Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6168255
-
Patent Number
6,168,255
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, December 10, 199726 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 2, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Armstrong, Westerman, Hattori, McLeland & Naughton
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 347 20
- 347 29
- 347 47
- 347 31
- 347 93
- 347 71
- 347 68
- 347 92
- 347 87
- 156 290
- 156 292
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The present invention relates to an ink jet head for changing the volume in a pressure chamber by deformation of a laminate piezoelectric device and for jetting ink filled in the pressure chamber from the front openings of the pressure chamber through nozzle holes, and particularly to an ink jet head which is characterized by an adhesive layer interposed between the front end surface of the main body forming the pressure chamber and a nozzle plate. The nozzle plate is bonded to the front end surface of the main body via an adhesive layer formed by an adhesive. The adhesive layer is divided into a nozzle seal layer encompassing the nozzle holes and the periphery of the front openings of the pressure chamber, an outer periphery hermetic layer formed annularly around the outer periphery of a region in which the main body and the nozzle plate oppose each other, and a reinforcing layer distributed in an intermediate portion between the nozzle seal layer and the outer periphery hermetic layer.
Description
This application is a PCT/JP96/01588 filed Jun. 12, 1996.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an ink jet head for changing the volume in a pressure chamber by deformation of a laminate piezoelectric device and for jetting ink filled in the pressure chamber from the front openings of the pressure chamber through nozzle holes, particularly to an ink jet head which is characterized by an adhesive layer interposed between the front end surface of the main body forming the pressure chamber and a nozzle plate, a method of manufacturing the same, and a jig for manufacturing the ink jet head.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
A conventional ink jet head of this type is, for example, disclosed in the laid-open publication of JP-A 3-173651.
FIG. 8
shows the entire structure of the ink jet head as disclosed in the same publication, wherein a nozzle forming member
102
is bonded to a piezoelectric converter
101
fixedly secured onto a base member
100
by an adhesive
103
.
The base member
100
, the piezoelectric converter
101
and the nozzle forming member
102
are respectively incorporated in a frame
104
, wherein an ink chamber
105
is formed in an intermediate portion between the piezoelectric converter
101
and the nozzle forming member
102
. Ink
106
filled in the ink chamber
105
is discharged from nozzle holes
107
by deformation of the piezoelectric converter
101
.
FIG. 9
is an enlarged sectional view showing in detail a construction of a bonding part between the piezoelectric converter
101
and the nozzle forming member
102
and the periphery thereof shown in FIG.
8
. The piezoelectric converter
101
and the nozzle forming member
102
are bonded to each other by the adhesive
103
including space restriction particles
110
and conductive particles
111
. Each of the space restriction particles
110
has a uniform grain size. A given gap, namely, the ink chamber
105
, is formed between the piezoelectric converter
101
and the nozzle forming member
102
by the space restriction particles
110
.
Meanwhile, the ink jet head as disclosed in the publication of JP-A 3-173651 has a structure that the end part of the nozzle forming member
102
is bonded to the piezoelectric converter
101
, and the ink chamber
105
having a given interval is formed between the piezoelectric converter
101
and the nozzle forming member
102
as is evident from FIG.
9
.
If the bonding spot of the nozzle forming member
102
is limited to the end part alone as set forth above, it is not necessary to consider any harmful effect like the nozzle holes
107
being blocked owing to the expansion of the adhesive
103
. Accordingly, there is no description in publication JP-A 3-173651 regarding the amount of coating of the adhesive
103
.
However, the amount of coating of the adhesive becomes a problem, for example, in the case where an entire back surface of a nozzle plate
201
is bonded to an end surface
200
a
of a piezoelectric module
200
in the ink jet head shown in FIG.
10
.
That is, if the adhesive is coated onto the entire surfaces between the bonding surfaces of the end surface
200
a
of the piezoelectric module
200
and the nozzle plate
201
, excess adhesive inevitably expands to the periphery thereof. Particularly, when the adhesive enters gaps
202
forming the ink chamber, there is a likelihood that the discharge characteristic of the ink will be deteriorated or nozzle holes
203
will be blocked.
The laid-open publication of JP-A 5-220966 discloses a method of preventing the ink chamber and the nozzle holes from being blocked by the expansion of the excess adhesive set forth below.
That is, a method of manufacturing the ink jet head disclosed in the same publication comprises supplying an adhesive
302
to a recessed plate
300
having a recessed part
301
as shown in
FIG. 11A
, then scraping off the excess adhesive
302
which bulges onto the recessed plate
300
by a blade
303
as shown in
FIG. 11B
, thereby leaving the adhesive
302
in the recessed part
301
alone.
Successively, the end surface (bonding surface of the nozzle plate)
200
a
of the piezoelectric module
200
is pressed against the recessed part
301
, and then the piezoelectric module
200
is extracted thereafter so that a small amount of adhesive
302
is uniformly coated onto the end surface
200
a
of the piezoelectric module
200
, as shown in FIG.
11
C.
In such a manner, the method prevents the expansion of the excess adhesive
302
by bonding the nozzle plate
201
to the end surface
200
a
of the piezoelectric module
200
onto which the adhesive
302
is coated.
However, even in the method of manufacturing the ink jet head disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, there is a high possibility that the adhesive
302
filled in the bonding surfaces contains bubbles at random since the adhesive
302
is coated onto the entire bonding surfaces of the piezoelectric module
200
and the nozzle plate
201
.
If the adhesive
302
hardens while it contains bubbles, hermeticity between the piezoelectric module
200
and the nozzle plate
201
is not maintained depending on the condition or position of the bubbles, thereby leading to a danger that ink leakage will occur and an electrode of the piezoelectric module
200
will be short-circuited.
The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and it is an object of the invention to bond between the front end surface of the main body and the nozzle plate strongly with high hermeticity, and to prevent the nozzle holes from being blocked by the expansion of the adhesive.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above object, the ink jet head of the present invention is characterized in being structured as follows.
That is, the ink jet head comprises a main body for changing the volume in a pressure chamber by deformation of a laminate piezoelectric device, and feeding ink filled in the pressure chamber toward front openings of the pressure chamber, a nozzle plate having nozzle holes communicating with the front openings of the pressure chamber, and an adhesive layer formed between the front end surface of the main body and the nozzle plate by an adhesive.
The adhesive layer formed between the main body of the ink jet head and the nozzle plate comprises a nozzle seal layer of an arbitrary width in such a manner as to encompass the nozzle holes and the periphery of the front openings of the pressure chamber, an outer periphery hermetic layer of an arbitrary width being formed annularly around the outer periphery of a region in which the main body and the nozzle plate oppose each other, and a reinforcing layer being distributed in an intermediate portion between the nozzle seal layer and the outer periphery hermetic layer.
Since the nozzle holes and the front openings of the pressure chamber are sealed by the nozzle seal layer in the present invention having the construction set forth above, it is possible to prevent ink from leaking from the nozzle holes and the front openings.
Further, a sealing property can be further enhanced by the outer periphery hermetic layer, and particularly entrance of moisture, dust, etc., from the outside can be prevented. Still further, a large bonding strength can be secured by the reinforcing layer.
Further, a plurality of spherical bodies each having an extremely small diameter may be contained in the adhesive layer according to the ink jet head of the present invention. With such a construction, the thickness of the adhesive layer can be maintained constant by the existence of the spherical bodies, and the nozzle seal layer, the outer periphery hermetic layer and the reinforcing layer can be prevented from being collapsed so as to effectively perform their functions.
Meanwhile, a method of manufacturing an ink jet head of the present invention, comprising a main body for changing the volume in a pressure chamber by deformation of a laminate piezoelectric device, and feeding ink filled in the pressure chamber toward the front openings of the pressure chamber, and a nozzle plate bonded onto the front end surface of the main body in a state where nozzle holes communicate with the front openings of the pressure chamber, is characterized in comprising the following steps.
Adhesive coating step
In this step, the adhesive is coated onto the nozzle plate in such a manner as to encompass the front openings at the front end surface of the main body with an arbitrary width. Further, the adhesive is coated annularly along an outer periphery edge with an arbitrary width in a region where the nozzle plate is bonded to the front end surface of the main body. Still further, the adhesive is coated onto an intermediate region which is encompassed by each portion onto which the adhesive is coated in a distributed manner.
Since the adhesive is coated in such a manner, the nozzle seal layer, the outer periphery hermetic layer, and the reinforcing layer in the ink jet head of the present invention can be formed as mentioned in the foregoing.
Overlaying step
In this step, the nozzle plate is overlaid on the front end surface of the main body in a state where the nozzle holes conform to the front openings of the pressure chamber.
Pressing step
In this step, the nozzle plate which is overlaid on the front end surface of the main body in the overlaying step is pressed elastically. Since the nozzle plate is pressed elastically, the pressure applied to the adhesive is appropriately lessened to prevent the adhesive from being collapsed.
If a plurality of spherical bodies each having an extremely small diameter are contained in the adhesive used in the adhesive coating step, the thickness of the adhesive layer can be maintained constant by the existence of the spherical bodies so as to prevent the adhesive from being collapsed.
Each step of the method of manufacturing the ink jet head of the present invention may be carried out in the following method.
Adhesive coating step
The adhesive is coated onto the nozzle plate in such a manner as to encompass the nozzle holes with an arbitrary width. Further, the adhesive is coated annularly along an outer periphery edge with an arbitrary width in a region where the nozzle plate is bonded to the front end surface of the main body. Still further, the adhesive is coated onto an intermediate region which is encompassed by each portion onto which the adhesive is coated in a distributed manner.
Overlaying step
The front end surface of the main body is overlaid on the nozzle plate in a state where the front openings of the pressure chamber conform to the nozzle holes.
Pressing step
The nozzle plate overlaid on the front end surface of the main body is elastically pressed.
Also in this case, if plural spherical bodies each having an extremely small diameter are contained in the adhesive used in the adhesive coating step, the thickness of the adhesive layer can be maintained constant by the existence of the spherical bodies so as to prevent the adhesive from being collapsed.
Still further, the present invention provides a jig adapted for carrying out the method of manufacturing the ink jet head set forth above.
That is, the jig for manufacturing an ink jet head of the present invention comprises a main body of the jig for supporting the main body of the ink jet head, a pressing plate for supporting the nozzle plate while opposing the main body of the ink jet head supported by the main body of the jig, the pressing plate being freely movable in a direction of the main body of the jig, an elastic member provided on the pressing plate for elastically supporting the nozzle plate, and a suction means provided on the pressing plate for suctioning the nozzle plate against the elastic member.
Since the nozzle plate is pressed elastically by the elastic member in the jig for manufacturing the ink jet head, the pressing step in the method of manufacturing the ink jet head set forth above can be easily performed, and also the pressure applied to the adhesive is appropriately lessened to prevent the adhesive from being collapsed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an ink jet head according to a mode for carrying out the invention in which the ink jet head is partially cut off.
FIG. 2
is a side sectional view of the ink jet head shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a front sectional view of the ink jet head shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view showing a laminate piezoelectric device unit and a flexible printed-circuit board in the ink jet head shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
is a front view showing a state where an adhesive is coated onto the front end surface of the main body of the ink jet head shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 6
is a front sectional view showing a jig for manufacturing the ink jet head shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 7
is a bottom view showing a pressing plate of the jig shown in FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
is a sectional view for explaining the prior art disclosed in the publication of JP-A 3-173651.
FIG. 9
is an enlarged sectional view for explaining the prior art disclosed in the publication of JP-A 3-173651, like FIG.
8
.
FIG. 10
is a perspective view for explaining another prior art disclosed in the publication of JP-A 5-220966.
FIG. 11A
is a sectional view for explaining the prior art disclosed in the publication of JP-A 5-220966, like FIG.
10
.
FIG. 11B
is a sectional view continued from FIG.
11
A.
FIG. 11C
is a sectional view continued from FIG.
11
B.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be now described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
The overall construction of an ink jet head will be first described with reference to
FIGS. 1
to
4
.
The ink jet head shown in these figures is provided with a main body
1
and a nozzle plate
2
having a plurality of nozzle holes
2
a.
The main body
1
comprises a pressure chamber
11
, a flow path forming member
10
forming an ink flow path to the pressure chamber
11
, a laminate piezoelectric device unit
20
which is deformed in the direction of the thickness thereof when a voltage is applied, a diaphragm
30
provided between the laminate piezoelectric device unit
20
and the flow path forming member
10
, a flexible printed-circuit board
40
for applying a voltage to the laminate piezoelectric device unit
20
, and the like.
The flow path forming member
10
has a common liquid chamber
12
at the rear end portion thereof. Ink is supplied to the common liquid chamber
12
through an ink supply port
13
. A plurality of pressure chambers
11
are formed in a line on the bottom surface of the flow path forming member
10
extending from the intermediate portion to the front end portion thereof. Each pressure chamber
11
communicates with the common liquid chamber
12
through each orifice
14
.
The laminate piezoelectric device unit
20
is bonded to the bottom surface of the flow path forming member
10
via the diaphragm
30
. The laminate piezoelectric device unit
20
includes laminate piezoelectric bodies
21
and a base
22
. The laminate piezoelectric bodies
21
are structured in such a manner that a plurality of plate-shaped piezoelectric members are laminated while they clamp electrode plates
22
a
and
22
b
therebetween as shown in FIG.
2
.
Exposed ends of the electrode plates
22
a
and
22
b
are arranged alternately to the outside. For example, the electrode plates
22
a
corresponding to odd numbers counted from the bottom are exposed from the laminate piezoelectric bodies
21
at the rear end thereof, and the electrode plates
22
b
corresponding to even numbers counted from the bottom are exposed from the laminate piezoelectric bodies
21
at the front end portion thereof.
The laminate piezoelectric bodies
21
are bonded onto the upper surface of the base
22
, and they are divided into a plurality of piezoelectric devices
21
a
by grooves
23
. Each of the piezoelectric devices
21
a
(excluding piezoelectric devices
21
b
provided at both ends) is provided so as to oppose the pressure chamber
11
via the diaphragm
30
.
The piezoelectric devices
21
b
provided on both ends of the laminate piezoelectric bodies
21
serve as a non-driving portion to which no voltage is applied, and serve as supporters for supporting the piezoelectric devices
21
a
provided at the intermediate portion.
A driving concentration electrode
24
is formed on the rear end surface of each of the piezoelectric devices
21
a
opposing the pressure chamber
11
, and the electrode plates
22
a
exposed from the rear end surface of each of the piezoelectric devices
21
a
is electrically connected to the driving concentration electrode
24
. Meanwhile, a common concentration electrode
25
is formed on the front end surface of each of the piezoelectric devices
21
a
, and the electrode plates
22
b
exposed from the front end surface of each of the piezoelectric devices
21
a
are electrically connected to the common concentration electrode
25
.
A voltage is applied to the driving concentration electrode
24
and the common concentration electrode
25
via the flexible printed-circuit board
40
as shown in
FIG. 4. A
plurality of driving conductive patterns
41
and a common conductive pattern
42
are formed on the flexible printed-circuit board
40
, and each of the driving conductive patterns
41
is connected to the driving concentration electrode
24
individually. Further, the common conductive pattern
42
extends to the front end surface side of the laminate piezoelectric bodies
21
through one edge of the base
22
on the upper surface thereof, and is connected to the common concentration electrode
25
.
When the voltage is applied between the driving concentration electrode
24
and common concentration electrode
25
via the flexible printed-circuit board
40
, each of the piezoelectric devices
21
a
opposing the pressure chamber
11
is deformed in the direction of the thickness thereof. This deformation is transmitted to the diaphragm
30
to change the volume in the pressure chamber
11
. As a result, ink filled in the pressure chamber
11
is discharged from front openings
11
a
through the nozzle holes
2
a.
A frame
50
is provided on the bottom surface of the flow path forming member
10
to cover the periphery of the laminate piezoelectric device unit
20
, and the flow path forming member
10
and the laminate piezoelectric device unit
20
are supported by the frame
50
.
A front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
is formed on the front end surface of the flow path forming member
10
, the front end of the diaphragm
30
and the front end surface of the frame
50
according to the mode for carrying out the invention as shown in FIG.
2
. The nozzle plate
2
is joined onto the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
. The front openings
11
a
of the pressure chamber
11
are bored in the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
.
The construction of bonding between the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
and the nozzle plate
2
will be now described together with the method of manufacturing the ink jet head (see
FIG. 1
, FIG.
2
and FIG.
5
).
The front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
and the back surface of the nozzle plate
2
are finished to become a flat surface having a uniform surface roughness by grinding or lapping.
Further, a surface to be coated by the adhesive (the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
in this case) is irradiated with UV rays, and an organic substance on the front surface forms molecules having a simple structure due to the high energy of the UV rays, and having a strong oxidation strength due to ozone generated by the UV rays, and is vaporized to be removed, so that water repellency is reduced and wettability improves remarkably. As a result, the adhesive can be coated in a desired shape with uniform height.
The adhesive to be used is selected arbitrarily considering the material of the main body
1
and nozzle plate
2
. Single-liquid type epoxy adhesive having 220±20 poids in viscosity is used herein. The adhesive contains a plurality of hard true spherical bodies each having an extremely small diameter. The diameter of each of the hard spherical bodies can be set arbitrarily. It must be considered, however, that the diameter of each hard spherical body determines the thickness of the bonding layer formed between the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
and the nozzle plate
2
. In this mode for carrying out the invention, hard spherical bodies each having a diameter of 0.005 mm are contained in the adhesive.
The adhesive containing such hard spherical bodies is printed and coated onto the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
utilizing a screen printing method (adhesive coating step).
FIG. 5
shows a printing pattern for the adhesive relative to the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
. As shown in the same figure, the adhesive is printed and coated onto the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
while being divided into a nozzle seal layer
61
, an outer periphery hermetic layer
62
and a reinforcing layer
63
.
The nozzle seal layer
61
is formed to encompass the periphery of the front openings
1
a
of each pressure chamber
11
. The width of the nozzle seal layer
61
can be set arbitrarily. In this mode for carrying out the invention, the adhesive is printed and coated with a width of 0.06 mm and a height of 0.01 mm, thereby forming the nozzle seal layer
61
.
The outer periphery hermetic layer
62
is formed annularly with an arbitrary width along the outer peripheral edge of the region where the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
and the nozzle plate
2
oppose each other. In the mode for carrying out the invention, the adhesive is printed and coated with a width of 0.2 mm and a height of 0.01 mm, thereby forming the outer periphery hermetic layer
62
.
The reinforcing layer
63
is formed in the intermediate portion between the nozzle seal layer
61
and the outer periphery hermetic layer
62
in a distributed manner. In the mode for carrying out the invention, the adhesive is printed and coated in a plurality of circular patterns each having a diameter of 0.2 mm and a height of 0.01 mm, thereby forming the reinforcing layer
63
.
The back surface of the nozzle plate
2
is overlaid and bonded onto the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
onto which the adhesive is printed and coated while it is divided into each layer (overlaying step). At this time, each of the nozzle holes
2
a
defined in the nozzle plate
2
is permitted to conform to the front openings
11
a
of the pressure chamber
11
, thereby positioning the former relative to the latter.
Thereafter the nozzle plate
2
is pressed relatively against the main body
1
so that the adhesive which is printed and coated onto the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
is brought into close contact with the nozzle plate
2
(pressing step). In this pressing step, the nozzle plate
2
is pressed elastically, thereby realizing a uniform bonding state.
That is, when any foreign matter is stuck to the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
or the back surface of the nozzle plate
2
, stress caused by the pressing is concentrated on the portion contacting the foreign matter on the back surface of the nozzle plate
2
, whereby there occurs the likelihood of the deformation of the nozzle plate
2
.
Particularly in the mode for carrying out the invention employing the adhesive containing the hard spherical bodies, there occurs distortion in each portion of the nozzle plate
2
causing gaps to be defined when the hard spherical bodies are brought into contact with the nozzle plate
2
, whereby there occurs the likelihood of deterioration of the sealing property in the bonding portions.
Such drawbacks can be avoided by pressing the nozzle plate
2
elastically as set forth below.
FIG. 6
is a sectional view showing the jig for manufacturing the ink jet head capable of performing the overlaying step and the pressing step easily and accurately. Further,
FIG. 7
is a bottom view of a pressing plate of the jig for manufacturing the ink jet head.
The jig for manufacturing the ink jet head is provided with a main body
70
of the jig for supporting the main body
1
and a pressing plate
80
for supporting the nozzle plate
2
.
A positioning fixed portion
71
for positioning the main body
1
is formed in the main body
70
of the jig. In the mode for carrying out the invention, the positioning fixed portion
71
for positioning the main body
1
is formed by a recessed part having a shape conforming to the shape of the rear end portion of the main body
1
, wherein the rear end portion of the main body
1
is engaged with the positioning fixed portion
71
while the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
is directed upward so that the main body
1
can be automatically positioned and fixed.
Positioning pins
72
protrude from both side edge portions of the main body
70
of the jig and positioning holes
81
in which the positioning pins
72
are engaged are defined in both side edge portions of the pressing plate
80
. The pressing plate
80
can be slid along the positioning pins
72
in a state where the positioning holes
81
are engaged with the positioning pins
72
of the main body
70
of the jig.
A plate-shaped elastic member
82
is provided on the bottom surface of the pressing plate
80
opposing the positioning fixed portion
71
for positioning the main body as shown in FIG.
7
. The elastic member
82
is formed by printing, for example, a liquid silicon rubber having an adhesive property which is excellent in heat resistance onto the bottom surface of the pressing plate
80
by a screen printing process, and thereafter heating and curing it, whereby an elastic member having a Young's modulus of 5 kgf/cm
2
with a height of 0.012 to 0.02 mm is formed.
Small grooves
83
each forming a vacuum chuck are defined in the elastic member
82
, and vacuum nozzles
84
are bored in the small grooves
83
to form a suctioning means for suctioning the nozzle plate
2
. The vacuum nozzles
84
communicate with a vacuum pump (not shown), and the nozzle plate
2
can be suctioned by and fixed to the elastic member
82
by evacuating the interior of the small grooves
83
by the vacuum pump.
Nozzle positioning pins
85
are provided in the pressing plate
80
to protrude to both side edge portions of the elastic member
82
. The positioning holes
2
b
for engaging with the nozzle positioning pins
85
are defined previously in the nozzle plate
2
wherein the nozzle plate
2
can be positioned relative to the pressing plate
80
when the positioning holes
2
b
are engaged with the nozzle positioning pins
85
.
The positioning fixed portion
71
for positioning the main body
1
, the positioning pins
72
respectively formed on the main body
70
of the jig, the positioning holes
81
, the nozzle positioning pins
85
provided on the pressing plate
80
and the positioning holes
2
b
defined in the nozzle plate
2
are respectively adjusted in advance so that the nozzle holes
2
a
of the nozzle plate
2
which is positioned and fixed to the pressing plate
80
oppose the front openings
11
a
of the pressure chamber
11
in the main body
1
which is positioned in the positioning fixed portion
71
of the main body
70
of the jig.
The overlaying step and the pressing step can be easily performed as follows using the jig for manufacturing the ink jet head.
First of all, the main body
1
having the front end surface
1
a
onto which the adhesive is printed and coated is engaged with the positioning fixed portion
71
for positioning the main body
70
of the jig, and the nozzle plate
2
is positioned onto the elastic member
82
of the pressing plate
80
to suction the former to the latter. Thereafter, the pressing plate
80
is engaged with the positioning pins
72
to slide the pressing plate
80
toward the main body
70
of the jig.
After the nozzle plate
2
suctioned by the pressing plate
80
contacts the adhesive which is printed and coated onto the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
, a given pressing force is applied so that the nozzle plate
2
is bonded to the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
. At this time, since the elastic member
82
is interposed between the pressing plate
80
and the nozzle plate
2
, the nozzle plate
2
is pressed elastically. In this state, a heating process is performed for a given time to cure the adhesive.
The adhesive layer is formed by the adhesive between the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
and the nozzle plate
2
which are bonded to each other as set forth above. The adhesive layer comprises the nozzle seal layer
61
, the outer periphery hermetic layer
62
and the reinforcing layer
63
as set forth above, and among them, the nozzle seal layer
61
prevents ink discharged from the front openings
11
a
of the pressure chamber
11
from leaking between the bonding surfaces. The outer periphery hermetic layer
62
prevents moisture, dust, etc., from entering between the bonding surfaces from the outside. The reinforcing layer
63
sufficiently secures the bonding strength between the main body
1
and the nozzle plate
2
.
As a result of forming the adhesive layer in the required minimum region, the expansion of adhesive can be restrained, thereby preventing the harmful effect that the nozzle holes
2
a
are blocked owing to the expansion of the adhesive.
Further, since the hard spherical bodies are contained in the adhesive in the mode for carrying out the invention, they act as supports when the nozzle plate
2
is pressed and brought into contact with the main body
1
, thereby preventing the adhesive layer from being collapsed. As a result, the expansion of the adhesive can be further restrained, thereby forming an adhesive having a uniform thickness, so that the bonding strength is stabilized.
Although the adhesive is coated onto the front end surface
1
a
of the main body
1
in the mode for carrying out the invention set forth above, the adhesive may be coated onto the back surface of the nozzle plate
2
to overlay on the main body
1
.
Further, as the feature of the present invention resides in the bonding portion between the main body and the nozzle plate, the other components may be appropriately changed in design.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention has an effect in the improvement of accuracy of the ink jet head employed by an ink jet printer, particularly, in the bonding between the main body and the nozzle plate in appropriate states, thereby lowering the defective fraction of manufactured ink jet heads remarkably.
Claims
- 1. An ink jet head comprising a main body for changing the volume in a pressure chamber by deformation of a laminate piezoelectric device, and feeding ink filled in the pressure chamber toward front openings of the pressure chamber, a nozzle plate having nozzle holes communicating with the front openings of the pressure chamber, and an adhesive layer formed between the front end surface of the main body and the nozzle plate by an adhesive,said adhesive layer formed between the main body and the nozzle plate comprises a nozzle seal layer circumscribing the nozzle holes and the periphery of the front openings of the pressure chamber to prevent ink leakage between the nozzle plate and the main body, an outer periphery hermetic layer formed annularly around the outer periphery of a region in which the main body and the nozzle plate oppose each other to prevent moisture entering between the nozzle plate and the main body, and a reinforcing layer being distributed in an intermediate portion between the nozzle seal layer and the outer periphery hermetic layer to secure the bond strength.
- 2. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer contains a plurality of spherical bodies.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
7-170537 |
Jun 1995 |
JP |
|
7-143778 |
Dec 1995 |
JP |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
PCT/JP96/01588 |
|
WO |
00 |
12/10/1997 |
12/10/1997 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO96/41721 |
12/27/1996 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (3)
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3-173651 |
Jul 1991 |
JP |
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Aug 1991 |
JP |
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Dec 1991 |
JP |
4-5023 |
Jan 1992 |
JP |
4-31053 |
Feb 1992 |
JP |
5-69548 |
Mar 1993 |
JP |
5-220966 |
Aug 1993 |
JP |
6-15689 |
Jan 1994 |
JP |
6-31925 |
Aug 1994 |
JP |
6-336012 |
Dec 1994 |
JP |