Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus

Abstract

A cover member is fixed to a head chip in an area in the vicinity of a nozzle plate but does not constitute a communication path, and thus causes no liquid leakage. The head chip discharges droplets of a discharge liquid that is supplied via the communication path which is formed from nozzles thereof without depending on the cover member. A surface of the nozzle plate is positioned on a side further apart from a printing medium than from a surface of the cover member and is surrounded. As a result, abutting of the printing medium against a side surface of the nozzle plate is avoided.

Description

The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-067436 filed on Mar. 27, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid from a nozzle, and a liquid ejecting apparatus. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink, and a liquid ejecting apparatus.

2. Related Art

An ink jet type recording head is a representative example of a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid drops. The link jet type recording head includes a pressure generation chamber that communicates with a nozzle and a piezoelectric actuator that is disposed to face the pressure generation chamber. A pressure change is generated in the pressure generation chamber by a displacement of the piezoelectric actuator so that the ink drops are ejected from the nozzle.

Various structures have been proposed as the structure of such ink jet type recording heads. In general, a plurality of members are set (bonded together) using an adhesive or the like (for example, refer to JP-A-2012-196882).

In the structure of the ink jet type recording head shown in JP-A-2012-196882, a surface of the liquid ejecting head that faces the printing medium is almost covered by a cover member formed of stainless steel with the exception of an almost minimum nozzle plate that is formed from a silicon substrate.

Also, the cover member forms an ink flow passage on an inner side surface of the liquid ejecting head.

In the structure of the ink jet type recording head shown in JP-A-2012-196882, the cover member, which forms the ink flow passage on the inner side surface, is widely exposed to the printing medium. In a case where the printing medium collides with or impacts the cover member, the cover member is likely to be peeled away from or separate from the case member. When the cover member is peeled off of or away from the case member, liquid leakage results. This is a fatal defect for the ink jet type recording head.

This disadvantage is present not only in ink jet type recording heads that eject ink but also in liquid ejecting heads that eject liquid other than ink.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some embodiments of the invention is to provide a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus where a sheet or the like is unlikely to cause the nozzle plate to peel or to separate.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a liquid ejecting head includes a head chip that discharges a liquid (a discharge liquid) in a communication path through nozzles. The liquid ejecting head holds a surface of the head chip where the nozzles are formed in such a manner that the surface is exposed to an outside. The head chip includes a plate-shaped nozzle plate where the nozzles are formed and arranged in a predetermined manner on a side that faces a printing medium. The liquid ejecting head further includes a cover member that includes an opening that is capable of exposing the nozzle plate to the outside and that does not constitute the communication path. The nozzle plate is positioned in an inside area of the opening or inside the opening of the cover member and the cover member is set or bonded to the head chip in an area in a vicinity of the nozzle plate of the head chip.

In the above-described configuration, the liquid ejecting head holds the head chip in such a manner that the surface of the head chip where the nozzles are formed is exposed to the outside. The head chip includes the plate-shaped nozzle plate. The nozzles are formed in the nozzle plate and arranged in a predetermined manner on the side of the nozzle plate that faces the printing medium. The opening of the cover member is capable of exposing the nozzle plate to the outside and the cover member does not constitute the communication path. The nozzle plate is positioned in the inside area of the opening and the cover member is set or bonded to the head chip in the area in the vicinity of the nozzle plate of the head chip.

As such, the cover member is set to the head chip in the area in the vicinity of the nozzle plate of the head chip but does not constitute the communication path, and thus causes no liquid leakage. By setting the cover member to the head chip in this manner, liquid leakage is avoided.

The head chip discharges droplets of the discharge liquid that is supplied via the communication path from the nozzles thereof. The communication path is formed without depending on the cover member.

Also, a surface of the cover member on a printing medium side may be positioned closer to the printing medium side than to a surface of the nozzle plate.

In this configuration, the surface of the nozzle plate is positioned on a side further apart from the printing medium than from the surface of the cover member. The nozzle plate is surrounded, in one example, by the cover member. Thus, abutting of the printing medium against a side surface of the nozzle plate is avoided. In other words, contact between the printing medium and a side surface of the nozzle plate is avoided.

In one embodiment, the nozzle plate is a member that constitutes the ink flow passage, or a portion thereof, of the head chip. The possibility of the printing medium abutting against the nozzle plate is suppressed to a minimum. The cover member, which does not constitute the ink flow passage, is widely exposed to the printing medium so that the printing medium abuts against the cover member. In this manner, the member or members that constitute the ink flow passage can be suppressed from peeling or separating, and ink leakage can be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a development view of an example of an upper side of a liquid ejecting head.

FIG. 2 is a development view of an example of a lower side of the liquid ejecting head.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a vicinity of a head chip.

FIG. 4 is a schematic development view showing a configuration of an example compliance member.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a bottom side of an example case member.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an example mold.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the mold.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an overall internal configuration of the case member.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall internal configuration of the case member.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example wipe process.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example nozzle plate and an example cover member.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where an amount of a filling material differs.

FIG. 13 is a schematic bottom view showing a state where the cover member is viewed from below.

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view showing a state where the cover member and a wiper abut against each other.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are development views of an ink jet type recording head showing an example of a liquid ejecting head according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a vicinity of a head chip of the ink jet type recording head.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ink jet type recording head 1 is formed by accommodating respective parts in a case member 10 that includes an upper case member 11 and a lower case member 12. An upper space and a lower space are formed in the lower case member 12. A flow path member 24 that includes a first flow path member 21, a filter 22, and a second flow path member 23, a seal member 25, and a circuit substrate 26 are sequentially stacked from above and are accommodated in the upper space.

Also, a flexible substrate 27, a third flow path member 28, a head chip 30, and a cover member 29 are accommodated from above in the lower space and may be sequentially stacked. The head chip 30 includes a piezoelectric actuator part 31, a flow path forming plate 32, a nozzle plate 33, and a compliance member 40.

In the head chip 30, the piezoelectric actuator part 31 is fixed (e.g., bonded) to an upper surface of the flow path forming plate 32, and the nozzle plate 33 and the compliance member 40 are fixed to a lower surface of the flow path forming plate 32. The flow path forming plate 32 is formed into a substantially rectangular plate shape, and the piezoelectric actuator part 31 is formed into a substantially strip shape and is set on the upper surface of a central part of the flow path forming plate 32 in a short direction. The piezoelectric actuator part 31 includes pressure chambers 30a that open downward. A ceiling wall of the pressure chamber 30a may be bent or flexed in an up-down direction to allow a pressure change to be generated in the pressure chamber 30a.

An elastic membrane, an insulator film, and individual piezoelectric actuators, each of which includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric body layer, and a second electrode are formed on the ceiling wall of the pressure chamber 30a. In this context, the piezoelectric actuator part 31 may refer to an integrated part in which a required number of the individual piezoelectric actuators are formed in one example. Also, the first electrode may function as an individual electrode that is independent of each of the piezoelectric actuators, and the second electrode may function as a common electrode that is common to a plurality of the piezoelectric actuators. Also, the first electrode may be connected to one end of a lead electrode, and a drive circuit 27a that is formed on the flexible substrate 27 may be connected to the other end of the lead electrode.

In one example, two pressure chambers 30a are formed in the short direction, and a predetermined number thereof are formed in two rows, lined up in a longitudinal direction. The flexible substrate 27 extends in the longitudinal direction and is connected to a gap in the center between the two pressure chambers 30a and 30a which are lined up in the short direction. The flexible substrate 27 supplies driving power to the individual piezoelectric actuators in the two rows of the pressure chambers 30a and 30a that are positioned on both sides as described above.

Each of the pressure chambers 30a faces a flow path 32a and a nozzle hole 32b that are formed on the flow path forming plate 32 on a lower surface thereof. Ink, which is an example of a discharge liquid, is supplied from a flow path 32a side to the pressure chamber 30a, and the ink is pushed to a nozzle hole 32b side by the pressure change in the pressure chamber 30a. The nozzle holes 32b and 32b are also arranged in a row, formed in two rows, in a longitudinal direction in the center of the short direction to correspond to the two rows of the pressure chambers 30a. Likewise, two rows of the flow paths 32a and 32a are formed on a short-direction outer side. The pressure chamber 30a is set in a liquid-tight manner by an adhesive or the like on the flow path forming plate 32.

An inlet 32a1 (which is a flow path or part of the flow path 32a) and an outlet 32a3 (which is a flow path or part of the flow path 32a) of the flow path forming plate 32 are common communication paths, and a flow path 32a2 is an individual communication path. The upper surface is open at an outer-side inlet 32a1 and an inner-side outlet 32a2, and both thereof communicate with each other at the central flow path 32a3 that is open to the lower surface. The central flow path 32a3 is open on the short-direction outer side of the nozzle hole 32b, and thus the elongated central flow paths 32a3 and 32a3 are open to the outer side and the two nozzle holes 32b and 32b are open to the inner side thereof when the flow path forming plate 32 is viewed from below. These are formed to be lined up in the longitudinal direction.

The nozzle plate 33 is formed into a strip-like rectangular shape that extends in the longitudinal direction along the positions where the nozzle holes 32b and 32b of the flow path forming plate 32 are formed. In one example, two nozzles 33a and 33a are formed to face the two nozzle holes 32b and 32b. The ink that is pushed to the nozzle hole 32b side by the pressure change in the pressure chamber 30a is discharged to the outside from the nozzle 33a. In other words, the liquid drops are discharged. The nozzle plate 33 may be formed from an expensive silicon material. The nozzle 33a that is formed on the nozzle plate 33 is oriented downward in one example.

The nozzle plate 33 is fixed along the positions where the nozzle holes 32b and 32b are formed, and thus the central flow paths 32a3 and 32a3 which are formed in two rows on an outer side thereof remain open and are not covered by the nozzle plate 33. The central flow paths 32a3 and 32a3 are covered by the compliance member 40.

FIG. 4 is a schematic development view showing a configuration of an embodiment of the compliance member. The compliance member 40 is configured to include an elastic membrane 41 that is an elastic membrane member, and a frame material 42 that is a supporting body. The frame material 42 includes a rectangular cut-out portion 42a in the center so that the compliance member 40 does not interfere with the nozzle plate 33. The frame material 42 includes two rows of three window sections 42b in one example. The window sections 42b are formed to correspond to parts where the two rows of the central flow paths 32a3 and 32a3 are formed. The elastic membrane 41 is supported by the frame portion of the frame material 42 by attaching the elastic membrane 41 to the frame material 42. A cut-out portion 41a similar to the cut-out portion 42a is formed in the elastic membrane 41. One side of the elastic membrane 41 is attached to the lower surface of the flow path forming plate 32 and each of the central flow paths 32a3 is sealed or covered by the elastic membrane 41. The window section 42b of the frame material 42 is formed or located on the opposite side of the elastic membrane 41 relative to the central flow paths 32a3, and the elastic membrane 41 can be flexurally deformed by the same amount as the thickness of the window section 42b. Also, a groove may be formed in a part of the frame material 42 and a passage leading to the atmosphere is provided so that the window section 42b is not sealed. This may allow the elastic membrane 41 to be deformed.

Accordingly, the compliance member 40 forms a series of communication paths by covering the central flow path 32a3 that reaches the outlet 32a2 from the inlet 32a1 from below, and achieves a function as the compliance member during the course thereof. In other words, the compliance member can seal the openings of the inlet 32a1, the outlet 32a2 and the flow path 32a3 on the compliance member side of the flow path substrate 32. A position where the compliance member 40 is mounted is not limited to the lower surface of the flow path forming plate 32. The compliance member 40 may be mounted in a vicinity of the outlet 32a2 side. In one example, the central flow path 32a3 may be blocked by another member to form only the communication path and may maintain the function as the compliance member at the other part.

A wall-shaped enclosure 12c that forms a space that can accommodate the head chip 30 and the third flow path member 28 is formed in a projecting manner at a lower end of the lower case member 12. The wall-shaped enclosure 12c projects in a cylindrical shape in one example to form the space inside. The wall-shaped enclosure 12c is formed to have a thickness larger than the thickness of the other wall surface of the lower case member 12. Because a cylindrical thick part is formed at the lower end of the lower case member 12, the lower case member 12 is unlikely to be bent in general, particularly around the wall-shaped enclosure 12c and around a part where the wall-shaped enclosure 12c is disposed. In one example, the wall-shaped enclosure 12c has a substantially square shape and a continuously linked cylindrical shape, but may not necessarily have the continuously linked shape. In other words, the wall-shaped enclosure 12c is effective in suppressing deformation or the like, for example based on bending, if disposed in a projecting manner through integral molding with the lower case member 12 so as to form a predetermined space inside.

The cover member 29 may be formed of stainless steel and may be thin to an extent of having elasticity.

The cover member 29 is fixed to and covers an opening that is formed in the projecting end section. The projecting end section may be a top of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c.

In the cover member 29, an elongated opening 29a that exposes the nozzle plate 33 is formed in a planar section along a printing medium. In the area exposed by the opening 29a of the cover member 29, the head chip 30 and the cover member 29 are attached to and set in a compliance member 40 part of the head chip 30 in the planar section in the vicinity of the opening 29a of the cover member 29. The cover member 29 is not attached to and set in a nozzle plate 33 part of the head chip 30 that constitutes an ink flow passage. Thus the cover member 29 does not constitute part of the ink flow passage.

Also, the head chip 30 is fixed to a lower part of the lower case member 12 via the third flow path member 28. A through port 28a that extends in a longitudinal direction is formed in the center of the third flow path member 28, and the flexible substrate 27 is inserted via the through port 28a. The third flow path member 28 has a space formed in the vicinity of a lower-side opening of the through port 28a so as to be capable of accommodating the piezoelectric actuator part 31. The third flow path member 28 also includes a communication path 28b formed from an upper surface to a lower surface in a part other than the through port 28a so as to face the inlet 32a1 of the flow path 32a of the flow path forming plate 32. The third flow path member 28 and the flow path forming plate 32 are attached in a liquid-tight manner by an adhesive for example. According to the above-described configuration, communication is made from the communication path 28b to the pressure chamber 30a through the flow path 32a. Further, a series of passages that lead to the nozzle 33a via the nozzle hole 32b are formed.

The lower case member 12 includes a through-hole 12a and a case member communication path 12b. The through-hole 12a is formed to correspond to the through port 28a and the case member communication path 12b is formed to correspond to the communication path 28b of the third flow path member 28. The third flow path member 28 is fixed to the lower case member 12 from below by an adhesive having flexibility which will be described later. In this case, the communication path 28b and the case member communication path 12b are set in such a manner as to communicate in a liquid-tight manner.

In this manner, the head chip 30 and the third flow path member 28 that are disposed in the space of the lower case member 12 are unlikely to be subjected to an external force because the lower case member is unlikely to be bent or deformed. The cover member 29 has elasticity that absorbs torsion generated between the head chip 30 and the lower case member 12 so that the head chip 30 is even more unlikely to be subjected to the external force. As such, peeling by or separation of the members that constitute the head chip 30 can be suppressed. In addition, ink leakage can be suppressed. Further, an adhesive having flexibility is even more effective when fixing or adhering the head chip 30 and the third flow path member 28, that is, the members that constitute the ink flow passage.

The position of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c where the cover member 29 is fixed is not limited to the opening on the top of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c as described above, but the position may include inner and outer side surfaces of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c. Also, the material of the cover member 29 is not limited to stainless steel. The cover member 29 may be a member having elasticity.

The nozzle plate 33 is formed to be thinner than the compliance member 40 in one example. Accordingly, the nozzle plate 33 has a positional relationship of not projecting to an outer side compared to the cover member 29 when positioned in the opening 29a. In other words, the cover member 29 projects out further than the nozzle plate 33 in a direction toward a recording medium and thus protects the nozzle plate 33 from impact.

Also, the nozzle plate 33 that may be formed of silicon with high precision is expensive. The nozzle plate 33 is therefore attached in such a manner as to cover only a necessary part of the flow path member 28. In one example, the nozzle plate 33 is wide enough to sufficiently cover the nozzle holes 32b and align the nozzles 33a with the nozzle holes 32b. This allows the nozzle plate 33 to be small in size. Also, exposure from or through the opening 29a of the cover member 29 is suppressed to a minimum. The head chip 30 and the cover member 29 are attached to and set in the planar section in the vicinity of the opening 29a of the cover member 29 not in a part of the nozzle plate 33 but in a part of the compliance member 40.

In this manner, in the nozzle plate 33 that constitutes at least part of the ink flow passage of the head chip 30, a possibility of contact with the printing medium is suppressed to a minimum. The printing medium may come into contact with the cover member 29. However, the cover member 29 does not constitute the ink flow passage. As such, peeling or separation in the member or members that constitute the ink flow passage can be suppressed and, in addition, ink leakage can be suppressed in the member that constitutes the ink flow passage.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a bottom side of the lower case member. FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of a main part of a mold that forms the lower case member.

The wall-shaped enclosure 12c is formed to be thick as described above. The lower case member 12 itself is an article that may be integrally molded from a resin. In some cases, accuracy cannot be maintained in a thick part thereof as designed due to an effect of contraction during cooling of the resin. This does not necessarily mean the presence of individual irregularities but the generation of the same shift in the entire wall-shaped enclosure 12c. Even when the top of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c is intended to form a plane, the entire molded article may not be a plane due to shrinkage of the resin and the contraction of the resin during the molding. As stated above, forming a plane across the entire top of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c is not easy.

In one embodiment, a plurality of projections 12c1 are formed apart from or spaced apart from each other on the top portion of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c. FIG. 5 illustrates an example where the projections 12c1 are formed in eight places in total including four corners of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c, which has a substantially rectangular cross section, and four places in the middle of each side. As a result, the top of each side of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c is a position where the projection 12c1 projects the most. The respective projections 12c1 may not have a uniform height from the top portion of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c.

First, the lower case member 12 is molded. The molded lower case member 12 does not have any projections 12c1. Then, the position of the top of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c is measured. Then, it is determined how much to raise the top of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c while assuming a plane that is parallel with the plane formed by the head chip 30 when the third flow path member 28 which holds the head chip 30 is set in the lower case member 12. The amount of raising is determined, in one example for each of the eight positions illustrated in FIG. 5. When the height of each raising is determined for the eight positions described above, concave portions corresponding to the respective heights are formed on a mold side or in the mold as shown in FIG. 6. Forming the concave portions on the mold side in this manner is easier than raising the inner portion. Also, finishing accuracy can be selected adequately.

Accordingly, the plane formed by the top of the projection 12c1 of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c can satisfy an intention of a designer by forming the concave portions with required accuracy in the mold and then using this mold. When the lower case member 12 is put upside down in this state and the cover member 29 is mounted from above the wall-shaped enclosure 12c in a state where the head chip 30 is set, the cover member 29 abuts against the top of the projection(s) 12c1 and is maintained in a plane without being affected by the shift generated in the wall-shaped enclosure 12c as described above. In a case where a plurality of the head chips 30 are set in the cover member 29, each of the head chips 30 can be arranged with high positional accuracy below the lower case member 12 since the plane is maintained.

In this case, the cover member 29 does not necessarily have to be in contact with the projection 12c1 in a strict sense, but even a state of abutting against many of the projections 12c1 and being in contact or out of contact with a small number of the projections 12c1 is allowable if the expected plane is maintained. Also, because the cover member 29 itself is attached to and set in or on the lower case member 12 in the first place using the adhesive applied to the top of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c, the adhesive may be interposed between the projection 12c1 and the cover member 29 so that the projection 12c1 and the cover member 29 are not in contact with each other in a strict sense.

In a case where the projection 12c1 is disposed not on a wall-shaped enclosure 12c side but on a cover member 29 side, there is a concern that distortion may occur in the cover member 29 during a process in which the projection 12c1 is formed in the cover member 29 to damage the planeness. As such, the projection 12c1 may be disposed on the wall-shaped enclosure 12c side or on the wall-shaped enclosure 12c.

When the concave portion is formed by using a drill as shown in FIG. 6 during the formation of the projection 12c1, the top of the projection 12c1 is given a conical shape in many cases. In this case, abutting against the cover member 29 is made in a state of being close to a point. The projection 12c1, in other words, includes a point that may abut against the cover member 29.

In the meantime, FIG. 7 shows an example in which the concave portion is formed using a so-called pin. The pin, in general, may have a configuration in which a male screw is screwed into a female screw hole. When the male screw is screwed deeply into female screw hole, the concave portion becomes shallow inside the mold and the projection 12c1 is formed to be short. In contrast, when the male screw is screwed shallowly into the female screw hole, the concave portion becomes deep inside the mold and the projection 12c1 is formed to be long. If a spacer having a constant thickness is prepared in advance so as to determine the length or the amount in which the pin is screwed into the screw hole, the length of each of the projections 12c1 can be freely adjusted.

The minimum required number of the projections 12c1, in one example, is three if the plane is to be identified. However, one projection 12c1 can serve as a part of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c. Also, irregularities in the amount of the applied adhesive can be reduced as well because of the projection 12c1. Also, the number of the projections 12c1 may exceed three so as to prevent the cover member 29 from being bent due to a wide gap between the projections 12c1. Considering that the cover member 29 has a substantially square shape, formation of the wall-shaped enclosure 12c at the eight places including the four corners and the middle points thereof provides stability.

Next, FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an overall internal configuration of the case member, and FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall internal configuration of the case member.

The lower case member 12 forms a predetermined accommodating space on an upper side of a bottom wall 12d where the through-hole 12a and the case member communication path 12b are formed when combined with the upper case member 11. An inner rib 12e that has a rectangular cross section in one example is formed in a projecting manner upward from the bottom wall 12d, and the through-hole 12a and the case member communication path 12b are formed on an inner side relative to the inner rib 12e. The circuit substrate 26 is mounted on a top of the inner rib 12e, and the seal member 25 and the flow path member 24 are mounted thereon. The top of the inner rib 12e identifies a plane that can be in close contact with the circuit substrate 26. The top of the inner rib 12e, in this sense, forms a planar section and the circuit substrate 26 is mounted on the planar section.

The circuit substrate 26 has an external shape that is larger than the inner rib 12e, and the top of the inner rib 12e may abut continuously against a lower surface of the circuit substrate 26 in a state where the circuit substrate 26 is mounted on the inner rib 12e. The part where the top of the inner rib 12e and the circuit substrate 26 abut against each other is hermetically fixed or sealed by applying a predetermined amount of a hermetic adhesive in advance to the top of the inner rib 12e. The inner rib 12e itself may be a three-dimensional cylindrical object and the planar circuit substrate 26 is attached to and set in the planar section formed in the opening thereof so that rigidity of the entire lower case member 12 can be increased around the inner rib 12e. The circuit substrate 26 may include a print substrate. Multiple leads which are electrically connected to the flexible substrate 27 are formed in or on an edge portion of a through port 26a. Also, a lead terminal (not shown) is formed in or on an outer edge portion as well, and the lead terminal is electrically connected to the outside via a connector.

A through port 26b is formed at a position on the circuit substrate 26 that corresponds to the case member communication path 12b of the lower case member 12. In this case, the through port 26b is formed at the position that corresponds to the case member communication path 12b and the case member communication path 12b is in a state of being exposed in an up-down direction. The case member communication path 12b communicates with the communication path 28b of the third flow path member 28 through a passage (not shown) as described above.

The seal member 25 that may be formed from a rubber material, for example an elastomer, has an external shape that is smaller than the external shape of the circuit substrate 26, but has an external shape that is at least larger than an area including the through port 26a and the through port 26b. The seal member 25 includes a small through port 25a formed in the center thereof. Also, a convex part 25b that projects downward and is formed into a cup shape is formed at positions corresponding to each of the through ports 26b of the circuit substrate 26. The convex part 25b is fitted into an inner circumferential surface of the through port 26b on an outer circumferential surface of a cup-shaped cylindrical part to fulfill a positioning function when inserted into the through port 26b of the circuit substrate 26. A cup-shaped bottom surface abuts against a circumferential edge portion of the opening of the case member communication path 12b. A through port 25b1 is also formed in the bottom surface to form a communication passage communicating with the case member communication path 12b.

A continuous seal part 25c whose thickness continuously increases upward and downward is formed on a circumferential edge of the seal member 25, and a lower surface of the continuous seal part 25c is in close contact with an upper surface of the circuit substrate 26 and an upper surface thereof is in close contact with a lower surface of the flow path member 24 when the flow path member 24 is mounted on the seal member 25. A cylindrical communication path 24a that corresponds to the convex part 25b of the seal member 25 and projects downward is formed in the flow path member 24. The length thereof is equivalent to the length of a lower end of the communication path 24a in contact with the bottom surface in the convex part 25b when the flow path member 24 is mounted on the seal member 25 and is in contact with the continuous seal part 25c. The flow path member 24 is accommodated in such a manner as to be pressed downward in the lower case member 12. In this case, the flow path member 24 abuts against the continuous seal part 25c in a circumferential edge part and the communication path 24a abuts against the bottom surface in the convex part 25b. Also, the continuous seal part 25c of the seal member 25 continuously abuts against the circumferential edge part of the circuit substrate 26 on a lower surface thereof and a lower surface side of the bottom surface of the convex part 25b abuts against the circumferential edge portion of the opening of the case member communication path 12b. When a predetermined pressing force is added from the flow path member 24, the seal member 25 achieves a sealing function in the abutting part in the above-described manner.

In one example, the communication path 24a of the flow path member 24 corresponds to a first communication path, the case member communication path 12b corresponds to a second communication path, and the communication path 28b of the third flow path member 28 corresponds to a third communication path. In FIG. 8, the communication path 28b is not shown for simplicity. An opening in which a predetermined space is formed inside by the wall-shaped enclosure 12c is formed on a printing medium side of the lower case member 12, and the third flow path member 28 in a state where the head chip 30 is held is set in the lower case member 12 in the predetermined space. The opening is blocked in a state where a nozzle surface of the head chip 30 is exposed to the outside by the cover member 29. Further, the seal member 25, which causes the first communication path and the second communication path to communicate with each other in a liquid-tight manner, is interposed between the flow path member 24 and the lower case member 12 via the circuit substrate 26 in a stacking direction of the flow path member 24. The seal member 25 seals an opening-side space in the lower case member 12. In other words, a liquid-tight structure can be formed in a predetermined part just through stacking members with the seal member 25 being interposed between the members. Compared to a case where the seal member is formed by separate bodies, the formation of the integrated seal member is likely to result in a reduction of the size of the entire seal member and an improvement in ease of assembly because the number of components is reduced.

In this case, because the through port 25a is formed in the seal member 25, both the space on a lower side of the seal member 25 and the space generated between the seal member 25 and the flow path member are sealed. Also, in one example, a path open to the atmosphere is formed on an upper surface of the continuous seal part 25c. The path may be a narrow groove and this path allows an inner circumferential side and an outer circumferential side to communicate with each other on the upper surface of the continuous seal part 25c. In other words, the path open to the atmosphere is formed into a groove-shaped part that is formed in a close contact surface in the stacking direction.

As a result, a large amount of gas does not move in and out because the groove shape is significantly narrow. However, a very small amount of gas moves in and out. In embodiments of the invention, a sealed state where the movement of this amount of gas is allowed is obtained. This is used so that the very small pressure change generated during a displacement of the above-described compliance member 40 is transmitted to the outside through the opening.

In one embodiment, the flow path member 24 is covered by the upper case member 11, and an ink cartridge (not shown) that is a holding member for the discharge liquid is mounted and set on the upper case member 11. The passage reaching the flow path member 24 from the ink cartridge via the upper case member 11 also has to be a liquid-tight communication path and, in one embodiment, a liquid-tight structure using an O-ring (not shown) or the like is formed. Also, the upper case member 11 may be screwed to and set in the lower case member 12 from a lower side of the case, and a pressing force is generated downward in the above-described stacking direction by the flow path member 24 when the upper case member 11 approaches the lower case member 12 to be fastened.

Even when the seal member 25 is pinched and fastened by the screwing the upper case member 11 to the lower case member 12 in this manner, the planar substrate that is attached to and set in the above-described wall-shaped enclosure 12c and further the inner rib 12e effectively suppresses the lower case member 12 from bending. During the assembly of the seal member 25 between the upper case member 11 and the lower case member 12, a cumbersome operation in which the adhesive is used is not necessary. Just pinching allows the assembly to be assembled with simplicity.

The communication paths for the ink that reaches the head chip 30 from the ink cartridge are the communication path 24a (first communication path) of the flow path member 24, the case member communication path 12b (second communication path), and the communication path 28b (third communication path) of the third flow path member 28 as described above. Since the ink is supplied to the head chip 30 through the flow path in each of the members accommodated in the internal space formed by the upper case member 11 and the lower case member 12, the ink is not easily dried. However, in the part that is set using the adhesive, the possibility that the ink will dry easily is considered and can depend on gas barrier properties of the adhesive. In a case where the head chip 30 is smaller in size than in the related art, an effect where the ink becomes thickened due to drying becomes significant because the absolute amount of the ink held inside is small. In one embodiment, a modified epoxy resin is used as the adhesive. A modified epoxy resin has flexibility. As a result, peeling or separation is unlikely to be generated by using a flexible adhesive to fix or bond the members with each other. The modified epoxy resin has high flexibility but low gas barrier properties. As a result, the moisture contained in the ink permeates to the outside and causes the ink to thicken. However, as described above, the head chip 30 or the like is held in the space that is sealed by the seal member 25 and the sealed space is filled with the permeated moisture. Thus, more permeation is unlikely to occur and the structure becomes resistant to the thickening of the ink. Also, the flow path formed from the first communication path and the second communication path described above is inside the case member identified by the upper case member 11 and the lower case member 12. The flow path for the discharge liquid from an upstream side corresponding to the ink cartridge toward a downstream side corresponding to the third communication path is formed.

In a case where printing is performed with a liquid ejecting apparatus on which the liquid ejecting head is mounted, the nozzle surface may be cleaned at a certain frequency. The nozzle surface may be cleaned by wiping contamination on the surface with a wiper formed from an elastic material.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the wipe process.

As described above, the nozzle plate 33 is held or situated in the opening 29a of the cover member 29 at a position that is recessed from the surface of the cover member 29.

A wiper 50 may be set at a position that is shifted from a printing area and that is within a range of main scanning of the liquid ejecting head. A top of the wiper 50 wipes the cover member 29 and the surface of the nozzle plate 33 as the liquid ejecting head is relatively moved with respect to the wiper 50 and a wiping part of the wiper 50 wipes the ink remaining on both of the surfaces. This operation is referred to as wiping. As shown in FIG. 10, a top-sided part of the wiper 50 is moved to slide upward as a first step when moving from the almost flat surface of the cover member 29 to the surface of the nozzle plate 33 in the opening 29a and is moved to slide downward as a second step when finishing the surface of the nozzle plate 33 and moving back to the surface of the cover member 29. When the step parts are not smoothly continuous, the ink or the like that is collected on the top of the wiper 50 is captured in a non-continuous part, and the liquid ejecting head may not be clean.

In one embodiment, the step generated between the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29 is filled with a filling material so that the surfaces are smoothly connected with each other.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the nozzle plate and the cover member, and FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the amount of the filling material differs.

The space filled with the filling material is a part or location surrounded by a side surface of the nozzle plate 33, a lower surface of the head chip 30, a side surface of the compliance member 40, and an extremely small part of a lower surface and the side surface of the cover member 29. When the amount of the filling material is large, overflowing is caused and a filling agent may capture the ink. When the amount of the filling material is small, permeation is not made in a part where the permeation is required and a concave portion is formed so that the concave portion may capture the ink. Also, when the amount of the filling material is small, the side surface of the nozzle plate 33 may be in an exposed state. Because the nozzle plate 33 is formed of silicon as described above and is vulnerable to static electricity, there is a concern that the nozzle plate 33 may be electrostatically broken down.

Accordingly, the filling material may be filled by an amount less than a predetermined amount and, as shown in FIG. 11, both or at least one of the surfaces and the side surfaces is subjected to a coating treatment so that the lower surfaces of the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29 become water-repellent surfaces and the side surfaces of the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29 become relatively hydrophilic surfaces with respect to the surfaces of the lower surfaces. Then, when the small amount of the filling material begins to fill the space, the filling material spreads on the hydrophilic surfaces of the side surfaces of the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29 when the amount of the filling material is not sufficient and the filling material creeps up the side surfaces in such a manner so as to cover the entire side surfaces. The spreading is made due to the so-called principle of surface tension. The spreading is initiated from when the amount of the filling material is small.

In FIG. 12, the solid line shows the optimum designed amount of the filling material. However, even in a case shown with the dashed line where the amount of the filling material is small, the filling material spreads up the hydrophilic surfaces of the side surfaces of the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29, and thus a gap or the like generated by the filling material not being filled along at least the side surfaces of the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29 does not occur. Also, the specified amount is to the extent of being slightly recessed compared to the straight line linking edge portions of the surfaces of the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29 with each other. This state is a state where an exposed part of the filling material forms a slightly recessed surface. Even when the filling is made to exceed a necessary amount in a rare case, the surfaces of the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29 are treated to be water-repellent and thus the filling material does not spread along these surfaces.

Also, epoxy and an adhesive can be applied as the filling material, but examples thereof are not limited thereto.

In other words, when the lower surface of the liquid ejecting head is formed by the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29, the surface of the nozzle plate 33 and the surface of the cover member 29 are the water-repellent surfaces and the side surfaces of the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29 are the relatively hydrophilic surfaces compared to the water-repellant surfaces. The gap between the nozzle plate 33 and the cover member 29 is filled with the filling material. If at least the side surface of the nozzle plate 33 is covered by the filling material, the nozzle plate 33 can be protected from static electricity. Further, if the side surface of the cover member 29 is covered by the filling material, wiping by the wiper 50 is improved.

FIG. 13 is a schematic bottom view showing a state where the cover member is viewed from below, and FIG. 14 is a schematic side view showing a state where the cover member and the wiper abut against each other.

The nozzle plate 33 has a strip-like long shape, and the above-described gap is generated along each of the two sides of the long side and the short side. The nozzle 33a is formed along the long side direction and the liquid ejecting head has a direction orthogonal to the long side. The wiper 50 is moved in a direction orthogonal to the relative long side, and the ink is likely to enter the gap on the long side. In this sense, it is effective to render the step of the surface smooth by using the above-described filling agent in a direction crossing the direction in which the liquid ejecting head is moved.

In order for the wiper 50 to effectively wipe the surfaces of the cover member 29 and the nozzle plate 33, the wiper 50 itself may have elasticity and the distance between the wiper 50 and both the cover member 29 and the nozzle plate 33 has to have a positional relationship to the extent of the wiper 50 being bent while abutting. When the wiper 50 has the length to the extent of being bent is a timing when the liquid ejecting head is driven and an end section of the cover member 29 begins to abut against the wiper 50.

In one embodiment, an end section part of the cover member 29 is bent across a predetermined length toward the wiping direction, and an angle θ of the lower surface with respect to the plane may be 45° to 80°. As shown in FIG. 14, when the liquid ejecting head is driven and the wiper 50 begins to abut relatively against the end section of the cover member 29, the top of the wiper 50 first abuts against a bent end section 29b of the cover member 29. Then, the top of the wiper 50 is gradually bent and wipes the lower surface of the cover member 29 and the surface of the nozzle plate 33 described above to wipe the contamination such as the ink. The wiped ink gradually remains on the surface of the wiper 50, and the ink that remains on the wiper 50 is likely to be attached to the vicinity of the bent end section 29b against which the wiper 50 abuts first. Accordingly, the water-repellent treatment is performed in advance in both the wiper 50 and the vicinity of the bent end section 29b so that the ink is likely to come off naturally before being gradually attached to the wiper 50 or the attached ink is moved to the bent end section 29b and accumulated. Also, the water-repellent treatment may be performed across the entire surface of the cover member 29, but the above-described effect can be obtained if the water-repellent treatment is performed in the part where the wiper 50 first abuts against the bent end section 29b and the vicinity thereof. Also, the ink is likely to come off following the water-repellent treatment when the bent end section 29b has an angle of 45° to 80°. Also, although FIG. 14 is a schematic view, the bent end section 29b is disposed on both sides based on the direction in which the liquid ejecting head is driven. In this case, the wiping of the cover member 29 and the nozzle plate 33 can be performed effectively on the surface on the side opposite to the wiper 50 when the liquid ejecting head passes through the holding position of the wiper 50 and is reversed again.

Also, embodiments of the invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, but the followings are appreciated by those skilled in the art as embodiments of the invention.

The mutually replaceable members, configuration, and the like disclosed in the above-described embodiment can be applied through an appropriate change in combination thereof.

The members, configuration, and the like disclosed in the above-described embodiment as the related art and the mutually replaceable members, configuration, and the like can be applied through an appropriate replacement or a change in combination thereof.

The members, configuration, and the like that are disclosed in the above-described embodiment and can be assumed and replaced by those skilled in the art based on the related art can be applied through an appropriate replacement or a change in combination thereof.

Claims

1. A liquid ejecting head comprising: a lower case member that includes a wall-shaped enclosure surrounding a space;a head chip that discharges a discharge liquid in a communication path through nozzles and that holds a surface of the head chip where the nozzles are formed in such a manner that the surface is exposed to an outside,wherein the head chip includes a plate-shaped nozzle plate that includes the nozzles and that is arranged in a predetermined manner on a side that faces a printing medium, the head chip, including the plate-shape nozzle plate, being disposed within the space of the lower case member within which the head chip is mounted; anda cover member that includes an opening that is capable of exposing the nozzle plate to the outside,wherein the cover member does not constitute the communication path, andwherein the nozzle plate is positioned in an inside area of the opening and the cover member is set to the head chip in an area in a vicinity of the nozzle plate of the head chip.

2. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the head chip comprises: a flow path forming plate that includes: individual nozzle holes that are formed to correspond to the respective nozzles of the nozzle plate, andindividual communication paths that are formed in pairs with the respective nozzle holes, the nozzle plate being fixed to a first surface of the flow path forming plate; andan actuator that is fixed to a second surface of the flow path forming plate, forms pressure chambers which allow the individual nozzle holes to communicate with the respective individual communication paths, and is capable of generating a pressure change in each of the pressure chambers to correspond to the respective nozzle holes, andwherein the individual communication path is covered by a compliance member that includes an elastic membrane member on the flow path forming plate, the nozzle plate covers the nozzle hole on the flow path forming plate but does not cover the individual communication path, and the cover member does not constitute the compliance member.

3. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 2, wherein the flow path forming plate of the head chip is formed into a plate shape and the pairs of the nozzle holes and the individual communication paths are arranged in rows in a directional substantially orthogonal to a direction in which the nozzle holes and the communication paths are lined up,wherein the nozzle plate is formed into a rectangular shape and is fixed to the flow path forming plate to cover a part of the plurality of nozzle holes that are arranged in rows, andwherein the compliance member includes a frame material, is fixed to the elastic membrane member in a frame portion of the frame material, and covers the plurality of individual communication paths arranged in rows with the elastic membrane member.

4. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a liquid ejecting head that performs printing by relatively scanning with respect to a printing medium,wherein the liquid ejecting head includes a lower case member and a head chip that discharges a discharge liquid in a communication path through nozzles, wherein the lower case member holds a surface of the head chip where the nozzles are formed in such a manner that the surface is exposed to an outside,wherein the head chip includes a plate-shaped nozzle plate where the nozzles are formed and arranged in a predetermined manner on a side that faces the printing medium, the head chip, including the plate-shape nozzle plate, being disposed within a space of a lower case member within which the head chip is mounted, anda cover member that includes an opening that is capable of exposing the nozzle plate to the outside,wherein the cover member does not constitute the communication path, andwherein the nozzle plate is positioned in an inside area of the opening and the cover member is set to the head chip in an area in a vicinity of the nozzle plate of the head chip.