JP2695441B2 - Printing element driving unit, ink jet driving unit and ink jet recording apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a printing element drive unit for driving a printing element in accordance with an image signal input from the outside in inkjet printing or the like, an inkjet drive unit using the same, and The present invention relates to an inkjet device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a technique configured by electrically connecting a printing element substrate and a driving element substrate, the following techniques have been known or known.

Wire Bonding Method In this method, as shown in FIG. 3, the electrodes 14 and 15 of the recording element substrate 4 and the desired electrodes of the driving element substrate are electrically connected using a fine metal wire 16 such as gold. Is the way to do it.

Method of Forming Recording Element and Driving Element on Integrated Substrate This method is a method of forming a recording element and a driving element on an integrated substrate by an appropriate film forming technique.

Method Using Electrical Connection Member This method is a method for connecting an electrode portion of a recording element substrate and an electrode portion of a driving element substrate using an electrical connecting member as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-133395. Is.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining this method. In the figure, 5 is a recording element substrate, 2 is a driving element substrate, 14 and 15 are electrodes, and 19 and 20 are insulating films. Reference numeral 3 denotes an electric connection member, reference numeral 17 denotes an electric conductive member, and reference numeral 18 denotes a holder for holding the electric conductive member 17. Here, the pitch of the electrically conductive members 17 is set narrower than the pitch of the electrodes 14 and 15.

The recording element substrate 5, the driving element substrate 2 and the electrical connection member are first arranged as shown in FIG. 4 (a), and then they are pressure-bonded to each other as shown in FIG. 4 (b). FIG. 1C is an overall view after crimping.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-described conventional electrical connection method has the following problems.

Wire Bonding Method In the wire bonding method, in order to avoid contact between adjacent ultrafine metal wires, a certain pitch interval (distance between centers of adjacent connecting parts) of the connecting parts on the driving element must be set. I don't get. Therefore, if the size of the drive element is determined, the maximum number of connection parts is inevitably determined. However, in the wire bonding method, since this pitch dimension is usually as large as about 0.2 mm, the number of connection portions must be reduced.

On the contrary, when the number of connecting portions of the driving element and the recording element is fixed, it means that the size of the driving element substrate and the recording element substrate must be extremely long.

The height h of the ultrafine metal wire measured from the connection portion on the drive element is usually 0.2 to 0.4 mm, but it is relatively difficult to reduce the thickness to 0.2 mm or less, so that the thickness cannot be reduced.

It takes time for wire bonding. In particular, when the number of connection points increases, the bonding time increases, and the production efficiency deteriorates.

If the transfer mold condition range is exceeded for some reason, the ultrafine metal wire is deformed or, in the worst case, cut.

In addition, at a connection portion on the drive element, Al that is not alloyed with the ultrafine metal wire is exposed, so that Al corrosion is likely to occur and reliability is reduced.

When a drive element becomes defective, it is difficult to replace only the drive element.

In the method in which the recording element and the driving element are formed on an integrated substrate, there is a problem that if any part of the recording element or the driving element is defective, the entire element does not operate.

Method Using Electrical Connection Member In this method, as can be understood from FIG. 7 (c), the reference surfaces (the surfaces on which elements and the like are mounted) of the recording element substrate 4 and the driving element substrate 5 are in opposite directions. There is a problem that strict dimensional accuracy is required when each substrate is mechanically fixed in manufacturing, and a fixing operation becomes difficult.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A first gist of the present invention is to have a holder formed of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electrically conductive members arranged on the holder. However, one end of the electrically conductive member is exposed on one surface of the holder, and the other end of the electrically conductive member is exposed on the other surface of the holder. A connection member; a recording element substrate on which a plurality of recording elements are arranged; a driving element substrate on which a plurality of driving elements are arranged; a circuit substrate that transmits a driving signal to the driving element substrate; A base for disposing the recording element base and the circuit base; the recording element base and the drive element base, and the circuit base and the drive element base, and the electrical connection members, respectively. A pressure contact member for pressure contact via the recording element; The body and the drive element base body are electrically connected via the first electric connection member, and the drive element base body and the circuit base body are electrically connected via the second electric connection member. In the recording element drive unit, the portion of the base where the circuit substrate is arranged and the portion where the recording element is arranged have the same thickness, and the portion of the base facing the driving element arranged on the driving element substrate is A recording element drive unit is characterized in that the thickness is smaller than the thickness of the portion where the circuit substrate is arranged and the portion where the recording element is arranged.

A second gist of the present invention is to have a holder formed of an electrically insulating material, and a plurality of electrically conductive members arranged on the holder, and one end of the electrically conductive member. A plurality of electric connection members exposed on one surface of the holder, and the other end of the electrically conductive member exposed on the other surface of the holder; A recording element base on which elements are arranged; a drive element base on which a plurality of drive elements are arranged; a circuit base that transmits a drive signal to the drive element base; the recording element base and the circuit base A base for disposing the recording element base and the drive element base, and a press-contact member for press-contacting the circuit base and the drive element base via the electrical connection member, respectively. For ejecting ink onto the recording element substrate Discharge port and a liquid path communicating with the discharge port are formed; the recording element base and the drive element base are electrically connected via the first electrical connection member, and the drive element base An ink jet drive unit in which the circuit substrate is electrically connected via the second electrical connection member, and a thickness of a portion of the base where the circuit substrate is arranged and a portion where the recording element is arranged are different from each other. Inkjet drive characterized in that the thickness of the portion that is the same and that faces the drive element disposed on the drive element substrate is smaller than the thickness of the portion where the circuit substrate is disposed and the portion where the recording element is disposed. Exists in the unit.

A third gist of the present invention is to have a holder formed of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electrically conductive members arranged on the holder, and one end of the electrically conductive member. A plurality of electric connection members exposed on one surface of the holder, and the other end of the electrically conductive member exposed on the other surface of the holder; A recording element base on which elements are arranged; a drive element base on which a plurality of drive elements are arranged; a circuit base that transmits a drive signal to the drive element base; the recording element base and the circuit base A base for disposing the recording element base and the drive element base, and a press-contact member for press-contacting the circuit base and the drive element base via the electrical connection member, respectively. For ejecting ink onto the recording element substrate Discharge port and a liquid path communicating with the discharge port are formed; the recording element base and the drive element base are electrically connected via the first electrical connection member, and the drive element base An inkjet recording apparatus comprising an inkjet drive unit in which the circuit substrate is electrically connected via a second electrical connection member, wherein a portion of the base on which the circuit substrate is arranged and a recording element are arranged. The thickness of the provided portion is the same, and the thickness of the portion of the driving element substrate facing the drive element is thinner than the thickness of the portion where the circuit substrate is provided and the portion where the recording element is provided. The present invention resides in an inkjet recording device.

(Electrical Connection Member) In the electrical connection member according to the present invention, a plurality of electrically conductive members are provided on a holder made of an electrically insulating material. The arranged conductive members are electrically insulated from each other.
For example, a part of the electrically conductive member may be embedded in the holder, or another method may be used. For example, it may be disposed on the surface of the holder by appropriate means without being embedded in the holder.

One end of the electrically conductive member is exposed on one surface of the holder, and the other end is exposed on the other surface of the holder.

When an electrically conductive member is provided only on the surface,
One end and the other end may be connected by an appropriate wiring.

Further, the electrical connection member may be composed of one layer or two or more layers.

(Electrically Conductive Member) The electrically conductive member may be anything as long as it shows electrical conductivity. A metal material is generally used, but a material having superconductivity or the like may be used in addition to the metal material.

As the material of the metal member, gold is preferable, but any metal or alloy other than gold can be used. For example, Ag, Be, Ca, Mg, Mo, Ni, W, Fe, Ti, In, Ta, Zn, Cu, Al, Sn, Pb
Examples include metals or alloys such as Sn.

The metal member and the alloy member may have the same kind of metal in the same electrical connection member, or may have different kinds of metals. Further, one of the metal member and the alloy member of the electrical connection member may be made of the same metal or alloy, or may be made of a different metal or alloy. Furthermore, a material in which one or both of an organic material and an inorganic material are included in a metal material may be used as long as the material exhibits conductivity even if it is not a metal or an alloy. Further, a combination of an inorganic material and an organic material may be used as long as the material exhibits conductivity.

Further, the cross section of the electrically conductive member may be circular, square or any other shape.

Further, the thickness of the electrically conductive member is not particularly limited. Considering the pitch of the connection part of the electric circuit parts, for example, 20 μm
It may be φ or more or 20 μmφ or less.

The exposed portion of the electrically conductive member may be flush with the holder, or may protrude from the surface of the holder.
The protrusion may be on one side or both sides. If it is made to project further, it may be in the form of a bump.

Further, it is preferable that the pitch is smaller than the pitch of the connection portion of the pitch drive element of the electrically conductive member. By doing so, it becomes possible to connect the connecting portion of the drive element base body and the electrical connecting member without requiring positioning of the connecting portion of the drive element and the electrical connecting member.

When buried in the holder, the electrically conductive member does not need to be arranged vertically in the holder, and is oblique from one side of the holder toward the other side of the holder. Is also good.

(Holder) The holder is made of an electrically insulating material.

Any electrically insulating material may be used. Examples of the electrically insulating material include an organic material and an inorganic material. Alternatively, a metal or alloy material that has been treated so that the electrically conductive members are electrically insulated from each other may be used. Furthermore, in an organic material, one or more of inorganic materials, metal materials, and alloy materials having a desired shape such as powder, fiber, plate, rod, and sphere may be dispersed and held. Good. Furthermore, in an inorganic material, one or more of an organic material, a metal material, and an alloy material having a desired shape such as a powder, a fiber, a plate, a rod, and a sphere may be dispersed and held. Good. Also,
One or a plurality of inorganic materials and organic materials having a desired shape such as powder, fiber, plate, rod, and sphere may be dispersed and held in a metal material. When the holder is made of a metal material, for example, an electrically insulating material such as resin may be provided between the electrically conductive member and the holder.

Here, as the organic material, for example, an insulating resin may be used, and the resin may be any of a thermosetting resin, an ultraviolet curable resin, and a thermoplastic resin. For example, polyimide resin, polyphenylene sulfide resin, polyether sulfone resin, polyether imide resin, polysulfone resin, fluorine resin, polycarbonate resin,
Polydiphenyl ether resin, polybenzyl imidazole resin, polyamide imide resin, polypropylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polystyrene resin, methyl methacrylate resin, polyphenylene oxide resin, phenol resin, methanine resin, epoxy resin, urea resin,
Methacrylic resin, vinylidene chloride resin, alkyd resin, silicone resin and other resins can be used.

It is more preferable to use a resin having good thermal conductivity from these resins, because even if the semiconductor element has heat, the heat can be radiated through the resin. Furthermore, if a resin having the same or similar thermal expansion coefficient as that of the circuit substrate is selected as the resin, and at least one hole or a plurality of bubbles are present in the organic material,
It is possible to further prevent a decrease in the reliability of the device due to thermal expansion / contraction.

Further, specifically as a metal material or an alloy material, for example, Ag, Cu, Au, Al, Be, Ca, Mg, Mo, Fe, Ni, Si, Co, Mn, W, Cr, N
Metals or alloys such as b, Zr, Ti, Ta, Zn, Sn, and Pb-Sn are included.

As the inorganic material, for example, SiO ₂ , B ₂ O ₃ , Al ₂ O ₃ , Na ₂ O, K
₂ O, CaO, ZnO, BaO, PbO, Sb ₂ O ₃ , As ₂ O ₃ , La ₂ O ₃ , ZrO ₂ , BaO, P
₂ O ₅ , TiO ₂ , MgO, SiC, BeO, BP, BN, AlN, B ₄ C, TaC, TiB ₂ , CrB ₂ , T
Examples thereof include ceramics such as iN, Si ₃ N ₄ and Ta ₂ O ₅ , diamond, glass, carbon, boro and other inorganic materials.

(Printing Element, Driving Element) As the printing element in the present invention, for example, an element (heating element) that operates by thermal energy, other printing elements,
For example, a piezo element may be used.

In the recording element unit and the ink jet unit according to the present invention, the connection portions of the recording elements may be provided in a larger number than necessary. Thus, the connection between the electrical connection member and the recording element base can be performed without requiring strict positioning.

On the other hand, the same effect can be obtained by arranging the necessary number of connection parts of the drive elements or more drive parts on the drive element base.

In this way, by providing more than the required number, the connection with the electrical connection member can be surely performed without positioning, or even when performed, without much accuracy.

(Each Unit) The recording element unit of the present invention has the above-described electrical connection member, recording element substrate, and driving element substrate, and the inkjet driving unit has a liquid on the recording element substrate of the recording element unit. The road is formed. The shape, size, etc. of the liquid path may be arbitrary.

(Inkjet device) The inkjet device according to the present invention includes the inkjet drive unit and a unit for mounting the inkjet drive unit. As the type of the ink jet device, there is a so-called serial scanning type (a type in which a print head prints while reciprocating in a horizontal direction with respect to paper) or a plane scanning type (a type using a horizontal print head). Good. In particular, in the present invention, a planar scanning type is preferable in order to exhibit an effect in a long inkjet driving unit.

[Operation] According to the present invention, since the recording element base and the driving element base can be formed on the same base, the manufacturing of the recording element drive unit can be facilitated, and further, the recording element drive unit can be formed. It is possible to facilitate the work when mounting the recording device.

Further, according to the present invention, the recording element substrate and the driving element substrate can be detachably connected, the driving element substrate can be easily separated, and the exchange can be easily performed.

Embodiment (Reference Example 1) FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a reference example of a printing element drive unit. FIG. 1A is a sectional view of a recording element drive unit according to the present reference example, and FIG. 1B is a view seen from above a reference plane (a plane on which elements and the like are mounted). In the figure, 1 is a pressure contact member, 2 is a drive element substrate, 3 is an electrical joint member, 4 is a drive element, 5 is a recording element substrate, 6 is a circuit board, 7 is a base, and 8 is a connector. The recording element substrate and the circuit substrate used had the same thickness.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the pressure contact member 1 is fixed to the base 7 by a method such as screwing, and due to this pressure, a driving element arranged between the pressure contact member 1 and the base 7. The substrate, the electrical connection member, the recording element substrate, the driving element substrate, the electrical connection member, and the circuit board are pressed against each other.

In FIG. 1A, the recording element substrate 5 and the driving element substrate 2 are electrically connected by the right electrical connecting member 1, and the driving element substrate 2 is electrically connected by the left electrical connecting member 1.
And the circuit board 6 are electrically connected. Further, the circuit board 6 is electrically connected to the connector 8 and can input an image signal or the like from the outside.

As described above, according to this reference example, mechanical fixation of each substrate of the printing element drive unit can be facilitated,
Further, since the recording element drive unit can be formed on one base, the recording element drive unit can be easily attached to the recording apparatus.

An ink jet driving unit is obtained by using a printing element drive unit as shown in this reference example, in which an ejection port for ejecting ink and a liquid path communicating with the ejection port are formed on a recording element substrate. be able to.

Further, an inkjet recording apparatus can be obtained by using the inkjet drive unit.

(Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a sectional view for explaining an embodiment of a recording element drive unit according to the present invention.

The difference between this example and the reference example is that the thickness of the base is thick at the portion in contact with the recording element substrate and the circuit substrate and thin at the portion facing the drive element.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the thickness of the driving element can be set by arbitrarily setting the difference between the thickness of the portion of the base that contacts the recording element substrate and the circuit board and the thickness of the portion that faces the driving element. The drive element can be freely mounted without being affected.

An ink jet drive unit is obtained by using a print element drive unit as shown in this embodiment, in which a discharge port for discharging ink and a liquid path communicating with the discharge port are formed on a print element substrate. be able to.

Further, an inkjet recording apparatus can be obtained by using the inkjet drive unit.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the recording element driving unit can be formed on one base, the manufacturing of the recording element driving unit can be facilitated.
In addition, the recording element drive unit can be easily attached to the recording device.

Further, according to the present invention, by freely setting the difference between the thickness of the portion of the base that contacts the recording element substrate and the circuit board and the thickness of the portion that faces the driving element, even a driving element with a large thickness can be freely Can be installed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a reference example of a recording element drive unit, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a recording element drive unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a conventional recording element drive unit (by wire bonding). 4) is a diagram showing a conventional recording element drive unit (by an electrical connection member). 1 ... Pressure contact member, 2 ... Driving element substrate, 3 ... Electrical connection member, 4 ... Driving element, 5 ... Recording element substrate, 6 ...
Circuit board, 7 ... Base, 8 ... Connector, 14,15 ... Electrode, 16 ... Extra fine metal wire, 17 ... Electrically conductive member, 18 ...
Holder, 19, 20 ... Insulating film.

Claims (21)

(57) [Claims] 1. A holding body formed of an electrically insulating material, and a plurality of electrically conductive members disposed on the holding body, wherein one end of the electrically conductive member is the holding body. A plurality of electrical connection members exposed on one surface and the other end of the electrically conductive member exposed on the other surface of the holder; and a plurality of recording elements A recording element substrate; a driving element substrate having a plurality of driving elements; a circuit substrate for transmitting a driving signal to the driving element substrate; and the recording element substrate and the circuit substrate. A pedestal for pressing the recording element base and the drive element base, and a pressure contact member for pressing the circuit base and the drive element base through the electrical connection member, respectively. The recording element base and the drive element base are the first electrical A recording element drive unit electrically connected via a connecting member, wherein the drive element base body and the circuit base body are electrically connected via the second electric connection member. The thickness of the portion where the substrate is arranged is the same as that of the portion where the recording element is arranged, and the thickness of the portion facing the driving element arranged on the driving element substrate is the same as the portion where the circuit substrate is arranged and the recording element. A recording element drive unit, wherein the recording element drive unit is thinner than the thickness of the portion where the. 2. The recording element drive unit according to claim 1, further comprising a connector for inputting a drive signal. 3. The recording element drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the recording element base and the circuit base are arranged on the same plane of the base. 4. The recording element drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the pressure contact member is fixed to the base. 5. The recording element drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the recording element is an element for recording by utilizing thermal energy. 6. The number of recording elements arranged on the recording element base is
2. The printing element drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the number is at least one more than a required number. 7. The recording element driving unit according to claim 1, wherein the number of connecting portions of the driving elements arranged on the driving element base is at least one more than necessary. 8. A holding body formed of an electrically insulating material, and a plurality of electrically conductive members disposed on the holding body, wherein one end of the electrically conductive member is the holding body. A plurality of electrical connection members exposed on one surface and the other end of the electrically conductive member exposed on the other surface of the holder; and a plurality of recording elements A recording element substrate; a driving element substrate having a plurality of driving elements; a circuit substrate for transmitting a driving signal to the driving element substrate; and the recording element substrate and the circuit substrate. A pedestal for pressing the recording element base and the drive element base, and a pressure contact member for pressing the circuit base and the drive element base through the electrical connection member, respectively. An ejection port for ejecting ink on the recording element substrate, A liquid path communicating with the ejection port is formed; the recording element base and the drive element base are electrically connected via the first electrical connection member, and the drive element base and the circuit base are connected to each other. An inkjet drive unit electrically connected via the second electrical connection member, wherein a portion of the base on which the circuit substrate is arranged and a portion on which the recording element is arranged have the same thickness, An ink jet drive unit characterized in that the thickness of a portion of the drive element substrate facing the drive element is smaller than the thickness of the portion where the circuit substrate is provided and the portion where the recording element is provided. 9. The ink jet drive unit according to claim 8, further comprising a connector for inputting a drive signal. 10. The ink jet drive unit according to claim 8, wherein the recording element substrate and the circuit substrate are arranged on the same plane of the base. 11. The ink jet drive unit according to claim 8, wherein the pressure contact member is fixed to the base. 12. The ink jet drive unit according to claim 8, wherein the recording element is an element for recording by utilizing thermal energy. 13. The ink jet drive unit according to claim 8, wherein the number of recording elements arranged on the recording element substrate is at least one more than necessary. 14. The ink jet drive unit according to claim 8, wherein the number of connecting portions of the drive elements arranged on the drive element base is at least one more than necessary. 15. A holding body formed of an electrically insulating material, and a plurality of electrically conductive members disposed on the holding body, wherein one end of the electrically conductive member is the holding body. A plurality of electrical connection members exposed on one surface and the other end of the electrically conductive member exposed on the other surface of the holder; and a plurality of recording elements A recording element substrate; a driving element substrate having a plurality of driving elements; a circuit substrate for transmitting a driving signal to the driving element substrate; and the recording element substrate and the circuit substrate. A pedestal for pressing the recording element base and the drive element base, and a pressure contact member for pressing the circuit base and the drive element base through the electrical connection member, respectively. An ejection port for ejecting ink onto the recording element substrate And a liquid path communicating with the ejection port are formed; the recording element base and the drive element base are electrically connected via the first electrical connection member, and the drive element base and the circuit base Is an ink jet recording apparatus including an ink jet drive unit electrically connected through the second electric connection member, wherein a portion of the base on which the circuit substrate is arranged and a portion on which the recording element is arranged. Are the same in thickness, and the thickness of the portion of the drive element substrate facing the drive element is smaller than the thickness of the portion where the circuit substrate is provided and the portion where the recording element is provided. Inkjet recording device. 16. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a connector for inputting a drive signal. 17. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the recording element substrate and the circuit substrate are arranged on the same plane of the base. 18. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pressure contact member is fixed to the base. 19. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the recording element is an element that records by utilizing thermal energy. 20. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the number of recording elements arranged on the recording element substrate is at least one more than necessary. 21. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the number of connecting portions of the driving elements arranged on the driving element base is at least one more than necessary.