JP5331764B2 - Inkjet print head - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet print head in which even when a gap formed upon assembling components is sealed by using an adhesive, the gap is sealed with small amount of the adhesive and in which the adhesive is prevented from flowing out to other areas. <P>SOLUTION: The inkjet print head includes: a manifold 20 which has a plane part 22 provided with an ink supply hole 26 and an ink discharge hole 25 for circularly supplying ink, and is provided with a recessed part 23 on the plane part 22; base material 30 which is fit in the recessed part 23; a nozzle plate 60 which is arranged to be layered on the base material 30; an actuator 40 which is arranged between the base material 30 and the nozzle plate 60, and has a pressure chamber 43 disposed in association with a plurality of nozzle holes 61 and a driving element 42 changing the volume of the pressure chamber 43; and a frame component 50 which is arranged between the base material 30 and the nozzle plate 60, and whose both ends 51 and 52 project to the plane part 22 side. The plane part 22 includes a partition wall 22a partitioning between the ink supply hole 26 and the ink discharge hole 25, and a wall member 28 erected along an outer periphery part of the frame component 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to an inkjet printhead incorporated into an inkjet printer.

  As an inkjet head, there is known an inkjet print head in which a plurality of grooves are formed side by side on a piezoelectric member, electrodes are formed on the inner surfaces of the plurality of grooves, and a cover is bonded so as to bridge a plurality of walls defining the plurality of grooves. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the inkjet print head 10. As shown in FIG. 8, the inkjet print head 10 includes a manifold 20 in which a flow path for circulating and supplying ink is formed, a base material 30 stacked on the manifold 20 with an adhesive or the like, and a base material 30, two rows of actuators 40 arranged in layers, a frame member 50 arranged in a region surrounding the actuators 40, and a nozzle plate 60 arranged at a predetermined distance from the base material 30.

  The manifold 20 includes a rectangular parallelepiped main body portion 21, a flat surface portion 22 formed on one surface side of the main body portion 21, a recess portion 23 formed in the center portion of the flat surface portion 22, and both ends of the main body portion 21. And a bracket 24 provided on the head.

  The flat portion 22 is provided with an ink discharge hole 25 and an ink supply hole 26 for circulating and supplying ink. The ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26 are connected to an ink circulation supply system (not shown) via a pipe 27 connected to the manifold 20.

  A partition wall 22a is formed in the flat portion 22 to partition the ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26 side. The partition wall 22a is located on the extension line of the actuator 40, and the end portions are in contact with each other and are in close contact with each other.

  The base material 30 is formed in a plate shape, and no hole is formed. A wiring 31 is formed on the base material 30.

  The actuator 40 includes a piezoelectric part 41 in which two PZT plates are bonded so that their polarization directions are opposite to each other, a driving element 42 along the extending direction of the piezoelectric part 41, and the driving element 42. And a pressure chamber 43 provided between them. That is, the drive element 42 and the pressure chamber 43 are provided alternately. The drive element 42 is in contact with the lower surface of the nozzle plate 60 and is formed in a column shape. Further, wirings 30 are connected to the drive elements 42, respectively. The actuator 40 has a function of deforming the pressure chamber 43 by applying a voltage to the drive element 42 from a drive circuit (not shown), and discharging the volume of the pressure chamber 43 from a nozzle hole 61 described later. doing.

  Both ends 51 and 52 of the frame member 50 protrude toward the flat portion 22 side of the manifold 20 (see FIG. 10), and are arranged in a region surrounding the ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26.

  The nozzle plate 60 has a nozzle hole 61 provided along a certain direction and at a position corresponding to the pressure chamber 43.

  In such an ink jet print head 10, a drive pulse voltage is applied from the drive circuit to the drive element 42 via the wiring 30. Accordingly, the pair of left and right drive elements 42 are separated from each other so as to bend by performing shear mode deformation. Then, by returning these to the initial position and pressurizing the liquid in the pressure chamber 43, the liquid droplets are ejected vigorously from the nozzle hole 61.

  The ink jet print head 10 configured as described above is manufactured as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the piezoelectric material S that is the material of the actuator 40 is bonded to the base material 30. Next, a plurality of grooves are formed by a diamond cutter or the like, and the pressure chamber 43 is formed. Next, the wiring 31 is formed using plating or the like, and the actuator 40 is formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the frame member 50 is overlapped to surround the actuator 40, and both end portions 51 of the manifold 20 protrude toward the flat portion 22 side of the manifold 20, so that the ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26 are surrounded. Deploy.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the nozzle plate 60 is joined on the frame member 50. At this time, the pressure chamber 43 and the nozzle hole 61 are opposed to each other. Then, the base material 30 is fitted into the recess 23 of the manifold 20.

  A predetermined interval is formed between the base material 30 and the nozzle plate 60, and the actuator 40 is partitioned into three spaces of outer flow paths 32 and 33 and an inner flow path 34.

JP 2009-18540 A JP-T-2002-533247

  The ink jet print head 100 described above has the following problems. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the step D is generated due to the component manufacturing accuracy between the manifold 20 and the base material 30. In this state, as shown in FIG. 12, when the frame member 50 is bonded, a gap S is generated. If ink is supplied with the gap S left, ink leaks from the gap. Therefore, it is necessary to pour an adhesive so as to close the gap S. If the gap S is large, a large amount of adhesive is required, and in some cases, the adhesive flows into the inside of the frame member 50, that is, the pressure chamber 43 side, and may block the ink supply hole 25 and the ink discharge hole 26. It was.

  Therefore, even when the gap generated at the time of assembling the parts is closed with an adhesive, it is necessary to reduce the amount of use and to prevent outflow to other areas.

  A support member having an ink supply hole and an ink discharge hole for circulating and supplying ink, a support member provided with a recess in the plane part, and a substrate fitted in the recess of the support member; A nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle holes arranged at a predetermined distance from the substrate and arranged along a certain direction, and arranged between the substrate and the nozzle plate, each corresponding to the plurality of nozzle holes And an actuator having a pressure chamber and a piezoelectric member that forms a wall portion of the pressure chamber and changes a volume of the pressure chamber, and is disposed between the substrate and the nozzle plate, and both ends thereof And a frame component disposed in a region surrounding the ink supply hole and the ink discharge hole. The flat surface portion of the support member includes the ink supply hole. A partition wall for partitioning between said ink discharge hole side, and a upright walls member along the outer periphery of the frame part.

  A support member having an ink supply hole and an ink discharge hole for circulating and supplying ink, a support member provided with a recess in the plane part, and a substrate fitted in the recess of the support member; A nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle holes arranged at a predetermined distance from the substrate and arranged along a certain direction, and arranged between the substrate and the nozzle plate, each corresponding to the plurality of nozzle holes And an actuator having a pressure chamber and a piezoelectric member that forms a wall portion of the pressure chamber and changes a volume of the pressure chamber, and is disposed between the substrate and the nozzle plate, and both ends thereof Projecting to the flat surface side of the support member and disposed in a region surrounding the ink supply hole and ink discharge hole, and the ink supply in the projecting region to the flat surface side And a frame component having a partition wall for partitioning between the the side ink discharge hole side, the the flat portion of the support member, and a upright walls member along the outer periphery of the frame part.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing an ink jet print head according to an embodiment. The top view which shows the state which removed the nozzle plate and frame member of the inkjet print head. Sectional drawing cut | disconnected in the F2-F2 line | wire in FIG. 2 in the same inkjet print head, and seeing in the arrow direction. The top view which shows the state which removed the nozzle plate of the inkjet print head. Sectional drawing cut | disconnected in F4-F4 line | wire in FIG. 4 in the same inkjet print head, and seeing in the arrow direction. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the ink jet print head. Explanatory drawing which shows the level | step difference of a manifold and a base board. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of an ink jet print head. The top view which shows the state which removed the nozzle plate and frame member of the inkjet print head. The top view which shows the state which removed the nozzle plate of the inkjet print head. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the ink jet print head. Explanatory drawing which shows the level | step difference of the manifold and base board in the same inkjet print head. Explanatory drawing which shows the clearance gap in the inkjet print head.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an inkjet print head 10 according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where a nozzle plate and a frame member of the inkjet print head 10 are removed, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F2-F2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the nozzle plate of the ink jet print head 10 is removed, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the ink jet print head 10 taken along the line and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet print head 10 includes a manifold (support member) 20 in which a flow path for circulating and supplying ink is formed, and a base material (stacked on the manifold 20 with an adhesive or the like). Substrate) 30, two rows of actuators 40 stacked on the base material 30, a frame member 50 disposed in a region surrounding the actuator 40, and a nozzle plate 60 disposed at a predetermined distance from the base material 30. And. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 70 denotes an ink circulation supply system, and 80 denotes a drive circuit.

  The manifold 20 includes a rectangular parallelepiped main body portion 21, a flat surface portion 22 formed on one surface side of the main body portion 21, a recess portion 23 formed in the center portion of the flat surface portion 22, and both ends of the main body portion 21. And a bracket 24 provided on the head. The bracket 24 is formed with a screw hole 24a for attaching the inkjet print head 10 to a printer main body (not shown).

  The flat portion 22 is provided with an ink discharge hole 25 and an ink supply hole 26 for circulating and supplying ink. The ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26 are connected to an ink circulation supply system 70 via a pipe 27 connected to the manifold 20.

  A partition wall 22a is formed in the flat portion 22 to partition the ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26 side. The partition wall 22a is located on the extension line of the actuator 40, and the end portions are in contact with each other and are in close contact with each other. The flat surface portion 22 further includes a wall member 28 erected along outer peripheral portions of both end portions 51 and 52 described later of the frame component 50. The wall member 28 is formed slightly lower than the frame member 50, and its inner peripheral wall is in a relationship of fitting with the outer peripheral walls of both end portions 51 and 52.

  The base material 30 is formed in a plate shape, and no hole is formed. A wiring 31 is formed on the base material 30.

  The actuator 40 includes a piezoelectric part 41 in which two PZT plates are bonded so that their polarization directions are opposite to each other, a driving element 42 along the extending direction of the piezoelectric part 41, and the driving element 42. And a pressure chamber 43 provided between them. That is, the drive element 42 and the pressure chamber 43 are provided alternately. The drive element 42 is in contact with the lower surface of the nozzle plate 60 and is formed in a column shape. Further, wirings 30 are connected to the drive elements 42, respectively. The actuator 40 applies a voltage from the drive circuit 80 to the drive element 42 to change the volume by deforming the pressure chamber 43 and discharge the ink in the pressure chamber 43 from a nozzle hole 61 described later. It has a function.

  Both ends 51 and 52 of the frame member 50 protrude toward the flat portion 22 side of the manifold 20 and are disposed in a region surrounding the ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26 (see FIG. 4). The frame member 50 has a function of forming an ink flow path on the base material 30.

  The nozzle plate 60 is made of a polyimide material and has a nozzle hole 61 provided at a position corresponding to the pressure chamber 43 along a certain direction.

  The ink jet print head 10 configured as described above is manufactured as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a piezoelectric material that is a material of the actuator 40 is bonded to the base material 30. Next, a plurality of grooves are formed by a diamond cutter or the like, and the pressure chamber 43 is formed. Next, the wiring 31 is formed using plating or the like, and the actuator 40 is formed. FIG. 3 shows the positional relationship between the wall member 28 and the base material 30.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the frame member 50 is overlapped to surround the actuator 40, and both end portions 51 of the manifold 20 protrude toward the flat surface portion 22 side of the manifold 20, so as to surround the ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26. Deploy. At this time, the outer peripheral portions of both end portions 51 and 52 of the frame component 50 are fitted to the inner peripheral wall of the wall member 28. Then, the gap between the frame member 50 and the flat portion 22 is filled with an adhesive. Since there is the wall member 28, even when the gap is large, the adhesive is blocked in the three directions of the lower surface of the frame member 50, the upper surface of the flat portion 22, and the inner peripheral wall of the wall member 28, so that the sealing work can be performed. It is easy and can be filled in a small amount, and the amount of outflow to the inside of the frame member 50 can be minimized. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26 from being blocked by the adhesive. FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship between the wall member 28, the base material 30, and the frame member 50.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the nozzle plate 60 is joined on the frame member 50. At this time, the pressure chamber 43 and the nozzle hole 61 are opposed to each other. Then, the base material 30 is fitted into the recess 23 of the manifold 20.

  A predetermined interval is formed between the base material 30 and the nozzle plate 60, and the actuator 40 is partitioned into three spaces of outer channels 32 and 33 and an inner channel 34 (see FIG. 4). ).

  The ink jet print head 10 configured in this manner discharges ink as follows. That is, ink is supplied from the ink circulation supply system 70 via the pipe 27. Next, the supplied ink is supplied to the outer flow paths 32 and 33 through the ink supply hole 26. The ink supplied to the outer flow paths 32 and 33 flows into the inner flow path 34 through the pressure chamber 43. The ink that has flowed into the inner flow path 34 is discharged from the ink discharge hole 25 and returned to the ink circulation supply system 70 via the pipe 27. Since the ink is continuously supplied in this way, the pressure chamber 43 is filled with ink.

  Next, a pulse voltage is applied from the drive circuit 80 to the drive element 42 via the wiring 31. As a result, the moving element 42 is deformed, and the volume of the pressure chamber 43 is reduced. As a result, ink is ejected from the nozzle hole 61.

  In addition, since the partition wall 22a is provided in the plane portion 22, it is possible to prevent the flow from the outer flow paths 32 and 33 to the inner flow path 34 without passing through the pressure chamber 43.

  In the inkjet print head 10 configured as described above, the wall member 28 exists when the gap between the frame member 50 and the flat portion 22 is filled with the adhesive during assembly. Can be minimized. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the ink discharge hole 25 and the ink supply hole 26 from being blocked by the adhesive.

  Since only the shape of the manifold 20 is changed and no new parts need be added, ink supply failure can be prevented at low cost.

  FIG. 7 shows a case where a step D is generated such that the surface of the base plate 30 is lower than the flat portion 22 of the manifold 20. In this case, since the inflow of the adhesive cannot be prevented by the wall member 28 described above, it is necessary to always design the base plate 30 so that the surface of the base plate 30 is higher than the flat portion 22 of the manifold 20 by design.

  Instead of providing the partition wall 22a on the planar portion 22 of the manifold 20, projections may be formed inward from the both end portions 51 and 52 of the frame member 50 at the same position as the partition wall 22a described above. Even in this case, the same function can be provided.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet print head, 20 ... Manifold (support member), 22 ... Partition, 25 ... Ink discharge hole, 26 ... Ink supply hole, 28 ... Wall member, 30 ... Base material (substrate), 32, 33 ... Outer flow path 34 ... Inner flow path, 40 ... Actuator, 42 ... Drive element, 43 ... Pressure chamber, 50 ... Frame member, 60 ... Nozzle plate, 61 ... Nozzle hole, 70 ... Ink circulation supply system, 80 ... Drive circuit.

Claims (2)

A support member having a flat part provided with an ink supply hole and an ink discharge hole for circulating and supplying ink, and a concave part provided in the flat part;
A substrate fitted into the recess of the support member;
A nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle holes arranged along a certain direction and stacked at a predetermined distance from the substrate;
A pressure chamber disposed between the substrate and the nozzle plate and corresponding to each of the plurality of nozzle holes; a piezoelectric member that forms a wall portion of the pressure chamber and changes a volume of the pressure chamber; An actuator having
A frame component disposed between the substrate and the nozzle plate, with both end portions projecting to the flat surface side of the support member and disposed in a region surrounding the ink supply hole and the ink discharge hole;
The flat surface portion of the support member includes a partition wall that partitions the ink supply hole side and the ink discharge hole side, and a wall member that is erected along the outer periphery of the frame component. Inkjet printhead characterized. A support member having a flat part provided with an ink supply hole and an ink discharge hole for circulating and supplying ink, and a concave part provided in the flat part;
A substrate fitted into the recess of the support member;
A nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle holes arranged along a certain direction and stacked at a predetermined distance from the substrate;
A pressure chamber disposed between the substrate and the nozzle plate and corresponding to each of the plurality of nozzle holes; a piezoelectric member that forms a wall portion of the pressure chamber and changes a volume of the pressure chamber; An actuator having
It is disposed between the substrate and the nozzle plate, and both end portions thereof protrude to the flat portion side of the support member, and are disposed in a region surrounding the ink supply hole and the ink discharge hole, and protrude to the flat portion side. In the region, comprising a frame part having a partition partitioning between the ink supply hole side and the ink discharge hole side,
An ink jet print head comprising: a flat surface portion of the support member; and a wall member erected along an outer peripheral portion of the frame component.

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