JP2006240150A - Liquid ejection recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a buffer chamber arrangement in which circulation cleaning can be carried out easily without setting a process dedicated to filling a hole. <P>SOLUTION: In an arrangement where a buffer chamber arranged on the rear surface of a chip plate and a liquid chamber in the chip plate are interconnected through a connection passage, the buffer chamber is opened in concave shape from the rear surface of the chip plate or opened in concave shape for a joint seal so that an ink supply passage is communicated while being sealed when the chip plate and a chip tank are insertion connected with the joint seal and the opening of the buffer chamber is also sealed just like a dead-end road. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid jet recording head that performs recording by jetting a liquid such as a recording liquid from a orifice onto a recording medium such as paper or cloth, and a liquid jet recording apparatus using the liquid jet recording head.

  Conventional printing apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and facsimiles are configured to record an image composed of a dot pattern on a recording material based on image information. The printing apparatus can be divided into a liquid ejecting method, a wire dot method, a thermal method, a laser beam method, and the like according to the printing method. Among them, the ink jet method includes a liquid ejecting recording head and ejects ink into the liquid path. Energy conversion means for generating discharge energy used for the purpose, and the ink is guided from the ink supply port to the liquid passage through the liquid chamber, and the ink is discharged by the discharge energy given to the ink from the energy conversion means. Are made to fly toward the recording material as flying droplets, and recording is performed by the landing.

  Above all, the liquid jet recording head that ejects ink using thermal energy can arrange the ink ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets for recording to form flying droplets in high density and the whole In particular, it has been put to practical use in many fields because of its advantages such as easy compactness.

  Furthermore, in recent years, the number of nozzles arranged in the liquid jet recording head has been increased due to the demand for high-speed recording.

As another conventional example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 can be cited.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 06-024002 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-210872

  However, in the inkjet method, in order to handle ink that is a fluid, the meniscus vibration around the ejection port is greatly disturbed by the ink vibration, and the image quality may be deteriorated. In particular, in a liquid jet recording head with a high density and multi-nozzle arrangement, the ink flow rate per unit time is large, and when the ejection is stopped, the inertial force that the ink tries to move forward increases, and this inertial force causes the nozzle to move forward. The ink inside is pushed out, and the meniscus at the ejection port pops out.

  On the other hand, an ink tank as an ink supply source is generally configured to maintain a negative pressure in order to prevent ink dripping from the supply port. As a result, the ink supplied from the ink tank is subjected to a force to pull back to the upstream side, so that the ink in the state where the meniscus is ejected from the ejection port as described above tends to retreat to the opposite side thereafter. .

  As described above, after the discharge is stopped, a so-called meniscus vibration in which the discharge port meniscus jumps forward or retreats backward is induced. Such vibration increases as the ink flow rate per unit time increases. When the next print signal is input with the meniscus position protruding forward or backward, the former results in a so-called splash-like print in which small ink droplets are scattered. The discharge amount becomes small, so-called shobo-like discharge, and both deteriorate print quality. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a pressure oscillation waveform in the ink flow path with respect to an ejection pulse when a predetermined ejection is performed by a liquid jet recording head having a conventional configuration. As shown in the figure, after the discharge is stopped, the pressure vibration amplitude in the flow path is large and becomes a positive pressure, and this pressure vibration induces the meniscus vibration of the discharge port as described above and disturbs the next discharge. It is a factor. As a means for solving such a phenomenon, a method is adopted in which a buffer chamber is provided in the middle of the common liquid chamber or the ink flow path to store bubbles, thereby absorbing and attenuating such pressure vibration.

  The space of the buffer chamber must have a volume that can sufficiently attenuate the vibration of the ink supply system, but the buffer chamber communicates with the common liquid chamber and the ink flow path. Ink in the ink flow path may flow into the buffer chamber and be replaced with gas in the buffer chamber. If the gas and ink in the buffer chamber are replaced, the vibration damping action of the ink supply system is reduced, resulting in unstable ejection, and the print quality is deteriorated.

  In general, since the buffer chamber is branched from the common liquid chamber or the ink flow path and disposed in the shape of a bag path, cleaning of the buffer chamber, which is the path of the bag path, is performed in cleaning the parts in the liquid jet recording head in which the buffer chamber is disposed. Is insufficient, and it takes a long time to dry after washing. Further, if the buffer chamber is not sufficiently cleaned, printing defects may be caused by dust remaining in the buffer chamber.

  On the other hand, there is one in which the cleaning liquid can be circulated by making the bag path portion of the buffer chamber a penetrating structure so that the cleaning process can be easily performed. In such a configuration, after the buffer chamber is washed, a penetrating portion of the buffer chamber is sealed with a seal member or the like to form a bag path. However, if the buffer chamber has a penetrating structure, a separate step of sealing the penetrating portion of the buffer chamber with a sealing member after cleaning the buffer chamber is required, which causes a decrease in productivity and an increase in cost.

  When the liquid jet recording head is left in a high temperature environment for a long period of time, water droplets evaporated from the ink composition moisture adhere to the wall surface near the entrance of the buffer chamber, and the wettability of the wall surface increases. As a result, when the replacement of the air in the buffer chamber with the surrounding ink is promoted, the vibration suppressing action in the buffer chamber is reduced.

  As a countermeasure, there is a configuration in which the replacement of ink and air is suppressed by reducing the opening area of the buffer chamber and increasing the inflow resistance to the buffer chamber. However, as shown in the buffer chamber configuration diagram of the conventional example of FIG. 10, when the opening area of the buffer chamber 201 is reduced, the cross-sectional area of the buffer chamber passage and the entire volume of the buffer chamber are accordingly reduced. The air volume which can be accommodated will become small.

  Therefore, in such a configuration, the thickness of the support substrate is increased so that the buffer chamber can accommodate desired air, the buffer chamber passage is lengthened, or the buffer chamber passage is bypassed to form a complicated passage. This has been a cause of cost increase of the liquid jet recording head.

  According to the present invention, in the liquid jet recording head and the recording apparatus equipped with the liquid jet recording head, the recording unit portion and the holder portion are combined to form a buffer chamber in which gas exists. In the assembly of the liquid jet recording head, there is no need to set a dedicated process for closing the buffer chamber, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  Since the buffer chamber has a structure that penetrates from the common liquid chamber of the first plate to the back surface of the first plate before the step of joining the recording unit portion and the holder portion, the cleaning liquid can easily enter the buffer chamber. The buffer chamber can be circulated by being poured, and the buffer chamber is sufficiently cleaned. Therefore, since impurities such as dust that cause printing defects are reliably removed from the buffer chamber, high-quality image formation is possible.

  In addition, a connection passage that communicates from the buffer chamber to the common liquid chamber or the supply passage is provided separately from the buffer chamber, and opens in a concave shape from the surface of the support substrate opposite to the surface to which the recording element substrate is bonded. Since the buffer chamber is disposed in this manner, a sufficient buffer chamber space capable of accommodating a desired gas volume capable of attenuating vibration of the ink supply system within a range that does not adversely affect the next ejection can be secured. .

  In addition, since the cross-sectional area of the connection passage is set to be small, the fluid flow resistance in the connection passage is increased, and the substitution of gas and ink in the buffer chamber can be suppressed even under environmental changes. It becomes possible to always maintain the air capacity. Therefore, the vibration of the ink supply system generated by the previous ejection is sufficiently attenuated, and the meniscus vibration generated by the ejection driving can be reduced. As a result, the meniscus position returns to a predetermined position before the next discharge, and stable liquid droplet ejection can be obtained for the next discharge, thus providing a liquid jet recording head having good discharge characteristics. It becomes possible to do.

  In addition, by forming one plane of the buffer chamber with a flexible film, it is possible to increase the damping effect of the ink vibration by combining the expansion / contraction action of the air in the buffer room and the expansion / contraction action of the flexible film. .

  As described above, the present invention is a liquid jet recording head and a recording apparatus equipped with the liquid jet recording head, wherein the recording unit portion and the holder portion are combined to form a buffer chamber in which gas exists. For this reason, in assembling the liquid jet recording head, it is not necessary to set a dedicated process for closing the buffer chamber, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  Since the buffer chamber has a structure that penetrates from the common liquid chamber of the first plate to the back surface of the first plate before the step of joining the recording unit portion and the holder portion, the cleaning liquid can easily enter the buffer chamber. The buffer chamber can be circulated by being poured, and the buffer chamber is sufficiently cleaned. Therefore, since impurities such as dust that cause printing defects are reliably removed from the buffer chamber, high-quality image formation is possible.

  In addition, a connection passage that communicates from the buffer chamber to the common liquid chamber or the supply passage is provided separately from the buffer chamber, and opens in a concave shape from the surface of the support substrate opposite to the surface to which the recording element substrate is bonded. Since the buffer chamber is disposed in this manner, a sufficient buffer chamber space capable of accommodating a desired gas volume capable of attenuating vibration of the ink supply system within a range that does not adversely affect the next ejection can be secured. .

  In addition, since the cross-sectional area of the connection passage is set to be small, the fluid flow resistance in the connection passage is increased, and the substitution of gas and ink in the buffer chamber can be suppressed even under environmental changes. It becomes possible to always maintain the air capacity. Therefore, the vibration of the ink supply system generated by the previous ejection is sufficiently attenuated, and the meniscus vibration generated by the ejection driving can be reduced. As a result, the meniscus position returns to a predetermined position before the next discharge, and stable liquid droplet ejection can be obtained for the next discharge, thus providing a liquid jet recording head having good discharge characteristics. It becomes possible to do.

  In addition, by forming one plane of the buffer chamber with a flexible film, it is possible to increase the damping effect of the ink vibration by combining the expansion / contraction action of the air in the buffer room and the expansion / contraction action of the flexible film. .

(1) An ejection port for ejecting the recording liquid, a recording element substrate provided with a plurality of recording elements for generating energy for ejecting the recording liquid, and bonding and fixing the recording element substrate at a predetermined position A supply passage for supplying a recording liquid to the recording element substrate; and a support substrate made of a plate-like member that is disposed downstream of the supply passage and in which a common liquid chamber for temporarily storing the recording liquid is formed. A liquid discharge unit having
A holder unit having a recording liquid passage for supplying a recording liquid from the liquid container to the liquid ejection unit, the liquid container storing the recording liquid being detachably held;
In a liquid jet recording head having a seal member sandwiched between a support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit and sealing a supply passage of the support substrate and a recording liquid passage of the holder unit,
Forming one or a plurality of buffer chambers for accommodating a gas that opens in a concave shape from a surface opposite to a surface to which the recording element substrate is bonded in the support substrate;
In the liquid jet recording head, a connection passage for connecting the supply passage or the common liquid chamber and the buffer chamber is provided.

  (2) The liquid jet recording described in item (1), wherein the opening of the buffer chamber is closed by a plug member so that the buffer chamber is in a bag path state in which only the connection passage is communicated. Head.

  (3) The plug member is integrally formed by the seal member, and when the seal member is sandwiched between the support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit, the opening of the buffer chamber is the plug member. The liquid jet recording head described in the item (2) is characterized in that the liquid jet recording head is configured to be closed by the head.

(4) An ejection port for ejecting the recording liquid, a recording element substrate provided with a plurality of recording elements for generating energy for ejecting the recording liquid, and bonding and fixing the recording element substrate at a predetermined position. A supply passage for supplying a recording liquid to the recording element substrate; and a support substrate made of a plate-like member that is disposed downstream of the supply passage and in which a common liquid chamber for temporarily storing the recording liquid is formed. A liquid discharge unit having
A holder unit having a recording liquid passage for supplying a recording liquid from the liquid container to the liquid ejection unit, the liquid container storing the recording liquid being detachably held;
In a liquid jet recording head having a seal member sandwiched between a support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit and sealing a supply passage of the support substrate and a recording liquid passage of the holder unit,
The sealing member is provided with one or a plurality of buffer chambers for containing a gas that opens in a concave shape from a surface bonded to the support substrate.
The support substrate is formed with a connection passage penetrating from the surface joined to the seal member to the supply passage or the common liquid chamber,
When the seal member is sandwiched between the support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit, the opening of the buffer chamber is sealed, and the buffer chamber and the connection passage are communicated with each other. This is a liquid jet recording head.

(5) An ejection port for ejecting the recording liquid, a recording element substrate provided with a plurality of recording elements that generate energy for ejecting the recording liquid, and bonding and fixing the recording element substrate at a predetermined position. A supply passage for supplying a recording liquid to the recording element substrate; and a support substrate made of a plate-like member that is disposed downstream of the supply passage and in which a common liquid chamber for temporarily storing the recording liquid is formed. A liquid discharge unit having
A holder unit having a recording liquid passage for supplying a recording liquid from the liquid container to the liquid ejection unit, the liquid container storing the recording liquid being detachably held;
In a liquid jet recording head having a seal member sandwiched between a support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit and sealing a supply passage of the support substrate and a recording liquid passage of the holder unit,
The support substrate includes one or more first buffer chambers that contain a gas that opens in a concave shape from the surface opposite to the surface to which the recording element substrate is bonded.
A connection passage is formed for communicating from the first buffer chamber to the supply passage or the common liquid chamber;
The seal member includes one or more second buffer chambers that are opposed to the concave opening of the first buffer chamber and that accommodate gas that opens in a concave shape from a surface to be bonded to the support substrate. Arranged,
When the seal member is sandwiched between the support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit, the concave opening of the first buffer chamber and the concave opening of the second buffer chamber communicate and are sealed. The liquid jet recording head is configured as described above.

  (6) The liquid jet recording head described in (4) to (5), wherein a part of the buffer chamber disposed in the sealing material is formed of a flexible film. .

  Hereinafter, the details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid jet recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view for explaining a configuration of a buffer chamber as an example of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 4 is an external perspective view of the liquid jet recording head according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view.

  The liquid jet recording head 101 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a head unit can be completed by assembling a tank holder member (not shown) for holding a replaceable recording liquid storage tank (not shown), a tank holder member, etc. The present invention is applied to a mode in which a head unit is mounted on a carriage of a liquid jet recording apparatus.

  Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  The liquid jet recording head 101 includes a liquid droplet ejection unit that ejects liquid droplets according to a print signal from a nozzle row in which ejection ports (nozzles) for ejecting liquid droplets are formed in rows, and a liquid jet recording apparatus main body. A recording unit 102 having a flexible cable and a sheet wiring member such as a TAB, in which electric wiring is made to the droplet discharge unit, for passing a print signal transmitted between them, and holding the recording unit 102 The liquid jet recording head 101 shown in the figure is composed of a holder unit 103 that serves as a housing for attaching and detaching a recording liquid storage tank that stores recording liquid supplied to the recording unit 102. It is detachably mounted on the carriage to which the member is attached.

  1 is a recording element substrate, 2 is a first plate as a support substrate, 3 is a sheet electric wiring substrate, 4 is a contact terminal wiring substrate, 5 is a second plate, 6 is a flow path member, 7 is a seal member, and 8 is a screw. It is.

  The recording element substrate 1 is formed with a plurality of recording elements for discharging recording liquid on one side of the Si substrate and wirings such as Al for supplying power to each recording element by a film forming technique. A plurality of corresponding nozzles and a plurality of discharge ports (not shown) are formed by photolithography, and a recording liquid chamber 1a for supplying a recording liquid to the plurality of nozzles connected to the discharge ports is opened on the back surface. It is formed as follows.

  The two recording element substrates 1 are placed and bonded to the upper surface of the first plate 2 after the relative position and the inclination are aligned. The relative positions of the recording element substrate 1 and the first plate 2 are positioned and bonded with high accuracy by a semiconductor mounting technique.

  The recording element substrate 1 is not limited to the two configurations shown in the figure, and includes a single configuration, a configuration of three or more configurations, and a configuration in which a plurality of recording element substrates 1 of different sizes are combined. It is properly used depending on the purpose.

  The first plate 2 is made of a material such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or ceramics, and also plays a role as a heat radiating member for efficiently radiating discharge heat generated in the recording element substrate 1.

  The first plate 2 is formed with a common liquid chamber 2a for supplying a recording liquid to the recording element substrate 1 and a recording liquid supply port 2b. The recording liquid supply port 2b is formed so as to open from the surface opposite to the bonding surface 2e of the first plate 2 (hereinafter referred to as the back surface 2f). When the recording element substrate 1 is bonded to the bonding surface 2e of the first plate 2, the recording liquid chamber 1a of the recording element substrate 1 and the common liquid chamber 2a of the first plate 2 are communicated.

  Further, the buffer chamber 2c is disposed so as to open in a concave shape from the back surface 2f of the first plate 2, and the volume is set so that desired air can be secured in the buffer chamber 2c. The buffer chamber 2c and the common liquid chamber 2a are communicated with each other through a connection passage 2d. Since the connecting passage 2d has a small passage area and is set so that the flow resistance of the fluid is increased and the entrance on the common liquid chamber 2a side has a square shape, the recording liquid in the common liquid chamber 2a is retained in the buffer chamber. It cannot flow easily into 2c. Further, the connection passage 2d and the wall surface 2g of the common liquid chamber 2a are arranged apart from each other so that the recording liquid that is easily drawn near the wall surface 2g of the common liquid chamber 2a due to the capillary force action does not flow into the connection passage 2d. Has been.

  A second plate 5 is bonded and fixed to the first plate 2, and an opening 5 a for avoiding mounting interference with the recording element substrate 1 is formed in the second plate 5.

  The sheet electrical wiring substrate 3 is bonded and held on the upper surface of the second plate 5 so as to be electrically connected to the recording element substrate 1. The sheet electrical wiring board 3 and the contact terminal wiring board 4 are connected by means such as ACF, lead bonding, wire bonding, patterning, and connector.

  The above-described electrical wiring portion (a series of wiring portions in which the sheet electrical wiring substrate 3 and the contact terminal wiring substrate 4 are connected) applies an electrical signal for discharging the recording liquid to the recording element substrate 1. 1 and an external signal input terminal 4a for receiving an electric signal from the liquid jet recording apparatus main body. The contact terminal wiring board 4 having the external signal input terminal 4 a is positioned and fixed on the back surface of the flow path member 6.

  In this configuration, the electric wiring portion is divided into the sheet electric wiring substrate 3 and the contact terminal wiring substrate 4. However, the electric wiring portion of the electric wiring portion forming the sheet electric wiring substrate 3 and the contact terminal wiring substrate 4 with the same member is used. You may make it a structure.

  A porous member (not shown) is joined to the flow path member 6, and the porous member is joined to the opposite side of the joint portion with the first plate 2. The porous member can suppress the intrusion of dust in the recording liquid supplied from a recording liquid storage tank (not shown).

  The seal member 7 seals the recording liquid supply port 2b of the first plate 2 and the recording liquid flow path 6a of the flow path member 6 so as to communicate with each other, and is formed of a material such as rubber or elastomer. After the first guide sleeve 7 a provided on the upstream side of the seal member 7 is inserted into the first positioning sleeve 6 b provided on the downstream side of the flow path member 6, the first plate 2 and the flow path member 6 are screwed 8. Since the seal member 7 is nipped and compressed by the first plate 2 and the flow path member 6, the recording liquid supply port 2b of the first plate 2 and the recording liquid flow path 6a of the flow path member 6 are connected. It is connected to the communication path 7b of the seal member 7 and completely sealed. That is, since the first guide sleeve 7a is inserted into the first positioning sleeve 6a and positioned, the recording liquid flow path 6a of the flow path member 6 and the communication path 7b of the seal member 7 can be easily positioned relatively. Yes.

  In this way, the recording liquid supplied from the recording liquid storage tank (not shown) mounted on the flow path member 6 enters the flow path from the porous member (not shown) and enters the common liquid chamber of the first plate 2. Through 2a, the ink is supplied to the nozzle portion via the recording liquid chamber 1a of the recording element substrate 1.

  Further, the sealing member 7 is provided with a plug portion 7e for closing and sealing the buffer chamber 2c opened in the back surface 2f of the first plate 2, and the second guide sleeve 7d of the sealing member 7 is provided. After the first plate 2 and the flow path member 6 are fixedly connected by the screws 8 after being inserted into the second positioning sleeve 6 c of the flow path member 6, the seal member 7 is sandwiched between the first plate 2 and the flow path member 6. Since the compression is performed, the opening of the buffer chamber 2 c of the first plate 2 is blocked by the plug portion 7 e of the seal member 6.

  As described above, by coupling the recording unit portion 102 and the holder portion 103, the opening of the buffer chamber 2c of the first plate 2 is closed to secure a region for storing a desired volume of air. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to individually set a dedicated process for closing the buffer chamber, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  Further, before the step of joining the recording unit portion 102 and the holder portion 103, since the buffer chamber 2c of the first plate 2 penetrates from the common liquid chamber 2a to the back surface 2f of the first plate 2, the cleaning liquid is stored in the buffer chamber 2c. Thus, the buffer chamber 2c and the connection passage 2d can be sufficiently cleaned. Therefore, since impurities such as dust that cause printing defects are reliably removed from the buffer chamber, high-quality image formation is possible.

  As described above, the present invention does not directly connect the buffer chamber 2c and the common liquid chamber 2a, but by disposing the connection passage 2d at the relay between them and increasing the flow resistance of the fluid in the connection passage 2d. The replacement of the air in the buffer chamber 2c with the recording liquid in the common liquid chamber 2a is suppressed, so that a desired volume of air is always secured in the buffer chamber 2c regardless of environmental fluctuations. become.

  Therefore, meniscus vibration caused by vibration of the ink supply system generated by the previous ejection can be reduced. As a result, the meniscus position returns to a predetermined position before the next discharge, and stable liquid droplet ejection can be obtained for the next discharge, thereby providing a liquid jet recording head having good discharge characteristics. It becomes possible.

  In this embodiment, the connection passage 2d is configured to relay and communicate between the buffer chamber 2c and the common liquid chamber 2a. However, the connection passage 2d relays between the buffer chamber 2c and the recording liquid supply port 2b. It may be configured to communicate with each other, or may be configured to relay and communicate between the buffer chamber 2c and the recording liquid flow path 6a. Even with such a configuration, the same effect can be obtained.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid jet recording head according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view for explaining the configuration of the buffer chamber according to the second embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the buffer chamber is opened in a concave shape from the back surface 2f of the first plate 2. For example, when the first plate 2 is formed by ceramic powder molding, the first plate 2 is a common liquid. Since press molding is performed from opposite sides of the chamber 2a side and the buffer chamber 2c side, there are disadvantages that uniformity of powder filling and mold release resistance are deteriorated and the mold structure is complicated.

  In the first embodiment, when the capacity of the buffer chamber 2 c is increased, it is necessary to increase the opening area of the buffer chamber 2 c, and increasing the opening area between the recording liquid chambers 1 a of the recording element substrate 1. This increases the pitch setting, and this hinders the downsizing of the recording element substrate 1.

  In view of the above problems, the second embodiment is configured such that a buffer chamber is provided in the seal member 7.

  The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with the same reference numerals assigned to the same parts as in the first embodiment, based on FIGS.

  Reference numeral 7f denotes a buffer chamber opened in a concave shape in the stopper portion of the seal member 7, and reference numeral 2d denotes a connection passage penetrating from the back surface 2f of the first plate 2 to the common liquid chamber 2a of the first plate 2, The connection passage 2d is formed at a position where both faces each other.

  After the first guide sleeve 7a of the seal member 7 is inserted into the first positioning sleeve 6b of the flow path member 6, and the second guide sleeve 7d of the seal member 7 is inserted into the second positioning sleeve 6c of the flow path member 6, When the first plate 2 and the flow path member 6 are fixedly connected by the screws 8, the seal member 7 is sandwiched and compressed by the first plate 2 and the flow path member 6, so that the recording liquid supply port 2b of the first plate 2 and The recording liquid flow path 6a of the flow path member 6 is connected to the communication path 7b of the seal member 7 so as to be completely sealed. On the other hand, the connection passage 2d of the first plate 2 and the buffer chamber 7f of the seal member 7 are also communicated and completely sealed.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the buffer chamber 7f is divided into the seal member 7 and the connection passage 2d is divided into the first plate 2 and is recessed from the plug portion of the seal member 7. Since the buffer chamber 7f that is open to the buffer chamber 7f is connected to the connection passage 2d by assembling the first plate 2, the seal member 7, and the flow path member 6, the connection passage 2d is Can be set to a long passage.

  That is, by setting the connection passage 2d to be a long and narrow passage, the flow resistance of the fluid in the connection passage 2d increases, and even when the liquid jet recording head is left in a high temperature environment for a long time, Even if evaporated water droplets adhere to the wall surface in the vicinity of the buffer chamber entrance and the wettability of the wall surface increases, the replacement of the air in the buffer chamber with the surrounding ink is suppressed.

  Further, even when the first plate 2 is formed by ceramic powder molding, the first plate 2 is press-molded only from one direction on the common liquid chamber 2a side. In addition, the uniformity of powder filling can be easily controlled, and the mold structure can be simplified.

In addition, it is easy to increase the air volume of the buffer chamber 7f by setting the concave step of the buffer chamber 7f large.
Further, when the recording element substrate 1 is reduced in size by narrowing the pitch between the common liquid chambers 1a of the recording element substrate 1, the connection passage 2d may be made small so as to match it. Miniaturization can be easily achieved.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid jet recording head according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the buffer chamber is divided into the first plate 2 and the seal member 7, so that the space volume of the buffer chamber is set large in a limited space without increasing the entire liquid jet recording head. To do.

  The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with the same reference numerals assigned to the same parts as those in the first embodiment, based on FIG.

  Reference numeral 7f denotes a buffer chamber (hereinafter referred to as a second buffer chamber) opened in a concave shape in the stopper portion of the seal member 7, and the second buffer chamber 7f is opened in a concave shape from the back surface 2f of the first plate 2. It is formed at a position facing the buffer chamber 2c (hereinafter referred to as the first buffer chamber).

  After the first guide sleeve 7a of the seal member 7 is inserted into the first positioning sleeve 6b of the flow path member 6, and the second guide sleeve 7d of the seal member 7 is inserted into the second positioning sleeve 6c of the flow path member 6, When the first plate 2 and the flow path member 6 are fixedly connected by the screws 8, the seal member 7 is sandwiched and compressed by the first plate 2 and the flow path member 6, so that the recording liquid supply port 2b of the first plate 2 and The recording liquid flow path 6a of the flow path member 6 is connected to the communication path 7b of the seal member to be completely sealed. On the other hand, the opening of the first buffer chamber 2c of the first plate 2 and the opening of the second buffer chamber 7f of the seal member 7 are communicated and completely sealed.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the buffer chamber is opened from the back surface 2f of the first plate 2 in a concave shape and the second buffer hole is opened from the plug portion of the seal member 7 in a concave shape. Since the buffer chamber 7f is divided and disposed, the space volume of the buffer chamber can be easily set large without enlarging the entire liquid jet recording head.

  Therefore, in a liquid jet recording head that requires a large buffer chamber space volume, such as a form with a high ejection frequency or a form with a large number of ejection port arrays, an embodiment like the third embodiment is used. It becomes effective.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid jet recording head according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a buffer chamber opened in a concave shape is disposed in the stopper portion of the seal member 7, and a part of the buffer chamber space is formed of a flexible membrane. The ink vibration is attenuated by the expansion and contraction action.

  The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with the same reference numerals assigned to the same parts as in the previous embodiment, based on FIG.

  7 g is a flexible film formed on one plane of the buffer chamber 7 f opened in a concave shape in the stopper portion of the seal member 7. Since the seal member 7 is formed of a material such as rubber or elastomer, the flexible film 7g that can be easily expanded and contracted can be formed by setting a desired surface to a thin thickness.

  In addition, since the air reservoir 6e is disposed in a region opposite to the buffer chamber 7f that is in contact with the flexible membrane 7g, the flexible membrane 7g is easily expanded and contracted.

  With the above-described configuration, when ink vibration occurs, the flexible film 7g expands and contracts in conjunction with the pressure fluctuation of the air in the buffer chamber, so that the ink vibration attenuation effect can be increased.

  In this embodiment, the flexible film is formed by setting the predetermined wall surface to be thin, but the formation of the flexible film is not limited to such a configuration, and the flexibility is not limited. Another member may be configured to be joined to the seal member 7.

  As described above, by forming one plane of the buffer chamber 7f with the flexible film 7g, the damping effect of the ink vibration is increased by the combined use of the expansion / contraction action of the buffer chamber air and the expansion / contraction action of the flexible film. be able to. Therefore, even if there is a small buffer chamber space, ink vibration can be effectively attenuated.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid jet recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The partial exploded perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the buffer chamber which is an example of Example 1 of this invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid jet recording head according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of a liquid jet recording head according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid jet recording head according to a second embodiment of the invention. The partial exploded perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the buffer chamber which is an example of Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid jet recording head according to a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid jet recording head according to Embodiment 4 of the invention. FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram showing a pressure oscillation waveform in an ink flow path with respect to an ejection pulse when a predetermined ejection is performed in a liquid jet recording head of a conventional example. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a buffer chamber shape in a liquid jet recording head of a conventional example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording element board | substrate 2 Support substrate 2a Common liquid chamber 2b Recording liquid supply port 2c Buffer chamber, 1st buffer chamber 2d Connection channel 6 Flow path member 6b 1st positioning sleeve 6c 2nd positioning sleeve 7 Seal member 7a 1st guide sleeve 7b Communication path 7d Second guide sleeve 7e Plug portion 7f Buffer chamber, second buffer chamber 7g Flexible membrane

Claims (6)

An ejection port for ejecting the recording liquid, a recording element substrate provided with a plurality of recording elements that generate energy for ejecting the recording liquid, and bonding and fixing the recording element substrate at a predetermined position and the recording element A liquid having a supply passage for supplying a recording liquid to the substrate and a support substrate made of a plate-like member that is disposed downstream of the supply passage and in which a common liquid chamber for temporarily storing the recording liquid is formed. A discharge unit;
A holder unit having a recording liquid passage for supplying a recording liquid from the liquid container to the liquid ejection unit, the liquid container storing the recording liquid being detachably held;
In a liquid jet recording head having a seal member sandwiched between a support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit and sealing a supply passage of the support substrate and a recording liquid passage of the holder unit,
Forming one or a plurality of buffer chambers for accommodating a gas that opens in a concave shape from a surface opposite to a surface to which the recording element substrate is bonded in the support substrate;
A liquid jet recording head, wherein a connection passage for connecting the supply passage or the common liquid chamber and the buffer chamber is provided.   2. The liquid jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the buffer chamber is closed by a plug member when the opening of the buffer chamber is closed by a plug member. 3.   The plug member is integrally formed by the seal member, and when the seal member is sandwiched between the support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit, the opening of the buffer chamber is closed by the plug member. The liquid jet recording head according to claim 2, wherein the liquid jet recording head is configured as described above. An ejection port for ejecting the recording liquid, a recording element substrate provided with a plurality of recording elements that generate energy for ejecting the recording liquid, and bonding and fixing the recording element substrate at a predetermined position and the recording element A liquid having a supply passage for supplying a recording liquid to the substrate and a support substrate made of a plate-like member that is disposed downstream of the supply passage and in which a common liquid chamber for temporarily storing the recording liquid is formed. A discharge unit;
A holder unit having a recording liquid passage for supplying a recording liquid from the liquid container to the liquid ejection unit, the liquid container storing the recording liquid being detachably held;
In a liquid jet recording head having a seal member sandwiched between a support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit and sealing a supply passage of the support substrate and a recording liquid passage of the holder unit,
The sealing member is provided with one or a plurality of buffer chambers for containing a gas that opens in a concave shape from a surface bonded to the support substrate.
The support substrate is formed with a connection passage penetrating from the surface joined to the seal member to the supply passage or the common liquid chamber,
When the seal member is sandwiched between the support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit, the opening of the buffer chamber is sealed, and the buffer chamber and the connection passage are communicated with each other. A liquid jet recording head. An ejection port for ejecting the recording liquid, a recording element substrate provided with a plurality of recording elements that generate energy for ejecting the recording liquid, and bonding and fixing the recording element substrate at a predetermined position and the recording element A liquid having a supply passage for supplying a recording liquid to the substrate and a support substrate made of a plate-like member that is disposed downstream of the supply passage and in which a common liquid chamber for temporarily storing the recording liquid is formed. A discharge unit;
A holder unit having a recording liquid passage for supplying a recording liquid from the liquid container to the liquid ejection unit, the liquid container storing the recording liquid being detachably held;
In a liquid jet recording head having a seal member sandwiched between a support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit and sealing a supply passage of the support substrate and a recording liquid passage of the holder unit,
The support substrate includes one or more first buffer chambers that contain a gas that opens in a concave shape from the surface opposite to the surface to which the recording element substrate is bonded.
A connection passage is formed for communicating from the first buffer chamber to the supply passage or the common liquid chamber;
The seal member includes one or more second buffer chambers that are opposed to the concave opening of the first buffer chamber and that accommodate gas that opens in a concave shape from a surface to be bonded to the support substrate. Arranged,
When the seal member is sandwiched between the support substrate of the liquid discharge unit and the holder unit, the concave opening of the first buffer chamber and the concave opening of the second buffer chamber communicate and are sealed. A liquid jet recording head configured as described above.   6. The liquid jet recording head according to claim 4, wherein a part of the buffer chamber disposed in the sealing material is formed of a flexible film.

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