for manufacturing the nozzle forming member of the first aspect, the resist ink is applied to the ink liquid chamber surface side of the nozzle forming member using the screen mask to form the nozzle from the nozzle. After forming a protrusion on the surface of the member where the resist ink was projected, the surface of the nozzle forming member was subjected to a surface treatment, and then the resist ink was peeled off. It can be formed without invading.

According to the method of manufacturing a nozzle forming member of claim 2, in the manufacturing method of claim 1, the height of the protrusion from the surface of the nozzle forming member is 11 μm or more.
It becomes possible to form a surface-treated film that can achieve a balance between durability against wiping and cost.

According to the manufacturing method of the nozzle forming member of claim 3, in the manufacturing method of the above-mentioned claim 1 or 2, the resist ink has a viscosity of 100 cP or more and thixotropy, and further has a nonvolatile content of 60. %, It is possible to reliably form the protrusion portion of the resist ink having the same diameter as the nozzle diameter.

According to the method for manufacturing a nozzle forming member of claim 4, in the manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the surface treatment is performed by electroless nickel plating in which polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles are dispersed, or polytetrafluoroethylene. Since the configuration is performed by either electrolytic nickel plating in which fluoroethylene fine particles are dispersed or electrodeposition coating in which polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles are dispersed, a water-repellent surface-treated film can be easily formed.

According to the manufacturing method of the nozzle forming member of claim 5, in the manufacturing method of any one of claims 1 to 4, the film thickness of the surface treatment is within the range of 1 μm to 10 μm. It is possible to achieve a good balance between sex and cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an inkjet head to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the head.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the head in a direction different from that of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a process diagram illustrating a part of a nozzle plate manufacturing process.

FIG. 5 is a process diagram illustrating the rest of the nozzle plate manufacturing process.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Substrate, 2 ... Laminated piezoelectric element, 3 ... Frame, 4 ... Drive portion piezoelectric element, 5 ... Support portion piezoelectric element, 7 ... Vibration plate, 13
... Liquid chamber flow path forming member, 14 ... Nozzle, 15 ... Nozzle plate, 19 ... Pressurized liquid chamber, 20 ... Common liquid chamber, 31 ... Screen mask, 32 ... Resist ink, 34 ... Projection part, 3
5 ... Water repellent film.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method of manufacturing an inkjet nozzle forming member, wherein surface treatment is applied to a peripheral portion of an ink ejecting nozzle, wherein a resist ink is applied to a side of an ink liquid chamber of the nozzle forming member using a screen mask, An inkjet characterized in that after forming a protruding portion in which resist ink is projected from the nozzle on the surface side of the nozzle forming member, surface treatment is applied to the surface side of the nozzle forming member, and then the resist ink is peeled off. For manufacturing a nozzle forming member for a car. 2. The method for manufacturing an inkjet nozzle forming member according to claim 1, wherein the height of the protrusion from the surface of the nozzle forming member is 11 μm or more. Method. 3. The method for manufacturing an inkjet nozzle forming member according to claim 1, wherein the resist ink has a viscosity of 100 cP or more and thixotropic properties,
Furthermore, the non-volatile content is 60% or more, and a method for manufacturing an inkjet nozzle forming member. 4. The method for producing an inkjet nozzle forming member according to claim 1, wherein the surface treatment is performed by electroless nickel plating in which polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles are dispersed, and polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles are formed. A method for producing a nozzle forming member for inkjet, which is performed by any one of dispersed electrolytic nickel plating and electrodeposition coating in which polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles are dispersed. 5. The method for manufacturing an inkjet nozzle forming member according to claim 1, wherein the film thickness of the surface treatment is within a range of 1 μm to 10 μm. A method of manufacturing a member.