JP3672048B2 - Method for processing drive element for ink jet print head - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a method of processing a drive element for an ink jet print head that uses a drive element as an ink discharge means, particularly an electromechanical conversion element (hereinafter referred to as piezo).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional piezo processing method of an ink jet printer, one end of a piezo is bonded and fixed to ceramic or the like, and this is cut to work as an individual piezo.
[0003]
FIG. 1 shows a conventional technique.
[0004]
In the figure, the laminated piezo 1 is conductively bonded to the side of the ceramic 2 covered with plating.
[0005]
As shown in FIG. 2, it is cut at a predetermined pitch, such as 1 ′ and 2 ′, so as to work as individual driving elements.
[0006]
Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the flexible substrate 3 is attached to the ceramic 2 to provide individual electrodes and common electrodes.
[0007]
In the processing of FIG. 2, the piezo 1 is cut into a small size and is in a 1 'state, so that the strength is very deteriorated and it is easily broken.
[0008]
Piezo heads are also demanding finer heads, so the tendency of strength deterioration is becoming more and more remarkable.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when one end of the piezo 1 to be cut when performing the processing of FIG. 2 is fixed, but the other end is free, the case of meeting the demand for further miniaturizing the processing of the piezo 1 The possibility of accidents such as piezo breakage during processing and handling has increased.
[0010]
Therefore, a processing method is proposed that is safe and reliable when the piezo is finely processed.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an inkjet printhead driving element formed by bonding and fixing an electromechanical conversion element on a substrate, cutting it at a predetermined pitch, and connecting the electromechanical conversion element with a cable. In the method, a step of providing a cutting auxiliary member on the electromechanical conversion element is added as a pre-process of cutting.
[0012]
[Action]
For the purpose of making more nozzles by increasing the density of the head of an inkjet printer and performing high-speed printing, if the piezo is processed more finely by the conventional processing method, the strength of the piezo after cutting will decrease. , Piezo will be destroyed during handling. However, according to the above means, the piezo can be protected at the time of cutting and after the cutting, so that the piezo is prevented from being destroyed and the piezo is not touched in the bonding process. It can also be prevented.
[0013]
【Example】
The present invention will be described below.
[0014]
In FIG. 4, first, the laminated piezo 4 and ceramic 5 are bonded.
[0015]
Next, the cutting assisting member 6 is bonded and fixed to the piezo 4 so as to be electrically connected to the plated surface of the ceramic 5 surface.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 9, grease that does not adversely affect the operation of the piezo, such as grease or silicon resin that solidifies at room temperature and melts at a certain temperature, for example, 100 ° C. or less, is injected from the direction of arrow A. It is used as a piezo holding material during cutting. As a result, the piezo 4 can be easily cut.
[0017]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, since the cutting assisting member 6 functions as a protector for the piezo 4 ′ after cutting and after processing, when the individual electrode and the common electrode are created, that is, the flexible substrate 7 is attached, During the work in the process, the destruction of the piezo 4 'can be avoided.
[0018]
A plurality of drive elements processed as described above are attached and assembled to the holder 8 as shown in FIG. 7, and an ink chamber 9 is attached to the holder 8 to obtain a head as shown in FIG.
[0019]
In this embodiment, the cutting assisting member 6 and the ceramic substrate 5 are separate members. However, the same effect can be obtained by using an integrally formed cutting assisting member 6 and the ceramic substrate 5. Rather, since the number of steps for bonding and fixing is reduced when they are integrated, it is possible to reduce elements that increase tolerance. Therefore, the machining accuracy can be increased as compared with the case where the integral molding is not performed, and the performance can be stabilized.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
By providing a cutting assisting member that protects the piezo during processing, it is possible to prevent the piezo from being broken due to micromachining and losing strength in the machining process. The number can be increased and a large-sized head can be used to enable high-speed printing.
[0021]
Also, the product yield is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bonding state between a conventional piezo and a ceramic substrate.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cutting state of a conventional piezo.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection state with a flexible substrate.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an adhesive state between the piezo of the present invention and a ceramic substrate.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cutting state of the piezo according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a connection state with the flexible substrate of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an assembly state diagram.
FIG. 8 is a final assembly state diagram as a piezo inkjet head.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where a piezo is protected.

Claims (4)

In the processing method of the drive element for an inkjet print head formed by adhering and fixing the electromechanical conversion element on the substrate, cutting it at a predetermined pitch, and further connecting the electromechanical conversion element with a cable,
A drive element for an inkjet print head , comprising a step of bonding a cutting auxiliary member to the substrate as a pre-process of cutting , and adding a holding material between the electromechanical conversion element and the cutting auxiliary member . Processing method. 2. The method for processing an ink jet print head drive element according to claim 1, wherein the cutting assisting member is formed integrally with the substrate. The method for processing a drive element for an inkjet print head according to claim 1, wherein the holding material is grease that is solidified at room temperature and melts at 100 ° C. or less. The method for processing a drive element for an ink jet print head according to claim 1, wherein the holding material is a silicon resin.

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