JPH1016240A - Ink jet head and ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the adhesive strength between a nozzle cover and a nozzle forming member and thereby ameliorate ink sealing properties by providing a nozzle cover to extend across the peripheral edge part of the nozzle forming member and the lateral face of an ink jet head and junctioning the nozzle cover with the nontreated face for water repellency of the peripheral edge part of the nozzle forming member. SOLUTION: A nozzle cover 3 is formed into a box shape extending across the peripheral edge part of a nozzle plate 23 and the lateral face of an ink jet head, and has an opening 27 opposite to the treated face 25 for water repellency of the nozzle plate 23. Further, the nozzle cover 3 is adhesively junctioned to the nontreated face 26 for water repellency of the nozzle plate 23 with an adhesive 28. Thus the adequate adhesive strength is ensured and ink is prevented from seeping into the inside of the nozzle cover 3. In addition, if the adhesive 28 is squeezed out to the surface of a nozzle when the nozzle cover 3 is bonded to the nozzle plate 23 under pressure, specified properties of ink discharge are no longer ensured. To cope with this problem, a film adhesive, for example, of epoxy resin is employed as the adhesive 28 from the viewpoint of easy control over the squeeze-out amount of the adhesive 28.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ink jet head and an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an ink jet head having a nozzle cover and an ink jet recording apparatus using the ink jet head as a recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus has almost no vibration and noise during recording, and is particularly easy to colorize.
In addition to a printer that outputs data from a digital processing device such as a computer, it is also used for facsimile machines, copiers, and the like. An ink jet head used in such an ink jet recording apparatus records an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles by driving actuator elements such as a piezoelectric element and a heating resistor in accordance with a recording signal. It is what you do.

[0003] As such an ink jet head,
For example, as described in JP-A-63-5949, a nozzle forming member is laminated on a head body in which an ink flow path is formed, and a nozzle cover is further covered with an adhesive on the surface of the nozzle forming member. With a structure, the nozzle surface is protected from external force such as wiping and paper rubbing.

Further, as described in JP-A-6-255099, an ink flow path for forming a flow path pressurized by an actuator element on a drive unit having an actuator element housed in a head case. A nozzle formed by laminating a forming member, laminating a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed on the flow path forming member, and further integrally forming an outer peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a part of a side surface of the head case. Some protection members are fixed on the side surface of a head case.

[0005]

As described above, since the ink jet head makes the ink droplets from the nozzles and ejects them as described above, the shape and precision of the nozzles affect the ink droplet ejection characteristics. The characteristics of the surface of the nozzle forming member forming the nozzle affect the ejection characteristics of the ink droplets, and ink adheres to the periphery of the nozzle on the surface of the nozzle forming member, causing uneven ink accumulation (so-called wetting unevenness). Then, disadvantages such as the ejection direction of the ink droplet being bent, variation in the size of the ink droplet, and unstable flying speed of the ink droplet are caused.

Therefore, generally, the inkjet head itself is subjected to a water-repellent treatment on the surface of the nozzle forming member.
The apparatus is provided with a reliability recovery mechanism for wiping the surface of the nozzle forming member of the ink jet head with an elastic member to remove residual ink and attached matter (for example,
JP-A-4-357044, JP-A-6-14360
No. 6).

Therefore, when the nozzle cover is adhered to the water-repellent surface of the nozzle forming member as in the above-described conventional ink jet head, sufficient bonding strength cannot be obtained, and the nozzle cover is peeled off by wiping or the like. There is a possibility that. Also, when the nozzle protection member is joined to the side surface of the head case, when water repellency treatment is performed, ink penetrates from the gap between the nozzle surface and the nozzle protection member and penetrates into the inside, and the electrical connection portion Electric reliability such as adhesion cannot be ensured.

When a conductive material is used for the nozzle cover and the nozzle forming member, static electricity is accumulated due to paper rubbing during printing, and the static electricity flows to the actuator element via the ink or the ink flow path forming member. In some cases, the actuator element may be degraded. Further, it is required to improve the assembling workability when the nozzle cover is joined to the nozzle forming member with an adhesive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has improved the adhesive strength and adhesion between a nozzle cover and a nozzle forming member, improved ink sealing performance, and protected an actuator element from static electricity. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the cost and improve the assembling workability.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an ink jet head according to claim 1 is an ink jet head in which a surface of a nozzle forming member on which a nozzle is formed is subjected to a water-repellent treatment. A nozzle cover is provided to cover the peripheral portion and the side surface of the head, and the nozzle cover and the non-water-repellent surface of the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member are joined.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the inkjet head of the first aspect, the non-water-repellent surface of the nozzle forming member is provided in a region that is not exposed from an opening of the nozzle cover.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet head of the first or second aspect, the non-water-repellent surface is chemically, mechanically or electrically roughened.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head including a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon, comprising a nozzle cover covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. The peripheral portion of the forming member was joined to the member constituting the drive unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head including a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon, the nozzle head having a nozzle cover for covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. In this case, the nozzle forming member is in close contact with the nozzle forming member.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head including a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed therein, the nozzle head comprising a nozzle cover covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. The joining agent to be joined to the member was made of an epoxy adhesive having liquid resistance.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink jet head having a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon, wherein the ink jet head covers a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. A nozzle cover made of a conductive member is provided, and the apparatus body side is provided with a static eliminator for electrically grounding the nozzle cover of the inkjet head in a non-printing area.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the inkjet recording apparatus of the seventh aspect, the discharging means is formed by forming a wiper member for wiping ink on a nozzle surface of the nozzle forming member by a conductive member. And

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the seventh or eighth aspect,
The static eliminator has a configuration in which a suction cap that is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface of the nozzle forming member is formed of a conductive member.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10 is
In any one of the ink jet recording apparatuses according to any one of claims 7 to 9, the charge removing unit is configured to include a charge removing brush that removes charge in a non-contact state with the nozzle cover and the nozzle forming member.

An ink jet head according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is an ink jet head having a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon, comprising a nozzle cover formed of a heat-shrinkable member covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. And

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet head provided with a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed therein, the nozzle forming member has a shape covering a side surface of the head.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head including a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon, the nozzle head comprising a nozzle cover for covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. The configuration was such that the side lengths were different.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head comprising a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon, the nozzle head comprising a nozzle cover covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. And a means for temporarily fixing.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet head according to the fourteenth aspect, a convex portion or a concave portion for temporarily fixing is provided on a side surface of the head.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the inkjet head of the fourteenth aspect, the nozzle cover is temporarily fixed to a side surface of the head with an ultraviolet curable adhesive.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of an ink jet head according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the ink jet head.

This ink jet head includes a drive unit 1, a liquid chamber unit 2, and a head cover 3. The drive unit 1 has a plurality of laminated piezoelectric elements 12 bonded and arranged in two rows on an insulating substrate 11 made of ceramic, glass epoxy resin, or the like, and the periphery of the laminated piezoelectric elements 12 in each of these rows is arranged. The surrounding head frame 13 is joined. In addition, a common electrode pattern 14 and an individual electrode pattern 15 are provided on the substrate 11, and the common electrode pattern 14 conducts the conduction of each pattern portion by filling a hole 16 provided in the head frame 13 with a conductive adhesive. taking it.

Then, the substrate 11 is held on the head holder 17 and the head driving I
PCB having C or the like and piezoelectric element 1 of drive unit 1
2 are connected via an FPC cable 18.

The liquid chamber unit 2 is a vibration plate 21 made of a thin film of metal or resin, a flow path forming member 22 made of a photosensitive resin or the like, and a nozzle forming member made of metal, resin or the like formed with a nozzle hole 24. The nozzle plate 23 is formed by laminating and heat-sealing.

The surface of the nozzle plate 23 is provided with a water-repellent surface 25 which has been subjected to a water-repellent surface treatment, and a non-water-repellent surface 26 which has not been subjected to the water-repellent treatment on the periphery. The water-repellent surface 25 and the non-water-repellent surface 26 are, for example, formed of PTFE in a state where the peripheral portion of the nozzle plate 23 is masked.
By applying nickel eutectoid plating containing (polytetrafluoroethylene) or the like, a water-repellent treatment layer composed of a plating film is formed on the unmasked portion, and the plating film is not formed on the masked portion. Can be formed.

The nozzle cover 3 is formed in a box shape to cover the periphery of the nozzle plate 23 and the side of the head, and has an opening 27 corresponding to the water-repellent surface 25 of the nozzle plate 23. And this nozzle cover 3
Is an adhesive 28 on the non-water repellent surface 26 of the nozzle plate 23.
Adhesive bonding.

As described above, the nozzle cover and the non-water-repellent surface of the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member are joined together by providing the nozzle cover for covering the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and the side surface of the head. Can be secured, and the intrusion of ink into the nozzle cover can be prevented.

Here, if the non-water-repellent surface 26 of the nozzle plate 23 is exposed from the opening 27 of the nozzle cover 3, the wiping for wiping off the unnecessary ink adhered to the surface of the nozzle plate 23 is performed. Since the water-repellent layer forming the water-repellent surface 25 is separated from the edge portion, the edge of the water-repellent layer enters the nozzle cover 3, that is, the non-water-repellent surface 26 is removed from the nozzle cover 3. 3
The water-repellent surface 15 and the opening 27 are formed so as to be provided in a region that is not exposed from the opening 27.

Thus, a sufficient adhesive strength between the nozzle cover and the nozzle forming member can be secured, ink can be prevented from entering the nozzle cover, and the water-repellent layer can be peeled off by wiping. Can be prevented, and the reliability is improved.

Further, the nozzle cover 3 is attached to the nozzle plate 2
In this case, if the adhesive protrudes from the nozzle surface, the required characteristics of the ink ejection characteristics cannot be obtained. Therefore, a film adhesive is used as the adhesive 28. The control of the amount of protrusion of the film adhesive becomes relatively easy, and the variation in the level difference between the nozzle cover 3 and the nozzle plate 23 can be reduced.

Further, the adhesive 28 is applied to the nozzle plate 2
This is to secure the mechanical bonding strength of No. 3 and to prevent ink from entering the nozzle cover. In consideration of mass productivity and cost, it is necessary to use an epoxy adhesive excellent in liquid resistance. Preferably, in particular, by using a one-part heat-curable epoxy, the curing time can be shortened, and mass productivity is improved.

Further, in order to improve the bonding strength between the nozzle cover 3 and the nozzle plate 23, the non-water-repellent surface 26 is chemically, mechanically, physically or electrically roughened and roughened. Is preferred. As a method of roughening the surface,
There are acid treatment, dry etching, and the like.

Next, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention. This second
In the embodiment, the adhesive 28 is provided on the head frame 13.
And the nozzle cover 3 is joined to the upper surface of the head frame 13. Thereby, even when it is difficult to provide a non-water-repellent surface on the peripheral portion of the nozzle plate 23,
Adhesive strength can be secured.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a main part of a third embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention. In the third embodiment, an adhesive 28 is applied on the non-water-repellent surface 26 of the nozzle plate 23 and the head frame 13, and the nozzle cover 3 is attached to the non-water-repellent surface 26 of the peripheral portion of the nozzle plate 23. It is joined to the upper surface of the head frame 13. Thereby, the adhesive strength of the nozzle cover 3 can be significantly improved.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a main part of a fourth embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, a nozzle cover 3 deformed as shown in FIG. 3A is used, and a non-water-repellent surface 26 and a non-water-repellent surface 26 on the periphery of the nozzle plate 23 are interposed via an adhesive 28. The nozzle cover 3 is adhered to the nozzle plate 13 by elastically deforming the frame portion 3a of the nozzle cover 3 as shown in FIG.

That is, if there is a variation in the level difference between the nozzle cover 3 and the nozzle plate 13 during wiping for wiping the ink on the surface of the nozzle plate 23, the wiping performance is reduced and the ink is left unwiped. 3 must be brought into close contact with the nozzle plate 13 to reduce the variation in the level difference. In this case, this can be achieved by increasing the precision of both parts, but the cost is greatly increased in order to bring the two into close contact with a flatness of 5 μm or less. Therefore, by using the elastic deformation of the nozzle cover 3 to make close contact with the surface of the nozzle plate 13, it is possible to reduce the unevenness of the steps.

Next, an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this ink jet recording apparatus, an ink jet head 32 for ejecting ink droplets of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan and black is mounted on a carriage slidably mounted on a rod 31 and an ink cartridge 33 for supplying ink to the head. Recording heads 34Y, 34
M, 34C, 34K, while frames 35, 3
The platen 36 that conveys the sheet between the five is rotatably supported, the carriage is moved in the main scanning direction, and the sheet is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction to perform recording.

In the non-printing area on the side of the platen 36, a reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism 37 is disposed. The reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism 37 includes recording heads 34Y, 34M,
A wiper 38 for wiping ink droplets from nozzle surfaces of 34C and 34K and recording heads 34Y, 34M, 34C and 34K.
Caps 39Y, 39 for capping
M, 39C, 39K, etc.

Further, in the non-printing areas on both sides of the platen 35, static elimination brushes 40, 40 as static elimination means are arranged. As shown in FIG. 7, these static elimination brushes 40, 40 have recording heads 34Y, 34M, 34C, 34K, respectively.
A predetermined gap D is provided so as not to contact the nozzle cover and the nozzle plate. This gap D is 0.5 to 3 mm
It is effective to reliably remove static electricity from the recording head in a non-contact manner.

With this configuration, each time the recording head moves to the non-printing area, the nozzle cover of the recording head is electrically grounded by the discharging brushes 40, 40, and static electricity accumulated due to paper rubbing or the like on the nozzle cover is reduced. It can be removed, and malfunction and damage of the actuator element and the like due to static electricity can be prevented.

As described above, by providing the static elimination means for electrically grounding the nozzle cover of the ink jet head in the non-printing area, static electricity accumulated on the nozzle cover of the recording head can be removed, and the nozzle cover is made of a conductive material. When formed by the method described above, it is possible to prevent static electricity from accumulating in the nozzle cover due to paper rubbing or the like and adversely affecting the driving elements (actuator elements) and the like. This makes it possible to form the nozzle cover with a conductive material that easily accumulates static electricity, and has a high mechanical strength, good workability, and excellent ink and abrasion resistance, such as stainless steel. The cover can be formed, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, by providing a static elimination brush as a static elimination means for eliminating static electricity in a non-contact manner with a nozzle cover or the like, static electricity can be eliminated without damaging the nozzle surface, adhering dust, clogging the nozzle hole, and the like. be able to. Further, by using the neutralization brush, the arrangement location can be relatively freely selected.

In this embodiment, the charge removing brush 40 is used.
Alternatively, or together with the neutralizing brush 40, the wiper 38 for wiping ink on the nozzle surface is formed of a conductive material, so that the nozzle cover can be electrically grounded in the non-printing area to remove static electricity. In addition, static elimination brush 4
By forming the suction caps 39Y, 39M, 39C, and 39K with a conductive material in place of 0, or together with the charge removing brush 40, or in place of the wiper 38, or together with the wiper 38, the nozzle cover is electrically connected to the non-printing area. It can also be grounded to remove static electricity.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention. This ink jet head uses a heat shrinkable member as the nozzle cover 3 of the first embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 1A, a head main body 41 in which the drive unit 1 and the liquid chamber unit 2 are assembled is used as a heat-shrinkable tube 4 as a heat-shrinkable member.
(B) in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a nozzle cover 43 made of a heat-shrinkable tube that covers the side portion of the head main body 41 and the peripheral portion of the nozzle plate 23 is provided.

By providing the nozzle cover made of a heat-shrinkable member that covers the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and the side surface of the head, the nozzle cover can be easily formed at low cost.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention. This ink jet head has a flat plate shape (plate shape) as in the above embodiments.
Instead of the nozzle forming member described above, a nozzle forming member 44 formed in a box shape covering the side surface of the head is provided.
This eliminates the need for a nozzle cover and reduces the number of components.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a nozzle cover in a seventh embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention. The nozzle cover 45 has two opposing side surfaces 45.
a, 45b and the other two opposing side surfaces 45c, 45d are formed to have different lengths. If you do this,
Workability when attaching the nozzle cover 45 to the head is improved. In this case, the length can be made different for each side surface, but it is sufficient if the lengths of the orthogonal surfaces are made different as in this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an eighth embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of the same ink jet head. In this ink jet head, a temporary fixing projection 46 is provided on the side surface of the head, and a hole 48 is formed in the nozzle cover 47 to engage with the projection 46. In this way, when the nozzle cover 47 is bonded to the nozzle plate 23, it is not necessary to fix the nozzle cover 47 with the jig until the adhesive is cured.
The fixing workability is improved.

In this case, as a method of obtaining elasticity when the nozzle cover 47 is hooked, there is a method of utilizing the elasticity of the nozzle cover as shown in FIG. 5 described above, and a method of hooking the convex portion of the nozzle cover in the concave portion of the head holder. There is a way.

Although the nozzle cover and the head are mechanically temporarily fixed here, an ultraviolet-curing adhesive is applied to several places (preferably two or four places) on the side face, and the head side face and the nozzle are fixed. The cover and the cover can be temporarily fixed, and the same effect can be obtained in this case. Further, the mechanical temporary fixing may be performed by providing a convex portion on the inner surface of the nozzle cover 47 and providing a concave portion on the side surface of the head.

[0056]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the ink jet head includes the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and the nozzle cover that covers the side surface of the head. Since the non-water-repellent surface is joined, the adhesive strength between the nozzle cover and the nozzle forming member can be ensured, and the penetration of ink into the nozzle cover can be prevented.

According to the ink jet head of the second aspect, in the ink jet head of the first aspect, the non-water repellent surface of the nozzle forming member is provided in a region not exposed from the opening of the nozzle cover. In addition, it is possible to ensure the adhesive strength between the nozzle cover and the nozzle forming member, prevent ink from penetrating into the inside of the nozzle cover, and prevent the water-repellent portion on the nozzle surface from being peeled off by wiping.

According to the ink jet head of the third aspect, in the ink jet head of the first or second aspect, the non-water-repellent surface is chemically, mechanically or electrically roughened. Further, the adhesive strength between the nozzle cover and the nozzle forming member can be further improved, and the penetration of ink into the nozzle cover can be more reliably prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head including a peripheral portion of a nozzle forming member and a nozzle cover for covering a side surface of the head, and the nozzle cover and the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member constitute a driving unit. With this configuration, even when there is no non-water-repellent portion at the periphery of the nozzle forming member, the adhesive strength between the nozzle cover and the nozzle forming member can be ensured, and the penetration of ink into the nozzle cover can be prevented. be able to.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the nozzle cover is provided with the nozzle cover for covering the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and the side surface of the head, and this nozzle cover is elastically deformed and is in close contact with the nozzle forming member. In addition, the nozzle forming member and the nozzle cover are in close contact with each other, so that the unevenness of the step is reduced, and the wiping performance can be prevented from being lowered.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head having a nozzle cover for covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head, and the nozzle cover is made of an epoxy resin having a liquid-resistant bonding agent for bonding with other members. Since it is made of a system adhesive, the adhesive strength between the nozzle forming member and the nozzle cover can be secured, ink can be prevented from penetrating into the nozzle cover, etc., and costs can be reduced, assemblability can be improved, and mass productivity can be improved. Can be improved.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the ink jet head is provided with a nozzle cover made of a conductive member that covers the periphery of the nozzle forming member and the side surface of the head, and the non-printing area is provided on the main body side of the apparatus. Since the configuration is provided with the static elimination means for electrically grounding the nozzle cover of the ink jet head, static electricity of the ink jet head can be removed, and damage to the actuator element can be prevented.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of claim 8, in the ink jet recording apparatus of claim 7,
Since the static eliminator has a configuration in which a wiper member for wiping ink on the nozzle surface of the nozzle forming member is formed of a conductive member, static electricity of the ink jet head can be removed, and damage to the actuator element and the like can be prevented. Thus, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the ninth aspect, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the seventh or eighth aspect, the static elimination means is formed by forming a suction cap to be in close contact with the nozzle surface of the nozzle forming member with a conductive member. With this configuration, it is possible to remove static electricity from the ink jet head, prevent damage to the actuator element, and reduce the number of components and cost.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus of any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the static elimination means comprises a static elimination brush for eliminating static electricity in a non-contact state with the nozzle cover and the nozzle forming member. Therefore, the static electricity of the ink jet head can be removed, and damage to the actuator element can be prevented.

According to the ink jet head of the eleventh aspect, since the nozzle cover is formed of the heat-shrinkable member covering the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and the side surface of the head, the nozzle cover can be easily formed at low cost. can do.

According to the ink jet head of the twelfth aspect, since the nozzle forming member is configured to cover the side surface of the head, the nozzle cover becomes unnecessary, the number of parts is reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

According to the ink jet head of the thirteenth aspect, the nozzle cover is provided with the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and the nozzle cover covering the side surface of the head, and the four side surfaces of the nozzle cover have different lengths. Mounting work is facilitated, and assembling workability is improved.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, the ink jet head includes the nozzle cover that covers the peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and the side surface of the head, and the means for temporarily fixing the nozzle cover on the side surface of the head. A fixture for mounting the nozzle cover is not required, and the workability in assembling is improved.

According to the ink jet head of claim 15, in the ink jet head of claim 14,
The provision of a temporary fixing protrusion or recess on the side of the head eliminates the need for a fixing jig when mounting the nozzle cover, improving workability in assembly, reducing assembly work time and cost. Can be achieved.

According to the ink-jet head of claim 16, in the ink-jet head of claim 14,
Since the nozzle cover is temporarily fixed to the side surface of the head with an ultraviolet-curing adhesive, a fixing jig for mounting the nozzle cover is not required, the assembling workability is improved, and the fixing can be reliably performed. Therefore, the reliability of bonding is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of an inkjet head according to the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a main part of a second embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a main part of a third embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention.

5A and 5B are cross-sectional views illustrating a main part of an inkjet head according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a state in which a nozzle cover is being mounted, and FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

7 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views showing a fifth embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the nozzle cover is being mounted, and FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a nozzle forming member in a sixth embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a nozzle cover in a seventh embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an eighth embodiment of the ink jet head according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view showing the embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... drive unit, 2 ... liquid chamber unit, 3 ... nozzle cover, 23 ... nozzle plate, 25 ... water-repellent surface, 26 ...
Non-water-repellent surface, 28 ... adhesive, 38 ... wiper, 40 ...
Static elimination brush, 43, 45, 47 ... Nozzle cover, 44 ...
Nozzle forming member.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihisa Ota 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Taeko Murai 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Shinichi Tsunoda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh Company

Claims (16)

[Claims] An ink jet head having a nozzle formed with a nozzle formed with a water-repellent surface on a surface thereof, comprising a nozzle cover for covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle formed member and a side surface of the head. An ink jet head, wherein a non-water-repellent surface of a peripheral portion of a forming member is joined. 2. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the non-water repellent surface of the nozzle forming member is provided in a region not exposed from an opening of the nozzle cover. 3. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the non-water repellent surface is chemically, mechanically or electrically roughened. 4. An ink jet head having a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed therein, the ink jet head having a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a nozzle cover covering a side surface of the head, wherein the nozzle cover has a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member. An ink jet head joined to members constituting a drive unit. 5. An ink jet head having a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed therein, the ink jet head further comprising a nozzle cover for covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head, and the nozzle cover is elastically deformed so as to be in contact with the nozzle forming member. An ink jet head, which is in close contact. 6. An ink jet head in which a surface of a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon is subjected to a water-repellent treatment, comprising a nozzle cover for covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. An ink jet head, wherein a bonding agent for bonding to a member is made of a liquid-resistant epoxy-based adhesive. 7. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink jet head having a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon, wherein the ink jet head has a nozzle cover formed of a conductive member covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. An ink jet recording apparatus, further comprising: a discharge unit that electrically grounds a nozzle cover of the ink jet head in a non-printing area on a main body side of the apparatus. 8. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said discharging means comprises a conductive member for forming a wiper member for wiping ink on a nozzle surface of said nozzle forming member. apparatus. 9. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said static elimination means is formed by forming a suction cap to be in close contact with a nozzle surface of said nozzle forming member with a conductive member. Recording device. 10. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said charge removing means comprises a charge removing brush for removing charge without contacting said nozzle cover and said nozzle forming member. Recording device. 11. An ink jet head including a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon, the ink jet head comprising a nozzle cover made of a heat-shrinkable member covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head. . 12. An ink jet head including a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed thereon, wherein the nozzle forming member has a shape covering a side surface of the head. 13. An ink jet head having a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed therein, the ink jet head having a nozzle cover that covers a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head, wherein the lengths of the four side surfaces of the nozzle cover are different. An ink jet head, characterized in that: 14. An ink jet head provided with a nozzle forming member having a nozzle formed therein, comprising: a nozzle cover for covering a peripheral portion of the nozzle forming member and a side surface of the head; and means for temporarily fixing the nozzle cover on the side surface of the head. An inkjet head, comprising: 15. The ink jet head according to claim 14, wherein a temporary fixing protrusion or recess is provided on a side surface of the head. 16. The ink jet head according to claim 14, wherein the nozzle cover is temporarily fixed to a side surface of the head with an ultraviolet curable adhesive.