JPH1191105A - Method and apparatus for sealing ink discharge unit, and ink discharge unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seal method of high seal accuracy in a method and an apparatus for sealing precise mechanism parts such as an ink discharge unit, etc. SOLUTION: In a method for sealing an ink discharge unit which comprises a discharge member provided with a substrate member and an ink discharge hole, and an ink storage part formation member, a plurality of mold members 12A for holding discharge units are formed, a sheet member 16 is arranged at a position where the discharge hole of the discharge member is shut, the discharge unit is held by the mold member 12A while the discharge member is pressed to the sheet member 16 and manipulated, and a sealing member is injected to each unit position of the discharge unit, thereby molding and fixing the discharge unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sealing an ink discharge unit of an apparatus for printing by discharging ink from a discharge unit.

In particular, the present invention relates to an ink jet system for discharging ink from fine discharge holes by thermal energy, a method of sealing an ink discharge unit for discharging ink by vibration energy, and an apparatus therefor.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 13 shows the structure of a main part of an ink discharge unit manufactured by the present applicant.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a basic member of the device structure, 2 denotes a substrate member on which the heating elements 2A are arranged, and 4 denotes a circuit board for supplying electricity to a heating element of the substrate member.

The circuit board 4 and the heat generating board member 2 electrically connect the connection terminals 2B and 4A.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a discharge member for discharging ink. The member 6 has a plurality of ink flow paths 6A formed therein, and a hole 6B for discharging ink is perforated at the end of the flow path.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an ink chamber member which forms an ink liquid chamber together with the heat generating substrate 2 and the ejection member 6, and reference numeral 10 denotes a connection member of an ink tank (not shown) connected to the ink chamber member 8.

The ink discharge unit is configured as described above, and the ink supplied from the ink tank is sent to each ink flow path 6A, where the heat is supplied to the heat element by an electric signal from the circuit board. Heat is generated, and the ink in the flow path instantaneously generates a foaming action, and is ejected from the ejection hole 6B to a printing target (not shown) to perform a printing action.

[0009]

In the ink discharge unit having the above-mentioned structure, the members forming the ink reservoir are difficult to secure in the assembling process, and have poor airtightness due to a joining defect in joining the members. Occurs.

Conventionally, as a method of sealing each member of the ink discharge unit, there has been a method of injecting a silicone resin material into a joint portion of each member.

[0011] For example, each joint is individualized by injecting it into the joint using a syringe device.

The accuracy of each part of the ink discharge unit of the ink discharge device manufactured by the applicant of the present invention is required to be accurate on the order of microns, and each member in the pre-process of the sealing operation with the sealing material is required. When the positional deviation of each member occurs in the combination process, the ink liquid chamber and the ink flow path are distorted in shape, which adversely affects the outflow of ink for printing and causes ink leakage.

If the sealing of the ink liquid chamber and the ink flow path is incomplete, bubbles may enter from the leaking portion of the sealing, resulting in a defective ink discharge operation.

[0014] In the sealing step, it is also necessary to surely remove the remaining foreign matter due to the previous sealing operation.

In order to seal a precise mechanism such as an ink discharge unit with a sealant, it is necessary to completely seal as described above, and also to prevent the sealant from entering a portion other than the sealing portion. .

Conventionally, a sealing frame is sometimes provided to prevent the intrusion of the sealing agent into a portion other than a necessary portion, but the balance with the productivity is insufficient.

Furthermore, the above-described ink discharge unit is a coupling mechanism of an electric circuit mounting part and a mechanical mechanism part, and it is necessary to have a sealing function for ensuring airtightness of each part of the mechanism and ensuring insulation of the electric part. There is.

[0018]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides at least:
In a method of sealing an ink ejection unit including a substrate member, an ejection member having an ink ejection hole, and an ink containing section forming member, in order to solve the above problem, the method includes a plurality of mold members holding the ejection unit, A sheet member is disposed at a position that closes the discharge hole of the discharge member, and the discharge unit is held by the mold member, and while the discharge member is pressed against the sheet member, the bonding positions of the discharge unit are adjusted. The present invention proposes a method for sealing an ink discharge unit, characterized in that a sealing material is injected and fixed to the substrate.

According to this method, clogging is prevented by disposing the sheet member at a position that closes the discharge hole by holding the ink discharge unit with the mold member.

Further, the airtightness of the ink discharge unit is improved by using an elastic sheet as the sheet member.

A die structure for sealing each joint of an ink discharge unit comprising a discharge member having an ink discharge hole formed therein and a constituent member constituting an ink storage portion, wherein a die The discharge unit is housed in a mold member having an opening for opening the opening to the atmosphere,
While pressing the ejection hole of the ejection member against an elastic member disposed in the mold, a sealing material is fixed in the mold member. The problem is solved by proposing a mold structure for sealing.

Further, there is provided a sealing device for an ink discharge unit, comprising: a mold accommodating the ink discharge unit and having an opening provided on one side thereof; and a pressurizing means for pressing the ink discharge unit against the opening. An injection device for injecting a sealing material from the opening is provided.

Further, an ink discharge unit for discharging and printing / drawing ink from a discharge member formed of a resin material and having a discharge hole is pressed against an elastic member disposed in a mold,
An ink discharge unit is proposed in which the ink flow path of the discharge member constituting the ink discharge unit is maintained in a sealed state, and a sealing material is fixed to the discharge member via the mold. It is possible to guarantee high-precision printing accuracy without any problems.

[0024]

FIG. 1 is a developed view showing a mold structure of a sealing device for an ink discharge unit according to the present invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a mold base member, 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a unit housing mold member having a housing portion 12A for housing the ink discharge unit, and 14 denotes a member for holding the ink discharge unit.

Housing unit 12A of the unit housing mold member
Has a volume shape for accommodating the ink discharge unit to be sealed, and has guide grooves 12a and 12b formed when the unit is inserted into the accommodating portion. The upper portion is opened for insertion.

An inlet 12B for injecting a sealing material is provided along the opening.

The structural member of the mold is made of carbon steel, tool steel, murommolybdenum steel, stainless alloy or the like.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a sheet member, which is made of a material such as PTFE, PET, PAI, PPS, or silicone rubber. The sheet member is placed on the base member 10 and held between the mold members 12 and 14. Is done.

FIG. 2 shows a mold apparatus provided with a pressurizing means for grasping and transferring and transporting the ink discharge unit to the mold shown in FIG. 1 and pressurizing the unit housed in the mold.

In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes gripping means for gripping the ink discharge unit shown in the figure, and this means includes finger means 18A for gripping the substrate member 1 of the ink discharge unit.
And a member 18B for accommodating a drive unit for driving the finger means, an attachment member 18C and the like.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a pressurizing means mounted on the gripping means.
Shaft members 20A and 20A, coil springs 20B and 20B fitted to the shaft members, a pressing plate member 22 for pressing the coil springs, and cylinder means 22A for applying a load to the pressing plate members.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a guide shaft member connected to the shaft member 20A, and a transfer means 24A (not shown), for example, a robot hand is attached to the guide shaft member.

Arrows A, B, and C indicate the molds 12, 14, 1 respectively.
6 shows a means for clamping the mold 6.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of the ink discharge unit used in this embodiment. The circuit board 4 and the heat generating board 2 are fixed to the base member 1, the discharge member 6 and the ink liquid chamber forming member 8
Is temporarily fixed by a spring member 26.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram for operating each of the above-mentioned means.

Next, the operation of the sealing operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the sheet member 16 is laid on the mold base member 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the mold device is closed by the mold clamping means A, B and C.

Next, the base member 1 of the ink ejection unit shown in FIG. 3 is grasped by the grasping means 18 and the ink ejection unit is moved into the mold accommodating portion 12A along the guide grooves 12a and 12b of the mold by the conveying means. insert.

In the insertion operation, as shown in the figure, the ink ejection member 6 is inserted so as to abut on the sheet member 16 in the mold, and pressurized by the pressurizing means 20.

The pressing force by the pressing means is 100 to 800
g. f / cm ² .

The ink ejection member 6 is pressed by the sheet member by the pressurizing action of the pressurizing means 20, and the ejection holes 6 B, 6 B of the ink ejection member are closed by the sheet member 16.

While maintaining the above state, the ink discharge unit is held under pressure in the mold, and subsequently, a sealing agent injection operation is performed by the sealing agent injection means 26.

The sealing agent is an epoxy resin, and phenol type is bisphenol A, bisphenol F, tetrabromobisphenol A, tetraphenylolethane,
Phenol volak, 0-cresol volak.

As the alcohol type, polypropylene glycol, hydrogenated bisphenol A and the like are used.

The injection operation of the sealant is performed by inserting the needle 26A of the syringe 26 into the guide groove 12B of the opening of the mold and injecting the injection pressure of 4 to 7 kgf / cm ² .
The injection viscosity of the sealant is set at 4000 to 35000 CP.

The sealant injected from the nozzle enters the mold and starts to be filled from the periphery of the discharge member 6 of the ink discharge unit temporarily fixed by the spring 26, and the ink in the ink tank is increased as the injection amount increases. It rises to a position near the opening 8A.

The operation of injecting the sealant is stopped before the vicinity position.

After the injection of the predetermined amount of the sealant is completed, the syringe 2
The nozzle 26A of No. 6 is pulled up from the opening 12A.

Thereafter, the mold clamping and the pressurizing operation by the pressurizing means 22A are maintained until the injected sealant is cured.

After the elapse of the curing time of the sealant, the pressure of the pressure means is released, the mold is released, and the ink discharge unit is pulled up from the mold by the transport means and moved to the unit storage position. .

When the sealant is completely cured after the ink discharge unit is moved to the storage position, the ink discharge unit is completely sealed except for the discharge holes of the discharge member 6 and the sealing prohibited portions such as the ink tank opening. It will be in the state that was done.

In this embodiment, the ejection member 6 is manufactured by molding a resin material of polysulfone.
A was used in which a hole was drilled to a diameter of 18 μm by laser irradiation processing. However, the above-described operation did not fill the discharge hole 6A with a sealing agent, and the sealing action at a necessary portion could be sufficiently performed. The printing operation was performed by incorporating the ink ejection unit into the ink ejection device.
There was no trouble such as generation of air bubbles.

In addition, no clogging of the discharge hole occurred even when a discharge material 6 made of a metal material, for example, nickel was used.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the sheet member 14 used in the apparatus example of FIG. 2 is embedded in a mold.

In this embodiment, the thickness of the sheet member can be increased.
This is effective for closely attaching an orifice plate having a large step in the discharge direction. This also saves sheet members.

7 and 8 show another example of the sealing device.

In the above-described sealing device, the base of the sheet member 16 is increased with the enlargement of the die structure due to the enlargement of the ink discharge unit due to the line printing method of the ink discharge unit and the increase in the number of discharge holes. There is a problem of adhesion to the mold 10.

This apparatus is provided with suction means for absorbing the sheet member to the base mold member in order to cope with this problem.

A suction hole 10A is pierced in the base mold member 10, and the sheet member 16 is suctioned to the surface of the base mold member 10 by the suction means 32 to prevent the sheet member from floating. .

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show another example of the present invention.

When the apparatus configuration shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7 is implemented, dust is generated and sealing agent is removed by opening and closing the mold by repeated sealing operations, and by operating each mechanism such as a pressurizing unit and a conveying unit. A residue of the fine powder is generated, and a cleaning operation for this processing operation is required.

In particular, it is desirable that the cleaning operation of the residue on the sheet member 16 be performed each time the sealing operation is performed.

However, the cleaning operation of the sheet member every time is a troublesome operation even when the air is blown or when the cleaning operation is manually performed.

In particular, it is necessary to reliably perform the work of spreading the sheet member on the base mold member after the cleaning operation.

This apparatus is an apparatus proposed to solve the above problem.

In the present apparatus, the sheet member 34 is supplied to the supply reel 36.
And a take-up reel 38, the take-up reel being connected to a motor drive means 40 for drive control, and a tension means 42 for applying a back tension to the supply reel side being connected. It is.

FIG. 12 shows still another example.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 proposes a method and an apparatus for keeping the sheet member 34 in a new state for each sealing operation. The ink discharge unit has small components in dimensions and the ink discharge holes, ink flow paths, etc. are also designed to be very small. However, cost considerations are necessary, and in this embodiment, the sheet member can be repeatedly used by disposing the sheet member cleaning means 44 on the winding side of the sheet member.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show an example in which the ink discharge unit does not use the above-described spring member.

[0071]

As described above, the present invention relates to a method of sealing an ink discharge unit comprising at least a substrate member, a discharge member having an ink discharge hole, and an ink containing portion forming member. Having a mold member, and disposing a sheet member at a position to close the discharge hole of the discharge member, holding the discharge unit with the mold member, and pressing the discharge member against the sheet member. In addition, the sealing accuracy can be improved by a method of sealing an ink discharge unit in which a sealing material is injected and fixed at each joint position of the discharge unit.

Further, by using an elastic sheet as the sheet member, it was possible to obtain a sealing method for preventing the ink discharge holes from being sealed.

Further, a mold structure for sealing each joint portion of the ink discharge unit including the discharge member having the ink discharge hole and the constituent member constituting the ink storage portion, wherein The discharge unit is housed in a mold member having an opening for opening the opening to the atmosphere, and the discharge hole of the discharge member is pressed against an elastic member arranged in the mold while the discharge unit is being pressed. Productivity can be improved by adopting a mold structure for sealing each joint portion of the ink discharge unit, in which a sealing material is fixed to the sealing member.

Further, there is provided a sealing device for an ink discharge unit, comprising: a mold accommodating the ink discharge unit and having an opening provided on one side; a pressurizing means for pressing the ink discharge unit against the opening; The sealing device for an ink discharge unit, which is provided with an injection means for injecting a sealing material from the opening, can increase mass productivity of the ink discharge unit and contribute to cost reduction.

Further, an ink discharge unit which discharges ink from a discharge member made of a resin material and has a discharge hole and prints / draws is pressed against an elastic member disposed in a mold to constitute the ink discharge unit. An ink discharge unit characterized in that the ink flow path of the discharge member is maintained in a sealed state, and a sealing material is fixed to the discharge member via the mold, thereby achieving high-precision ink discharge. I got a unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a development view of a main part of a mold structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a main configuration of an apparatus for performing the sealing method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a main part of an ink discharge unit used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the sealing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a main part of a mold structure of another example.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a main part of a mold structure of another example.

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of another example.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of another example.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of another example.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of another example.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an ink ejection unit symmetric to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a spring member is not used in an ink discharge unit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a spring member is not used in the ink discharge unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 base mold member 12 mold for accommodating ink discharge unit 14 holding mold member 16, 30, 34 sheet member 18 gripping means 22 pressurizing means 26 injecting means 32 suction means

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method for sealing an ink ejection unit comprising at least a substrate member, an ejection member having an ink ejection hole, and an ink containing section forming member, comprising: a plurality of mold members for holding the ejection unit; A sheet member is disposed at a position that closes the discharge hole of the discharge member, and the discharge unit is held by the mold member, and while the discharge member is pressed against the sheet member, the bonding positions of the discharge unit are adjusted. A method for sealing an ink discharge unit, characterized in that a sealing material is injected and fixed to the substrate. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet member is an elastic sheet. 3. A mold structure for sealing each joint portion of an ink discharge unit comprising an ink discharge member having an ink discharge hole and a constituent member constituting an ink container, wherein the ink discharge unit has The discharge unit is housed in a mold member having an opening for opening the opening to the atmosphere, and the discharge hole of the discharge member is pressed against an elastic member arranged in the mold while the discharge unit is being pressed. A mold structure for sealing each joint portion of an ink discharge unit, wherein a sealing material is fixed to the mold. 4. A sealing device for an ink discharge unit, comprising: a mold accommodating the ink discharge unit and having an opening provided on one side; and a pressurizing unit for pressing the ink discharge unit against the opening. An injecting means for injecting a sealing material from the opening portion. 5. The sealing device for an ink ejection unit according to claim 4, wherein a sheet member is provided on a bottom surface of the opening. 6. The sealing device for an ink discharge unit according to claim 5, wherein the sheet member is an elastic sheet member. 7. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for using the sheet member as a new sheet member for each sealing operation. 8. A sealing device for an ink discharge unit according to claim 4, further comprising a cleaning means for said sheet member. 9. An ink ejection unit for ejecting ink from an ejection member made of a resin material and having an ejection hole and printing / drawing is pressed against an elastic member disposed in a mold to constitute the ink ejection unit. An ink discharge unit, wherein an ink flow path of the discharge member is maintained in a sealed state, and a sealing material is fixed to the discharge member via the mold.