JP4492086B2 - Recording head and inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a recording head and an inkjet printer , and more particularly to a recording head and an inkjet printer having a structure for protecting a substrate for sending a control signal to a chip head.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ink jet printers that record predetermined images by ejecting ink onto recording media such as paper and plastic thin plates have been proposed and put into practical use. The ink jet printer includes a recording head having a nozzle that is an ink discharge port. By ejecting ink from the nozzle toward the recording medium while moving the recording head in a predetermined direction, a predetermined recording medium is applied to the recording medium. An image is recorded.

This recording head is provided with an ink flow path for introducing ink into each nozzle. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a lid is attached to an ink flow path so that ink introduced from outside does not flow out to places other than the nozzle and the ink flow path (paragraphs [0125] to [0135]. And FIG. 9).
JP 2003-80714 A

  By the way, the ejected ink may land on the recording medium and may fly around the recording head and the recording medium as ink mist. Such ink mist may float on the recording head side and adhere to the substrate for controlling the nozzles, which may adversely affect the substrate.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 discloses a technique for closing an ink flow path so that ink does not flow out in a recording head, but does not mention protection of members from ink mist flying after ink ejection.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and includes a structure that protects members constituting the recording head, particularly the substrate and its wiring, from ink mist that flies after ink is ejected from the nozzles in the inkjet printer. An object is to provide a recording head and an ink jet printer .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a recording head, wherein a head chip having an ink discharge port on one end surface and a side surface of the head chip are attached to the head chip from the outside. A manifold that forms a part of a flow path for introducing ink, a chip substrate that is electrically connected by the head chip and the chip flexible substrate, and sends a control signal related to ink ejection to the head chip; and the chip substrate A housing portion for providing a sealed closed space for housing the chip body, the housing portion surrounding the chip substrate from its peripheral side, and the chip substrate on the front and back sides An external connector supported by the main body, an internal connector provided on the chip substrate, the external connector and the front A connector flexible board that connects the internal connector, and the lid portion and the body portion, characterized in that it is bonded.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the control signal relating to ink ejection is sent from the chip substrate to the head chip, and the head chip performs ink ejection based on the control signal. Ink is sent to the head chip through a manifold.

  The housing portion for housing the chip substrate is provided with a hermetically closed space, and this space protects members constituting the recording head, particularly the substrate and its wiring, from ink mist flying after ink ejection. In particular, the chip substrate is reliably protected from the adhesion of ink mist, and deterioration of the chip substrate due to ink is avoided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the casing portion is constituted by a main body portion and a lid portion, and the closed space sealed inside the casing portion is formed by bonding the lid portion and the main body portion. It will be possible to provide reliably. This closed space reliably protects the chip substrate and its wiring from the adhesion of ink mist that wraps around when ink is ejected, and avoids deterioration of the chip substrate and its wiring due to ink.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording head according to the first aspect, the lid portion is provided with a protrusion as a positioning portion for positioning the flexible board for connectors. To do.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the casing portion is composed of the main body portion and the lid portion, and the projection as a positioning portion for positioning the flexible board for connector is provided on the lid portion. When the lid portion and the main body portion are combined, it is possible to reliably position the flexible board for connector that is difficult to fix, and the lid portion and the main body portion can be easily bonded to each other. As a result, it is possible to easily provide a structure that protects the members constituting the recording head, particularly the substrate and the wiring thereof, from the ink mist flying after ink ejection.

In addition, after the bonding between the lid and the main body, it is very difficult to adjust the position of the connector flexible board, so by performing this positioning before the bonding between the lid and the main body, It is ensured that the connector flexible substrate and the chip substrate are connected, and as a result, it is ensured that the external connector and the chip substrate are electrically connected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording head according to the second aspect, two of the chip substrate and the connector flexible substrate are provided, and the protrusion is provided on each of the lid portions. It is characterized by that.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording head according to any one of the first to third aspects, the external connector is provided on a surface of the housing portion opposite to the ink discharge direction of the head chip. It is provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by providing the connector in a place farthest from the ink discharge port, the possibility that the external connector is soiled or deteriorated by the discharged ink or ink mist is reduced. .
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording head according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the lid portion is provided with an engaging protrusion for engaging with the main body portion. It is characterized by.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is the recording head according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the lid portion is formed in a flat plate shape.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording head according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the main body portion includes a pair of side wall portions facing each other and dissipates heat so as to be bridged over the side wall portions. A plate is provided, and the chip substrate is in contact with the heat dissipation plate.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer, the recording head according to any one of the first to seventh aspects and the recording head are mounted and moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. And a carriage.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head having a structure for protecting a member, particularly a substrate and its wiring, constituting a recording head from ink mist flying after ink is ejected from a nozzle in an ink jet printer. Is possible.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the casing portion is constituted by the main body portion and the lid portion, and the lid portion and the main body portion are bonded to each other, so that a closed space sealed inside the casing portion is ensured. Will be able to provide. This closed space reliably protects the chip substrate and its wiring from the adhesion of ink mist that wraps around when ink is ejected, and avoids deterioration of the chip substrate and its wiring due to ink.

According to invention of Claim 2 , the said housing | casing part is comprised by a main-body part and a cover part, and the processus | protrusion as a positioning part for positioning the flexible substrate for connectors is provided in the said cover part. Thus, when the lid portion and the main body portion are aligned, it is possible to reliably position the flexible board for connector that is difficult to fix, and the lid portion and the main body portion can be easily bonded together. . As a result, it is possible to easily provide a structure that protects the members constituting the recording head, particularly the substrate and the wiring thereof, from the ink mist flying after ink ejection.

According to the invention described in claim 4, by an external connector to the ink ejection direction of the head chip provided on the opposite side, or dirty with ink or ink mist to which the external connector is ejected, a risk such deteriorated Reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  FIG. 1 shows an ink jet printer as an embodiment to which a recording head according to the present invention is applied. The ink jet printer 100 includes a printer main body 100A and a support base 100B that supports the printer main body 100A. The printer main body 100A includes an ink jet recording head 111 provided with a plurality of ink discharge ports, and a carriage 130 on which the recording head 111 is mounted and supported by a carriage rail 131 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the main body. The image recording unit 110 includes a platen 160 that provides a recording area, and a transport mechanism (see FIG. 3) that transports a recording medium by the platen 160.

  Here, the ink jet printer 100 has a main scanning direction that is a direction in which the recording head 111 moves by scanning the carriage 130 (that is, the longitudinal direction) under the control of a scanning mechanism (see FIG. 3) that controls scanning of the carriage 130. While the recording head 111 is reciprocatingly moved in the main scanning direction X with respect to the recording medium P in which conveyance in the direction orthogonal to X (hereinafter referred to as “sub-scanning direction Y” or “conveying direction Y”) is stopped. Image recording is performed by a serial method in which ink is ejected from the recording head 111 to perform recording (printing).

  The transport mechanism includes, for example, a transport motor and a transport roller (not shown), and transports the recording medium P in the sub-scanning direction Y by rotating the transport roller by driving the transport motor. Further, the conveyance mechanism repeats conveyance and stop of the recording medium P in accordance with the operation of the carriage 130 during image recording, and conveys the recording medium P intermittently.

  Hereinafter, a recording head which is a main part of the ink jet printer 100 and is an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one recording head 111 provided for each color. The head chip 1 has a long outer shape, and the end 1a of the recording medium facing the head chip 1 has A large number of nozzles that are ink discharge ports are provided continuously in the longitudinal direction to form a nozzle row. This nozzle row is composed of a nozzle plate made of metal, resin or the like in which nozzle-shaped holes are continuously processed. In FIG. 1, the recording head 111 is disposed on the carriage 130 such that the nozzle row is orthogonal to the main scanning direction X.

  A pair of manifolds 2 and 2 made of resin are attached to both side surfaces of the head chip 1, and ink flow paths for introducing ink into each nozzle are provided inside the manifolds 2 and 2. . This ink flow path is connected to the ink flow path inside the head chip 1. On the other hand, the head chip 1 is provided with a pair of nozzle rows, and the manifolds 2 and 2 correspond to the nozzle rows. In this ink flow path, a filter (not shown) for removing impurities mixed in the ink is provided at the boundary between the manifolds 2 and 2 and the chip head 1 as necessary.

  Further, the head chip 1 is provided with ejection driving means such as a piezoelectric element for generating energy, for example, pressure, for ejecting ink filled in the ink flow path from the nozzles (not shown). )

  Further, the head chip 1 includes a pair of chip substrates 3 and 3 on which driving circuits for individually controlling the operations of the respective ejection driving means are mounted via chip flexible substrates 4 and 4 having wirings. Are electrically connected to the discharge driving means.

  Each chip substrate 3 is provided with an internal connector 6 (one is not shown), and this internal connector 6 is connected to an external connector 13 via connector flexible substrates 11 and 11 having wiring. Thus, the external connector 13 and the chip substrates 3 and 3 are electrically connected. Specifically, one end of the connector flexible boards 11, 11 is connected to the internal connector 6, the other end is connected to the wiring support plate 12 that supports the external connector 13, and the external connector 13 is connected to the connector through the wiring support plate 12. It is connected to the flexible substrates 11 and 11.

  The external connector 13 is connected to a control unit (see FIG. 3) that controls the operation of the ink jet printer 100, and a control signal related to ink ejection from the control unit is supplied to the chip through the external connector 13. It is sent to the substrates 3 and 3.

  Further, the recording head 111 includes a main body portion 7 and a chip constituting a housing portion that provides a space for housing the chip substrates 3 and 3, the chip flexible substrates 4 and 4, and the connector flexible substrates 11 and 11. A pair of lid portions 8a and 8b sandwiching the substrates 3 and 3 are provided.

  The main body portion 7 is opposed to the base end frame portion 7a that forms the base portion of the main body portion, the side wall portions 7b and 7c that are vertically provided from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base end frame portion 7a, and the base end frame portion 7a. It is comprised from the connector support part 7d.

  The base frame portion 7 a is provided with a head chip storage space for storing the head chip 1 in which the manifolds 2 and 2 are disposed on the outer side when viewed from the inside of the main body portion 7. The cap member 5 is used to close the head chip storage space from the side where the head chip 1 is inserted. The cap member 5 protects the head chip 1 from the rebound of the ink ejected from the nozzles, and can expose the nozzle rows from the nozzle window 5a provided at the center.

  The base end frame portion 7a is provided with a flow path connector 10 for introducing ink into the recording head 111 from an external tank (not shown). The ink introduced from the flow path connector 10 is introduced from the manifolds 2 and 2 to the head chip 1 through an ink flow path (not shown).

  In addition, a bolt through hole 17 through which a bolt passes is provided on the outer periphery of the base end frame portion 7a for positioning when the recording head 111 is fixed at a predetermined position of the carriage 130. This makes it easy to attach the recording head 111 to the carriage 130.

  The connector support portion 7d is provided with a connector holding opening 16 through which the connector flexible boards 11 and 11 are passed in the central portion, and the connector support plate 12 to which the connector flexible boards 11 and 11 are connected is provided with the connector support opening 7d. The connector flexible boards 11 and 11 are supported while being passed through the inside of the main body 7. In this way, the external connector 13 and the connector support plate 12 are held by the connector holding opening 16 of the connector support portion 7d. In this way, the external connector 13 is provided on the one surface of the main body portion 7 constituting the housing portion and on the surface opposite to the ink discharge direction of the head chip 1.

  Inside the main body 7, a heat radiating plate 9 is formed so as to span the both side walls 7 b, 7 c, and the heat radiating plate 9 comes into contact with the chip substrates 3, 3. The generated heat can be dissipated. Further, although not shown in the figure, a head chip holding structure for holding the head chip 1 is provided inside the main body portion 7, and the head chip 1 is directly held at a predetermined location of the main body portion 7. Can be done.

  The lid portions 8 a and 8 b are members that form a casing portion together with the main body portion 7 so as to cover the chip substrate 3, 3 that is an open portion of the main body portion 7. When covering the main body 7, the lids 8a and 8b are engaged with the engaging protrusions 15 for positioning the lids 8a and 8b themselves and the connector flexible boards 11 and 11 for positioning. Positioning portions 14 a and 14 b as engaging portions are provided on the side facing the inside of the main body portion 7.

  Here, in order to protect the chip flexible substrates 4, 4, the chip substrates 3, 3, and the connector flexible substrates 11, 11 from ink mist generated when ink is ejected from the nozzles, the lid 8 a 8b and the main body 7 are bonded to each other to provide a sealed closed space for storing these substrates. Thereby, since the inside of the housing portion is shielded from the outside air, the ink mist does not enter, and the chip flexible substrates 4 and 4, the chip substrates 3 and 3, and the connector flexible substrates 11 and 11 Ink can be prevented from adhering to the ink.

  Since it takes time for the adhesive to solidify, the lids 8a and 8b are fixed at predetermined positions by the positioning by the engaging protrusions 15 until solidifying until the adhesive is solidified. Further, it is difficult to adjust the state in the closed space after the lid portions 8a and 8b and the main body portion 7 are bonded, and it is particularly necessary to fix the connector flexible boards 11 and 11 at predetermined positions. Therefore, the connector flexible boards 11 and 11 are locked by the positioning portions 14a and 14b. Thus, the connector flexible boards 11 and 11 and the internal connector 6 can be reliably connected after the lid portions 8a and 8b and the main body portion 7 are bonded.

  Note that any means may be used as long as it is sealed such as crimping or welding instead of bonding.

  FIG. 3 shows a control device for controlling the ink jet printer 100 according to the present embodiment. The control device includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (all not shown), and is recorded in the ROM. A control unit 18 that develops the processing program in the RAM and executes the processing program by the CPU.

  This control unit 18 is configured in accordance with the above-described processing program based on statuses such as operation statuses of the transport mechanism 19 that operates the transport rollers and the scanning mechanism 20 that controls the movement of the carriage 130 in the main scanning direction. Control the behavior.

  Further, the control unit 18 discharges ink from predetermined nozzles based on image data to be recorded from among nozzles provided in the head chip 1 (see FIG. 2) constituting each recording head 111. A control signal for operating the ejection driving means corresponding to the nozzle, that is, a control signal for ink ejection is sent to the external connector 13 (see FIG. 2).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the image data to be recorded is sent to the control unit 18, a control signal for ink ejection to the recording head is sent to the recording head 111 based on the image data, and the conveyance and carriage of the recording medium P are sent to the recording head 111. A control signal is sent to the transport mechanism 19 and the scanning mechanism 20 so that the scanning of 130 is performed optimally in this recording.

  The transport mechanism 19 operates a transport roller or the like so as to transport the recording medium P on the platen 160 in the sub-scanning direction according to the control signal. On the other hand, the scanning mechanism 20 scans the carriage 130 in the main scanning direction according to the control signal.

  In the recording head 111, the ink introduced from the flow path connector 10 is filled into each nozzle of the head chip through the manifold 2. In the recording head 111, when a control signal for ink ejection is sent from the control unit 18 to the external connector 13, this control signal is sent to the chip substrates 3 and 3 through the connector flexible substrates 11 and 11. The chip substrates 3 and 3 operate the mounted drive circuit to send signals for turning on the respective ejection drive means provided on the nozzles for ink ejection to the head chip 1 through the chip flexible substrates 4 and 4. The ejecting drive means that is turned on and operated is operated to eject ink from the corresponding nozzle toward the recording medium P, and image recording is performed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the housing portion that houses the chip substrate 1 is provided with a hermetically closed space, and the recording head 111 is configured by the space from the ink mist that flies after ink ejection. Provided is a structure for protecting the members, particularly the connector flexible substrates 11 and 11, the chip substrates 3 and 3, and the chip flexible substrates 4 and 4. In particular, the chip substrates 3 and 3 are surely protected from adhesion of ink mist. Thus, deterioration of the chip substrates 3 and 3 due to the ink is avoided.

  Moreover, the said housing | casing part is comprised by the main-body part 7 and the cover parts 8a and 8b, and the said closed-end part 8a, 8b and the main-body part 7 are adhere | attached, The closed space sealed inside the housing | casing part is ensured. Will be able to provide. This closed space reliably protects the chip substrates 3 and 3, the connector flexible substrates 11 and 11, and the chip flexible substrates 4 and 4 from the adhesion of ink mist that circulates and flies when ink is ejected. The deterioration of the chip substrates 3 and 3, the connector flexible substrates 11 and 11, and the chip flexible substrates 4 and 4 is avoided.

  Further, the casing portion is composed of a main body portion 7 and lid portions 8a, 8b, and positioning portions 14a, which are engaging portions for positioning the connector flexible boards 11, 11 on the lid portions 8a, 8b. By providing 14b, when the lid portions 8a and 8b and the main body portion 7 are aligned, it is possible to reliably position the connector flexible boards 11 and 11 that are difficult to fix, and the lid portion 8a. , 8b and the main body 7 can be easily attached. In this way, a structure for protecting the members constituting the recording head 111 from the ink mist flying after ink discharge, in particular, the connector flexible substrates 11 and 11, the chip substrates 3 and 3, and the chip flexible substrates 4 and 4 is easy. Will be able to provide.

  Further, since the position adjustment of the connector flexible boards 11 and 11 is very difficult after the lid portions 8a and 8b are bonded to the main body portion 7, this positioning is performed with the lid portions 8a and 8b and the main body portion 7. , It is ensured that the connector flexible substrates 11 and 11 and the chip substrates 3 and 3 are connected, and the external connector 13 and the chip substrates 3 and 3 are electrically connected. Make sure to connect.

  Further, by providing the external connector 13 on the side opposite to the ink discharge direction of the head chip 1, the possibility that the external connector 13 is soiled or deteriorated by the discharged ink or ink mist is reduced.

1 is a diagram showing an ink jet printer that is an embodiment to which a recording head according to the present invention is applied. FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a recording head according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control apparatus which controls the said inkjet printer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head chip 2 Manifold 3 Chip substrate 7 Main-body part 8a, 8b Cover part 11 Connector flexible substrate 13 External connector 14a, 14b Positioning part 111 Recording head

Claims (8)

A head chip having an ink ejection port on one end surface;
A manifold attached to a side surface of the head chip and forming a part of a flow path for introducing ink from the outside to the head chip;
A chip substrate that is electrically connected by the head chip and the chip flexible substrate and sends a control signal relating to ink ejection to the head chip;
A housing portion for providing a closed space for accommodating the chip substrate ;
The housing portion includes a main body portion that surrounds the chip substrate from its peripheral side, and a pair of lid portions that sandwich the chip substrate from its front and back sides,
An external connector supported by the main body,
An internal connector provided on the chip substrate;
A connector flexible board for connecting the external connector and the internal connector;
The recording head, wherein the lid and the main body are bonded. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the lid portion is provided with a protrusion as a positioning portion for positioning the flexible substrate for connector. Two chip substrates and two flexible substrates for connectors are provided,
The recording head according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is provided on each of the lid portions. 4. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the external connector is provided on a surface of the housing portion opposite to an ink discharge direction of the head chip. 5. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with an engaging protrusion for engaging with the main body. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the lid is formed in a flat plate shape. The main body includes a pair of side walls facing each other,
The recording head according to claim 1, wherein a heat radiating plate is provided so as to span the side wall portion, and the chip substrate is in contact with the heat radiating plate. A recording head according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which moves in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium;
An ink jet printer comprising:

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