JPH10291301A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a recording image with high resolution by preventing ink from being transferred between nozzles and mixed with diluting liquid when print operation is stopped, thereby reproducing gray scale accurately. SOLUTION: The printer comprises a first nozzle 34 for jetting diluting liquid, and a second nozzle 36 for jetting ink being opened contiguously each other, and a print head for jetting the ink and the diluting liquid while mixing. A groove 53 is made from the opening of second nozzle 36 to the opening of first nozzle 34 of the print head and the width d of the groove 53 is set, at least partially, at 2 μm or less. The groove 53 may be replaced by a hydrophilically machined part or unmachined part. When an unmachined part is employed, the remaining part is subjected to water repellent machining.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for mixing and discharging a fixed amount medium and a discharge medium. More specifically, the present invention provides means for controlling the spread of ink, diluting liquid and mixed solution around nozzles to provide high resolution. The present invention relates to a printer capable of forming a recorded image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, especially in offices and the like, document creation using a computer called desktop publishing has been actively performed.
Recently, there has been an increasing demand for outputting not only characters and graphics but also, for example, a color natural image of a photograph together with characters and graphics. Along with this, it is required to print a high-quality natural image, and reproducing halftones is becoming important.

Further, a so-called on-demand type printer device that discharges ink droplets from nozzles and prints on a print medium such as paper or film only when necessary at the time of printing in response to a print signal has been reduced in size and cost. It is rapidly spreading in recent years because it is possible.

There are various methods for discharging ink droplets as described above, and a method using a piezo element or a method using a heating element is generally used. The former is a method in which pressure is applied to ink to discharge it by deformation of a piezo element. The latter is a method in which the ink is ejected at a pressure of bubbles generated by heating and boiling the ink by the heating element.

[0005] There are various methods for reproducing the above-described halftone using an on-demand type printer apparatus which discharges the above-described ink droplets. That is, the first
As a method, there is a method of controlling the size of a droplet to be ejected by changing the voltage value and pulse width of a voltage pulse applied to a piezo element or a heating element, and expressing a gradation by changing the diameter of a print dot.

However, according to this method, if the voltage or pulse width applied to the piezo element or the heating element is too low, ink cannot be ejected, so that the minimum droplet diameter is limited, and the number of gradation stages that can be expressed is small. Expression of low density is difficult, and it is not enough to print out a natural image.

As a second method, one pixel is constituted by a matrix of, for example, 4 × 4 dots without changing the dot diameter, and gradation expression is performed in a unit of this matrix using a so-called dither method. Method. In this case, expression of 17 gradations is possible.

However, in this method, for example, when printing is performed at the same dot density as in the first method, the resolution becomes the first.
And the roughness is conspicuous, which is insufficient for printing out a natural image.

[0009]

On the other hand, the present inventors have mixed the diluting liquid and the ink and discharged these mixed droplets to change the concentration of the discharged ink droplets. A printer device has been proposed which enables control of the density of dots to be printed, expresses gradations without causing degradation in resolution, and prints out a natural image.

[0010] A print head of such a printer device has a first nozzle into which a discharge medium is introduced and a second nozzle into which a quantitative medium is introduced so as to be adjacent to each other. A predetermined amount of the quantitative medium is oozed toward the first nozzle and mixed with the discharge medium in the vicinity of the first nozzle opening, and the discharge medium is discharged from the first nozzle together with the discharge medium mixed with the quantitative medium. There is a print head that extrudes and mixes and discharges a fixed amount medium and a discharge medium in the in-plane direction of the first and second nozzles. In addition,
One of the quantification medium and the ejection medium may be ink, and the other may be a diluent.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16,
A liquid 104 such as an ink, a diluting liquid, or a mixed solution is provided around the openings of the first nozzle 102 and the second nozzle 103 on the nozzle opening surface 101 a of the print head 101 where the first nozzle 102 and the second nozzle 103 open. Spread and adhered, causing the following inconveniences.

That is, as described above, the first nozzle 10
If the liquid 104 adheres around the openings of the second and second nozzles 103, the liquid adheres to portions that do not need to be printed at the time of printing and becomes colored, that is, so-called fogging occurs, resulting in poor printing. Cause.

Further, if the liquid 104 adheres around the openings of the first nozzle 102 and the second nozzle 103,
A shift occurs in the ejection direction of the ink, the diluting liquid, and the mixed solution from each nozzle at the time of subsequent printing, which causes a printing failure.

Furthermore, if the liquid 104 adheres around the openings of the first nozzle 102 and the second nozzle 103, there is a possibility that the mixing ratio of the ink and the diluent at the time of subsequent printing may be affected. The density is high, the response to the density change is impaired, the density gradation in the dot cannot be accurately reproduced, and the resolution of the recorded image is impaired.

As means for avoiding such inconveniences, the opening of the first nozzle 102 on the nozzle opening surface and the second
Forming a groove between the openings of the nozzle 103,
For example, a non-processed portion is provided between the opening of the first nozzle 102 and the opening of the second nozzle 103 on the nozzle opening surface, and the area around the non-processed portion is subjected to water-repellent processing.

However, the width of the groove formed between the opening of the first nozzle 102 and the opening of the second nozzle 103, the width or depth of the non-processed portion, or the width of the hydrophilic processed portion is reduced. If the size is large, the quantitation medium can be discharged from the second nozzle 103 without intentionally bleeding a predetermined amount of the quantitation medium from the second nozzle 103 toward the opening of the first nozzle 103.
There is a possibility that so-called spontaneous mixing, which occurs from No. 3 to the first nozzle 102, will occur.

This natural mixing occurs when the printer is in a printing standby state, when the ejection is stopped for moving the head, or when the gradation value of a certain color in the printed image continues to be 0. If this occurs, the next time printing is performed, it will be colored deeper than the predetermined density to be originally printed, making it impossible to reproduce accurate density gradation.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a printer device capable of preventing a quantitative medium from being mixed into the first nozzle due to natural mixing, accurately reproducing density gradation, and forming a high-resolution recorded image. The purpose is to:

[0019]

A printer according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems has a first pressure chamber into which a discharge medium is introduced and a second pressure chamber into which a quantitative medium is introduced. A first nozzle communicating with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle communicating with the second pressure chamber are opened to be adjacent to each other, and are directed from the second nozzle toward the first nozzle. In a printer apparatus having a print head that ejects a discharge medium from a first nozzle after oozing out a fixed amount medium and mixes and discharges the fixed amount medium and the discharge medium, an opening of a second nozzle on a nozzle surface of the print head is provided. A groove is formed from the portion to the opening of the first nozzle, and at least a part of the groove has a width of 2 μm or less.

The depth of at least a part of the groove is 2
It is desirable that the thickness be equal to or less than μm.

Further, another printer according to the present invention has a first pressure chamber into which a discharge medium is introduced, and a second pressure chamber into which a quantitative medium is introduced. A first nozzle communicating with the first nozzle and a second nozzle communicating with the second pressure chamber are opened so as to be adjacent to each other, and the measuring medium is exuded from the second nozzle toward the first nozzle. rear,
In a printer device having a print head that discharges a discharge medium from a first nozzle and mixes and discharges a fixed amount medium and a discharge medium, a nozzle surface of the print head has an opening of a first nozzle through an opening of a second nozzle. A non-processed portion that is formed over the portion and is not subjected to the water repellent process, and a water repellent portion that is subjected to the water repellent process is formed, and the width of at least a part of the non-processed portion is 2 μm or less. It is characterized by what has been done.

Another printer device according to the present invention has a first pressure chamber into which a discharge medium is introduced, and a second pressure chamber into which a quantitative medium is introduced. A first nozzle communicating with the first nozzle and a second nozzle communicating with the second pressure chamber are opened so as to be adjacent to each other, and the measuring medium is exuded from the second nozzle toward the first nozzle. rear,
In a printer device having a print head that discharges a discharge medium from a first nozzle and mixes and discharges a fixed amount medium and a discharge medium, a nozzle surface of the print head has an opening of a first nozzle through an opening of a second nozzle. A hydrophilic processed portion is formed over the portion, and at least a part of the hydrophilic processed portion has a width of 2 μm or less.

It is preferable that portions other than the above-mentioned hydrophilically processed portion on the nozzle surface of the print head are water-repellent portions which have been subjected to a water-repellent process.

[0024] The thus configured printer device has a groove, a non-processed portion, or a hydrophilic process in which at least a part of the width is 2 µm or less over the opening of the first nozzle and the opening of the second nozzle. Since the portion is formed, it is possible to make it difficult for the quantitative medium to flow from the second nozzle to the first nozzle.

[0025]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As a printer device equipped with a printer device to which the present invention is applied, for example, there is a so-called serial type printer having a configuration as shown in FIG. That is,
This printer device mainly comprises a drum 2 on which a printing paper 1 as a printing material is supported, and a printing head 3 which forms a printer device to which the present invention is applied and prints on the printing paper 1. is there.

At this time, the printing paper 1 is
The paper is pressed and held on the drum 2 by a paper pressure roller 4 provided in parallel to the axial direction. A feed screw 5 is provided near the outer periphery of the drum 2 in parallel with the axial direction of the drum 2. The print head 3 is held by the feed screw 5. That is, such a print head 3 is moved in the axial direction of the drum 2 by the rotation of the feed screw 5 as shown by an arrow M in FIG.

On the other hand, the drum 2 has a pulley 6, a belt 7,
It is rotationally driven by a motor 9 via a pulley 8 as shown by an arrow m in FIG. Further, the rotation drive of the feed screw 5 and the motor 9 and the drive of the print head 3 are controlled by a head drive, a head feed control, and a drum rotation control 10 based on print data and a control signal 11.

In the above-described configuration of the printer, when the print head 3 moves and performs printing for one line, the drum 2 is rotated by one line to perform the next printing. Further, when the print head 3 moves and prints, the print head 3 may be moved in one direction or in a reciprocating direction.

As a printer device equipped with this printer device, there is, for example, a so-called line type printer having a configuration as shown in FIG. This printer has substantially the same configuration as the printer shown in FIG. 1, and is held by a feed screw 5, and can be moved in the axial direction of the drum 2 by rotation of the feed screw 5. Instead of the print head 3, a print head 12 in which a plurality of print heads are fixedly arranged in the axial direction of the drum 2 is provided. That is, in the print head 12, printing for one line is performed simultaneously, and when printing for one line is performed, the drum 2 is rotated by one line to perform the next printing. Further, in this case, it is possible to print one line at a time, divide one line into a plurality of blocks, or alternately print every other line.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printing and control system in such a printer. A signal input 21 such as print data is input to a signal processing control circuit 22, where the signal input 21 is arranged in a printing order.
The data is sent to a head 24 (print head) via a driver 23. The printing order differs depending on the configuration of the head 24 and the printing unit, and also has a relationship with the input order of the printing data. If necessary, the printing order is temporarily recorded in a memory 25 such as a line buffer memory or a one-screen memory and then taken out. To the head 24, a gradation signal and an ejection signal are input.

When the number of nozzles is very large and the number of nozzles is very large, an integrated circuit (IC) is mounted on the head 24 to reduce the number of wires connected to the head 24. A correction 26 is connected to the signal processing control circuit 22, and performs γ correction, color correction in the case of color, variation correction of each head, and the like. Correction 2
6, predetermined correction data is stored in a ROM map format, and external conditions such as a nozzle number, a temperature,
It is common to take out according to an input signal or the like.

The signal processing control circuit 22 includes a CPU and a DSP.
In general, the processing is performed by software, and the processed signal is sent to various control motor drives and the like 27. In various control motor drive and others 27, control such as drive of a motor for rotatingly driving a drum and a feed screw, synchronization, cleaning of a head, supply and discharge of print paper, and the like are performed. Needless to say, the signals include operation unit signals and external control signals other than print data.

Next, the configuration of the print head 3 constituting the printer will be described. However, here, an example will be described in which this printer is applied to a print head of a so-called carrier jet printer which mixes and discharges ink while mixing ink with a diluting liquid. As shown in FIG. 4, the print head 3 mixes and discharges ink and a diluting liquid, and a pressure chamber unit 31 having two types of pressure chambers and a first piezo unit 32 corresponding to the two types of pressure chambers. And the second piezo unit 33.

The pressure chamber unit 31 mixes and discharges the ink and the diluting liquid as described above, and as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, a first nozzle having a diluting liquid discharge port therein. 34, a first introduction port 35 communicating with the first nozzle 34, a second nozzle 36 serving as an ink ejection port, and a second introduction port 37 communicating with the second nozzle 36. Having. And, this pressure chamber unit 31
Is a plate-like orifice plate 38 formed substantially at the center.
4, the pressure chamber side walls 39a, 39b, 39 as shown in FIG.
A first pressure chamber 40 that is formed by c, 39d, and 39e forming a partition and serves as a diluent flow path, a second pressure chamber 41 that serves as an ink flow path, and a diaphragm 42 are provided.

In the orifice plate 38, as shown in FIG.
And one main surface 38 at which one end of the second nozzle 36 is a printing surface.
a, the first nozzle 34 and the second nozzle 36
One end of the first introduction port 35 and one end of the second introduction port 35 communicating with the first surface 35a face the rear surface 38b facing the one main surface 38a. Therefore, the first inlet 35 and the first nozzle 34 pass through the orifice plate 38 as a whole, and the second inlet 37 and the second nozzle 36 also pass through the orifice plate 38 as a whole. Also,
The first nozzle 34 and the second nozzle 36 are formed such that the angle between these opening directions indicated by θ in FIG. 5 is, for example, about 45 °.

Further, in the orifice plate 38, as shown in FIG. 4, the first nozzle 34 and the second nozzle 36, the first inlet 35 and the second inlet 3
The first supply chamber 43 serving as a diluting liquid reservoir and the second supply chamber 44 serving as an ink reservoir are formed so that the opening faces the back surface 38b facing the one main surface 38a serving as a printing surface. Have been.

At this time, on the back surface 38b side of the orifice plate 38, pressure chamber side walls 39a, 39
b, 39c, 39d, and 39e are formed in layers, and the opening of the first supply chamber 43 and the opening of the first inlet 35 are formed by the portions where the pressure chamber side walls 39a, 39b, 39c, 39d, and 39e are not formed. And a first pressure chamber 40 serving as a flow path is formed, and an opening of the second supply chamber 44 and an opening of the second introduction port 37 are connected to form a second pressure chamber serving as a flow path. A chamber 41 will be formed.

The pressure chamber side walls 39a, 39b,
A diaphragm 42 is laminated on 39c, 39d, and 39e, and the first pressure chamber 40 and the second pressure chamber 41 are sealed.

The first piezo unit 32 is
A first laminated piezo element 45 in the form of a plate in which piezoelectric materials and conductive materials are alternately laminated, a first support 46 for fixing one end of the first laminated piezo element 45, And a first holder 47 for fixing the first support 46 to which the laminated piezo element 45 is fixed to the pressure chamber unit 31. The same applies to the second piezo unit 33, in which one end of a second laminated piezo element 48 is fixed to a second support 49, and these are attached to the pressure chamber unit 31 by a second holder 50. Fixed.

The first and second laminated piezo elements 45,
Reference numeral 48 denotes a layer obtained by laminating a piezoelectric material and a conductive material in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the first and second pressure chambers 40 and 41;
Alternatively, either one laminated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction may be used. The laminated piezo element has a characteristic that when a voltage is applied, it expands and contracts in the laminating direction according to the positive or negative direction of the applied voltage.

For this reason, the former laminated piezo element has the first
When a voltage is applied in the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber 40 and the second pressure chamber 41, the pressure chamber 40 contracts in a direction orthogonal to this.
Therefore, when a voltage is applied in this direction, the laminated piezo element works to increase the volume of the pressure chamber and lower the pressure. Such a driving method of the laminated piezo element is referred to as driving of the laminated piezo in the d31 mode, and the laminated piezo element used in this manner is referred to as a laminated piezo element of the d31 mode.

On the other hand, in the latter laminated piezo element,
When a voltage is applied in a direction extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first pressure chamber 40 and the second pressure chamber 41, pressure is applied to the pressure chamber. Such a driving method of the laminated piezo element is referred to as driving of the laminated piezo in the d33 mode, and the laminated piezo element used in this manner is referred to as a laminated piezo element of the d33 mode.

The first laminated piezo element 45 is disposed so as to face the first pressure chamber 40 via the diaphragm 42, and the second laminated piezo element 48 is also disposed on the diaphragm 42.
The second pressure chamber 41 is disposed so as to face the second pressure chamber 41.

Accordingly, in the print head 3 having the above-described configuration, the diluent flows from the diluent tank (not shown) through the supply pipe and the supply groove (not shown) to the first supply chamber 43.
From there, as shown in FIG.
The first nozzle 3 communicating with the first inlet 35 through the first inlet 3
4 and a first meniscus D1 is formed at the tip of the first nozzle 34 by the diluent 51.

The same applies to one of the inks. The ink is supplied from an ink tank (not shown) to a second supply chamber 44 through a supply pipe and a supply groove (not shown), and from there, as shown in FIG. A second meniscus D2 is formed at the tip of the second nozzle 36 by the ink 52 by filling the second nozzle 36 communicating with the second introduction port 37 through 41.

When printing is performed by the printer having such a configuration, for example, the first laminated piezo element 45 and the second
When a so-called d31 mode laminated piezo element is used as the laminated piezo element 48, the voltage is applied at the drive voltage application timing as shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the standby state before printing, at the time shown in FIG.
[V] is applied. Also, during standby before printing,
As shown in FIG. 6B, at the time shown in FIG. 6A, for example, about 10
[V] is applied.

At the time of printing, based on the signals from the above-described head drive, head feed control, and drum rotation control 10, first, the ink 52 is pushed out from the second nozzle 36 to ooze out, as shown in FIG. At the time indicated by (B) in the figure, the voltage of the second multilayer piezoelectric element 48 is increased
[V], and in this state, for example, 150 [μs
ec] is retained. Then, the second laminated piezo element 48 gradually extends in the longitudinal direction, and the ink 52 is dispensed with the second nozzle 3.
6 oozes from the outside to the vicinity of the opening of the first nozzle 34,
The diluent 51 of the first nozzle 34 is combined.

Thereafter, the ink 52 is supplied into the second nozzle 36.
6B, the voltage of the second laminated piezo element 48 is reduced by about 10 at the time indicated by (C) in FIG. 6B so that only the determined ink 52 remains in the opening of the first nozzle 34.
Gradually return to [V]. Then, the second laminated piezo element 48 gradually contracts in the longitudinal direction, the internal pressure of the second nozzle 36 is released, and the ink 52 tries to return to the inside of the second nozzle 36. As a result, only the determined amount of ink remains at the opening of the first nozzle 34 and in the vicinity thereof.

Next, in order to discharge the diluting liquid 51 from the first nozzle 34, as shown in FIG. 6A, at the time shown in FIG. The voltage is set to, for example, 0 [V]. Then, the first laminated piezo element 45 extends in the longitudinal direction, the first pressure chamber 40 is pressurized via the diaphragm 42, and an internal pressure is applied to the first nozzle 34. As a result, the diluting liquid 51 is pushed out by the internal pressure in the first nozzle 34, and a mixed solution of the diluting liquid and the ink remaining in the opening of the first nozzle 34 and the vicinity thereof is formed.

Next, from the time point indicated by (D) in FIG. 6A, the voltage is set to 0 [V] for about 50 [μsec], for example.
At the point indicated by (E) in (a), the first laminated piezo element 4
When the voltage of 5 is returned to, for example, about 20 [V], the first laminated piezo element 45 contracts in the longitudinal direction, the internal pressure of the first nozzle 34 is released, and the diluting liquid 51 flows into the first nozzle 34. Try to go back. As a result, a constriction occurs between the diluting liquid 51 and the mixed solution in the first nozzle 34, and finally, the mixed solution is discharged from the first nozzle 34, and is adhered to the above-described printing paper 1 to perform printing. Will be

After the printing has been performed, the internal pressures of the first pressure chamber 40 and the second pressure chamber 41 return to their original values,
The diluent 51 and the ink 52 are filled in the first and second nozzles 34 and 36 again, and return to the original state.

It is to be noted that T1 in FIG.
The pulse width of the fixed amount of ink between the time point indicated by (B) and the time point indicated by (C) in FIG. 6 is indicated by T2 in FIG. 6 (a), and the time point indicated by (D) in FIG. The pulse width of the diluent discharge between the time points indicated by () and the ink constant voltage indicated by V in FIG. 6B are variable.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, printing is performed by repeating the above operation, and the printing cycle indicated by T3 in FIG.
[Msec].

The orifice plate 38, the pressure chamber side walls 39a, 39b, 39c, 39d, 39e, and the vibrating plate 42 are made of resin such as polyetherimide, dry film photoresist, and metal plate such as nickel. Can be.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a drive circuit of the print head. That is, the digital halftone data is supplied from another block, and sent to the respective ink quantitative unit control circuits 213 and the ejection control circuits 214 for applying a voltage to the second laminated piezo element 48 by the serial / parallel conversion circuit 211. When the digital halftone data supplied from the serial / parallel conversion circuit 211 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold, the ink amount and the ejection are not performed. When the print timing comes, a print trigger is output from another block, and the timing control circuit 212 detects the print trigger. At a predetermined timing, the print control circuit 212 and the ink control section 213 transmit the ink control section signal and the discharge control signal, respectively. Output to the circuit 214. Each signal is output at the timing shown in FIG. Accordingly, a predetermined voltage is applied to the ink metering unit 215 and the ejection unit 216 that applies a voltage to the first piezo element 45.

The ink 52 is preferably one in which aqueous dyes or pigments of each color are dissolved or dispersed in water, an organic solvent such as ethylene glycol, or a mixture thereof. If necessary, such a solution may contain a viscosity adjusting agent, a surface tension adjusting agent, a preservative, a pH adjusting agent, and the like.

On the other hand, the diluting liquid 51 is preferably a colorless and transparent liquid, such as water or ethylene glycol.
An organic solvent such as IPA or a mixture thereof is preferred. Further, such a solution may contain a viscosity adjusting agent, a surface tension adjusting agent, a preservative, a pH adjusting agent, and the like.

In the above-described printer apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first nozzle 34 of the one main surface 68a which is the printing surface of the orifice plate 68 of the print head 3 and which is also the nozzle opening surface. A groove 53 is formed between the second nozzle 36 and the second nozzle 36. This groove 53
It is formed between the opening of the second nozzle 36 and the opening of the first nozzle 34. And this groove 53
Is formed so as to have a width d ₁ of about 2 μm or less. The depth d ₂ of the groove 53 is about 2 [μm].
It is formed as follows. The groove 53
May be formed at a predetermined position on one main surface 38a of the orifice plate 38 by means of ablation using an ultraviolet laser or by other means such as machining or etching. FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view showing the vicinity of the openings of the first nozzle 34 and the second nozzle 36, and FIG. 9 and FIGS. 10 and 11 shown below.
12 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

Here, when printing is to be performed in the same manner as in the above-described print head, the ink oozing out from the second nozzle 36 travels along the groove 53 due to the capillary phenomenon and the first ink.
Is supplied to the first nozzle 34, so that it is easily collected near the groove 53, and does not adhere to the vicinity of the openings of the first nozzle 34 and the second nozzle 36. In this manner, the print head 3 does not cause ink to adhere around the openings of the first nozzle 34 and the second nozzle 36, suppresses the occurrence of print defects, and accurately reproduces the density gradation. Thus, a high-resolution recorded image can be formed.

Further, the groove 53 has a width d ₁ of about 2
[Μm] or less and the depth d ₂ is formed to be about 2 [μm] or less, so that the ink flows from the second nozzle 36 to the first nozzle 34 when printing is not performed. , So-called natural mixing can be suppressed.
Therefore, the print head 3 in which the grooves 53 having such dimensions are formed can prevent the occurrence of a printing failure beforehand, and can reproduce a density gradation accurately and form a high-resolution recorded image. And

In the above example, as shown in FIG.
Although the groove 53 is formed on the surface of the orifice plate 38, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, one main surface 5 of a base 54 made of a resin such as polyetherimide or stainless steel.
A water-repellent portion 55 having a water-repellent surface may be laminated on 4a. The groove 53 may be formed on the water-repellent portion 55 on the surface of the orifice plate 38. The water-repellent portion 55 may be formed by using, for example, a polyimide-based coating material.

When the water repellent portion 55 is laminated on the base 54 as described above, the groove portion 53 is formed by partially and completely removing the water repellent portion 55 as shown in FIG. You may.

Further, the thickness of the water-repellent portion 55 is about 2 μm.
m] or less, the groove 53 may extend over a part of the base 54 as shown in FIG. At this time, it is a matter of course that at least a part of the groove 53 is about 2 [μm] or less.

The width d ₁ and the depth d ₂ of the groove 53 formed on the orifice plate 38 are the same as those of the first nozzle 3.
It is not necessary to be constant from 4 to the second nozzle 36, and the shape gradually expands or contracts from the first nozzle 34 toward the second nozzle 36, the shape of a pincushion having a narrowed middle, and a bulged middle It may have a barrel shape.
In that case, the width d of at least a part of the groove 53
₁ be about 2 [[mu] m] or less, it is possible at least a portion of the depth d ₂ of the groove 53 to obtain the 2 [[mu] m] same effect as described above not more than.

As the print head 3 of this printer, in addition to the print head 3 having the groove 53 as described above,
A hydrophilic processed portion or a non-processed portion is formed between the opening of the first nozzle 34 and the opening of the second nozzle 36 on one principal surface serving as the nozzle opening surface of the orifice plate 38. May be subjected to a water-repellent treatment. Further, the hydrophilic processed portion or the non-processed portion may be formed in a groove shape. That is, by improving the wettability between the opening of the first nozzle 34 and the opening of the second nozzle 36 than the portion subjected to the water-repellent treatment, the hydrophilically processed portion or the non-processed portion is formed. Inks and diluents can be deposited.

That is, for example, the print head 3 has substantially the same configuration as the print head described above. As shown in FIG. 13, the print head 3 is the print surface of the orifice plate 38 of the print head 3 and the nozzle opening surface. A hydrophilic processing portion 56 is formed between a first nozzle 34 and a second nozzle 36 on a certain main surface 38a, as indicated by hatched portions in FIG. The hydrophilic portion 56 is formed over between opening of the from the opening of the second nozzle 36 1 of the nozzle 34, the width d ₁ is about 2 [[mu] m] or less. The hydrophilic processing portion 56 is provided on one main surface 3 of the orifice plate 38.
The predetermined position 8a may be formed by performing corona treatment, ultraviolet irradiation, or the like.

Therefore, as described above, in order to perform printing,
When the ink 52 oozes out from the second nozzle 36, the ink 52 is supplied to the first nozzle 34 by selecting the hydrophilically processed portion 56 having good wettability and traveling therethrough. For this reason, the ink 52 is concentrated near the hydrophilically processed portion 56 having high wettability, the adhesion around the openings of the first nozzle 34 and the second nozzle 36 is suppressed, and the occurrence of print defects is suppressed. The density gradation is accurately reproduced, and a high-resolution recorded image can be formed. Since the hydrophilically processed portion 56 is formed so that at least a part of the width d ₁ is about 2 [μm] or less, the ink is supplied from the second nozzle 36 to the first nozzle 36 when printing is not performed. Nozzle 34
This makes it difficult for natural mixing that flows along the line to occur, and furthermore, the density gradation is accurately reproduced, so that a high-resolution recorded image can be formed.

Further, in the above-described print head 3, a water-repellent portion 57 may be formed in addition to the hydrophilic portion 56 described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, a portion other than the hydrophilic portion 56 of the one main surface 38a of the orifice plate 38 of the print head 3 is subjected to water repellent treatment, and a water repellent portion 57 shown by a hatched portion in FIG. It is good. As described above, the print head 3 is provided with the water repellent portion 57.
By forming, the wettability of the hydrophilically processed portion 56 can be further enhanced as compared with the wettability of the portions other than the hydrophilically processed portion 56.

In the case where the water-repellent portion 54 is provided as described above, the hydrophilic portion 53 may be unprocessed without performing the hydrophilic process.

In the examples described above, the carrier jet type printer has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to a density modulation type ink jet type printer which discharges ink while mixing a diluting liquid. Needless to say.

This density-modulation type ink-jet printer apparatus is inferior to the carrier-jet printer apparatus in terms of low-density expressive power, but can obtain a sufficient ink density in a high-density portion. Has advantages.

In both the carrier jet method and the density modulation type ink jet method, so-called continuous tone recording is possible, and particularly when printing a photographic image, etc., a smooth gradation expression is possible. It is suitable.

[0075]

As is clear from the above description, in the printer apparatus of the present invention, the opening portions of the first nozzle and the second nozzle which are opened adjacent to each other on the nozzle opening surface of the print head. In the meantime, since the width of the groove is formed to be 2 [μm] or less between the first nozzle and the second nozzle formed on the nozzle opening surface of the print head, printing is performed. Quantitative medium is second when not
The natural mixing flowing from the first nozzle to the first nozzle is less likely to occur. In other words, according to this printing apparatus, it is possible to prevent the fixed amount medium from entering the ejection medium through the groove formed between the opening of the first nozzle and the opening of the second nozzle while printing is stopped. In addition, it is possible to form a high-resolution recorded image by accurately reproducing the density gradation.

Further, in this printer device, a portion between the opening surface of the first nozzle and the opening surface of the second nozzle is a non-processed portion, and a portion other than the non-processed portion is subjected to a water-repellent process. The same effect as described above can be obtained as a part. In this printer device, by setting at least a part of the width of the non-processed portion to 2 μm or less, ink flows from the second nozzle to the first nozzle through the non-processed portion when printing is not performed. Natural mixing is less likely to occur.

Further, in this printer device, the same effect as that described above can be obtained even when a hydrophilic processing portion is provided between the opening surface of the first nozzle and the opening surface of the second nozzle. In this printer device, by setting at least a part of the width of the hydrophilic processing portion to 2 [μm] or less, ink flows from the second nozzle to the first nozzle through the hydrophilic processing portion when printing is not performed. Natural mixing is less likely to occur.

That is, according to this printing apparatus, during printing stop, the fixed amount medium travels through the non-processed portion or the hydrophilic processed portion formed between the opening of the first nozzle and the opening of the second nozzle. Thus, it is possible to form a high-resolution recording image by accurately reproducing density gradations.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an example of a printer device equipped with a printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing another example of a printer in which the printer to which the present invention is applied is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printing and control system of an example of a printer device equipped with the printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing an example of a print head of a printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of an example of the vicinity of an orifice plate of a print head of a printer device to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 6 is a chart showing an example of application timing of a drive voltage of a print head of a printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram illustrating an example of a drive circuit of a print head of a printer device to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part showing an example of a print head of a printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing an example of a groove of a print head of a printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing another example of the groove of the print head of the printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing another example of the groove of the print head of the printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing another example of the groove of the print head of the printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 13 is a main part enlarged plan view showing another example of the print head of the printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 14 is a main part enlarged plan view showing another example of the print head of the printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part showing an example of a state in which a liquid is attached around a nozzle opening in a print head of a conventional printer device.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged plan view of a main part showing another example of a state in which a liquid is attached around a nozzle opening in a print head of a conventional printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 print head, 34 first nozzle, 36 second
Nozzle, 38 orifice plate, 38a one main surface, 40 first pressure chamber, 41 second pressure chamber, 53
Groove part, 56 hydrophilic part, 57 water-repellent part

Claims (6)

[Claims] A first pressure chamber into which a discharge medium is introduced;
A second pressure chamber into which the quantitation medium is introduced,
A first nozzle communicating with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle communicating with the second pressure chamber are opened to be adjacent to each other, and from the second nozzle toward the first nozzle. In a printer device having a print head for ejecting a discharge medium from the first nozzle after mixing the measurement medium and the discharge medium, the second nozzle on a nozzle surface of the print head is provided. A printer device, wherein a groove is formed from the opening to the opening of the first nozzle, and at least a part of the groove has a width of 2 μm or less. 2. The depth of at least a part of the groove is 2
2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the distance is set to be equal to or less than μm. 3. A first pressure chamber into which a discharge medium is introduced,
A second pressure chamber into which the quantitation medium is introduced,
A first nozzle communicating with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle communicating with the second pressure chamber are opened to be adjacent to each other, and from the second nozzle toward the first nozzle. In a printer device having a print head that ejects a discharge medium from the first nozzle after mixing the measurement medium and the discharge medium after exuding the measurement medium, the nozzle surface of the print head has a second surface. A non-processed portion formed from the opening of the nozzle to the opening of the first nozzle and not subjected to the water-repellent process, and a water-repellent portion subjected to the water-repellent process is formed; A printer device characterized in that at least a part of the width of the portion is 2 μm or less. 4. The printer device according to claim 3, wherein a groove formed by the thickness of the water-repellent portion is formed in the non-processed portion. 5. A first pressure chamber into which a discharge medium is introduced,
A second pressure chamber into which the quantitation medium is introduced,
A first nozzle communicating with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle communicating with the second pressure chamber are opened to be adjacent to each other, and from the second nozzle toward the first nozzle. In a printer device having a print head that ejects a discharge medium from the first nozzle after mixing the measurement medium and the discharge medium after exuding the measurement medium, the nozzle surface of the print head has a second surface. A printer device, wherein a hydrophilic processed portion is formed from the nozzle opening to the first nozzle opening, and at least a part of the hydrophilic processed portion has a width of 2 μm or less. 6. The printer device according to claim 5, wherein a portion other than the hydrophilic portion is a water-repellent portion subjected to a water-repellent portion on the nozzle surface of the print head.