a)-4(c) are perspective views of the recording head, protective tape, and mask in the first embodiment, showing how the protective tape is made nonuniform in adhesive strength after being pasted to the recording head as shown in
a)-5(c) are perspective views of the recording head, protective tape, and mask in the second embodiment, showing how the protective tape is made nonuniform in adhesive strength after being pasted to the recording head.
a)-6(c) are perspective views of the recording head, protective tape, and mask in the third embodiment, showing how the protective tape is made nonuniform in adhesive strength after being pasted to the recording head.
a)-7(c) are perspective views of the recording head, protective tape, and mask in the fourth embodiment, showing how the protective tape is made nonuniform in adhesive strength after being pasted to the recording head.
Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. First, the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
Referring to
The common liquid chamber 5 is formed by anisotropically etching the silicon substrate 3 in a manner to penetrate the silicon substrate 3. The ink for printing is delivered from an unshown ink supplying member, into the ink passage 28, which is in connection to the ink jetting orifices 1, through the common liquid chamber 5.
Designated by a referential character 2a in
a) and 3(b) are perspective views of the protective tape 102 and recording head 101.
Referring to
It is presumed here that the portion 102a (tab) is also coated with the adhesive 7, on the same side as the surface of the rest of the protective tape 102, which is coated with the adhesive 7. However, this portion 102a (tab) does not need to be coated with the adhesive 7; it is only the portion of the surface of the protective tape 102, which comes into contact with the recording head 101, that needs to be coated with the adhesive 7.
In this embodiment, first, the protective tape 102 is positioned, as shown in
The protective tape on the recording head 101 is covered with the mask 8, that is, the mask having the slits 31 which correspond in shape and position to the portions 102c of the protective tape, that is, the portions which need to be reduced in adhesive strength. Then, the protective tape is irradiated with ultraviolet rays 9, with the mask 8 remaining on the protective tape. Thus, the ultraviolet rays 9 are allowed to hit only the portions 102c of the protective tape, that is, the portions which correspond in shape and position to the slits 31 of the mask 8 one for one. As the ultraviolet rays 9 hits the portions 102c of the protective tape 102, that is, the portions which correspond in shape and position to the slits 31 of the mask 8, one for one, the layer of the adhesive 7, which is on the bottom side of each of the portions 102c, reduces in adhesive strength. On the other hand, the portions of the mask 8, which do not have the slits 31, block the ultraviolet rays 9, preventing thereby ultraviolet rays 9 from reaching the protective tape 102. Thus, the layer of adhesive layer 7, which is on the bottom side of the portion of the protective tape 102 other than the portions which correspond to the slits 31, remains the same in adhesive strength. As a result, the portions 102c (hatched with slanted lines in
The protective tape 102 is pasted to the surface 2a of the top plate 2 of the recording head 101, which has the openings of the ink jetting orifices, as outlined by a dotted line in
Before the ink jet cartridge is used for the first time, the protective tape 102 is to be peeled away to make the recording head 10 appear as shown in
The adhesive 7 in this embodiment is an acrylic adhesive produced by radical polymerization. However, the adhesive 7 does not need to be an acrylic adhesive produced by radical polymerization. That is, all that is necessary is that the material for the adhesive layer is formed of such an adhesive substance that reduces in adhesive strength (peel resistance) as it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. The intensity (amount) of the ultraviolet rays 9 irradiated upon the protective tape 102 is 600 mJ/cm2 (luminance at wavelength of 365 nm), for example. However, the conditions for irradiating the protective tape 102 with the ultraviolet rays 9, such as the intensity of the ultraviolet rays 9 or the length of irradiation time, may be adjusted according to the ambient conditions and type of adhesive. Further, the light to which the protective tape 102 is to be exposed does not need to be ultraviolet rays. Any type of light (electromagnetic wave) may be used in place of ultraviolet rays, as long as the selected light is capable of reducing in adhesive strength the adhesive used as the material for the adhesive layer of the protective tape 102.
Further, the recording head 101 may be the recording head portion of an ink jet cartridge, that is, an integral combination of an ink container and a recording head.
In this embodiment, the portions 102c of the protective tape 102, which are on the areas A and B of the top surface 2a of the top plate 2, which include the areas B and D, are left unchanged in adhesive strength, remaining therefore relatively higher in adhesive strength. From the standpoint of preventing ink from spilling out of the ink jetting orifices 1, it is desired that the portions of the protective tape 102, which are on the portions of the top surface 2a, which are next to the opening of the ink jetting orifices, are left unchanged in adhesive strength, because with the portions of the protective tape 102, which are on the portions of the top surface 2a, which are next to the opening of the ink jetting orifices, left unchanged in adhesive strength, it is unlikely to occur that the ink in a given ink jetting orifice 1 will come out of the nozzle 1, enters the ink jetting orifice which is different in the color of the ink therein, and mixes with the ink in this jetting nozzle. In other words, the present invention can provide an ink jet recording head which is superior to an ink jet recording head in accordance with the prior art, from the standpoint of keeping separated the inks in an ink jet recording head before the ink jet recording head is used for the first time. It also can provide an ink jet cartridge, that is, an integral combination of an ink jet head and an ink container, which is superior to an ink jet cartridge in accordance with the prior art, from the same standpoint.
The protective tape 103 in this embodiment is pasted to the recording head 101 using the following method: First, the protective tape 103 is positioned above the recording head 101, as shown in
After the placement of the mask 35 with the slits 36 on the recording head 101, the recording head 101 is irradiated with the infrared rays 10 with the mask 35 remaining on the recording head 101 (on protective tape 103). The infrared rays 10 are allowed to reach the protective tape 103 only through the slits 36 of the mask 35. Therefore, the protective tape 103 is exposed to the infrared rays 10 only across the portions, which correspond to the slits 36. As the infrared rays 10 are projected upon the recording head 101, the adhesive layer of the protective tape 103 increases in adhesive strength only across the portions which correspond to the slits 36, that is, the diagonally hatched portion 103a shown in
Prior to the first time usage of the recording head 101, the protective tape 103 is peeled away to expose the opening of each of the ink jetting orifices, in order to make the recording head 101 appear as shown in
The protective tape 103 in this embodiment is made up of a 20 μm thick substrate layer formed of polypropylene, and a 15 μm thick layer of acrylic adhesive coated on the substrate layer. However, the material for the substrate layer and material for the adhesive layer do not need to be limited to the abovementioned ones. That is, the substances other than the abovementioned ones may be used as the materials for the substrate layer and adhesive layer of the protective tape 103, as long as the substances selected as the materials therefor are such that as the protective tape 103 is irradiated with the infrared rays 10, the protective tape 103 increases in adhesive strength. The intensity (amount) of the infrared rays 10 irradiated upon the protective tape 103 is 600 mJ/cm2 (luminance at wavelength of 700 nm), for example. However, the conditions for irradiating the protective tape 103 with the infrared rays 10, such as the intensity of the infrared rays 10 or the length of irradiation time, may be adjusted according to the ambient conditions and type of adhesive. Further, the light to which the protective tape 103 is to be exposed does not need to be infrared rays. That is, any type of light (electromagnetic wave) may be used in place of infrared rays, as long as the selected light is capable of increasing in adhesive strength the substance used as the material for the adhesive layer of the protective tape 103, by exciting the substance.
With the use of the above described protective tape 103 and the above described method for pasting the protective tape 103 to the recording head 101, it is possible to prevent the problem that when the protective tape 103 is peeled from the recording head 101, the portions (which correspond to area E an F in first embodiment) of the recording head 101, which are relatively weak in mechanical strength, from being damaged by the adhesive strength (peel resistance) of the adhesive on the protective tape 103.
In this embodiment, only the portion 103a of the protective tape 103, that is, the portion which corresponds to the area A in the first embodiment, is increased in adhesive strength, and the portion 103b, that is, the portion which corresponds to the area C, is left unchanged in adhesive strength, that is, left relatively low in adhesive strength. Provided that the protective tape is pasted to a recording head which is relatively low in mechanical strength, or it is permissible that a small amount of ink leaks from an ink jet recording apparatus through its ink jetting orifices, the protective tape may be processed so that the protective tape is changed in adhesive tape as in this embodiment, after the pasting of the protective tape to a recording head.
The protective tape 105 in this embodiment is pasted to the recording head 106 using the following method: First, the protective tape 105 is pasted to the recording head 106. Then, a mask 37 is placed on the protective tape 105 on the recording head 106. More specifically, the mask 37 is provided with slits 38 which correspond in shape and position to the portions of the protective tape 105, which need to be reduced in adhesive strength. Thus, the mask 37 is placed on the protective tape 105 on the recording head 106 so that its slits 38 align with the portions of the protective tape 105, which need to be reduced in adhesive strength, as shown in
After the placement of the mask 37 on the recording head 106, the recording head 106 is irradiated with the ultraviolet rays 9 with the mask 37 remaining on the recording head 106 (on protective tape 105). The ultraviolet rays 9 are allowed to reach the protective tape 105 only through the slits 38 of the mask 37. Therefore, the protective tape 105 is exposed to the ultraviolet rays 9 only across the portions, which correspond to the slits 38. As the ultraviolet rays 9 are projected upon the recording head 106, the adhesive layer of the protective tape 105 decreases in adhesive strength only across the portions which correspond to the slits 38, that is, the diagonally hatched portion 105b. On the other hand, the rest of the protective tape 105, that is, the diagonally hatched portion 105b, or the portion which does not correspond to the slits 38, remains the same in adhesive strength, because the material for the mask 37 blocks ultraviolet rays 9, and therefore, the ultraviolet rays 9 do not reach the portion 105a of the protective tape 105. In other words, the portion 105a remains relatively higher in adhesive strength. With the use of the above described method, the protective tape 105 on the recording head 106 can be processed so that only the hatched portion 105b of the protective tape 105, that is, the portion which corresponds in shape and position to the slits 38 of the mask 37, decreases in adhesive strength, whereas the hatched portion 105a of the protective tape 105, that is, the portion which does not corresponds to the slits 38 of the mask 37, remains relatively high in adhesive strength.
Immediately before the recording head 106 is used in the recording head 106 for the first time, the protective tape 105 is peeled away to expose the opening of each of the ink jetting orifices, as shown in
The recording head 106 in this embodiment is provided with five top plates 2, which have the ink jetting orifices. Referring to
As the adhesive substance to be coated on the substrate of the protective tape 105, an acrylic adhesive manufactured by radical polymerization was used. However, the adhesive substance to be coated on the substrate of the protective tape 105 does not need to be limited to the abovementioned one. That is, a substance other than the abovementioned one may be used as the material for the adhesive layer of the protective tape 105, as long as the selected substance is such that as the protective tape 105 is irradiated with the ultraviolet rays 9, the protective tape 105 reduces in adhesive strength. In this embodiment, the intensity (amount) of the ultraviolet rays 9 irradiated upon the protective tape 105 is 600 mJ/cm2 (luminance at wavelength of 365 nm), for example. However, the conditions for irradiating the protective tape 105 with the ultraviolet rays 9, such as the intensity of the ultraviolet rays 9 or the length of irradiation time, may be adjusted according to the ambient conditions and type of adhesive. Further, the light to which the protective tape 105 is to be exposed does not need to be ultraviolet rays. That is, any type of light (electromagnetic wave) may be used in place of ultraviolet rays, as long as the selected light is capable of decreasing in adhesive strength the substance used as the material for the adhesive layer of the protective tape 105.
In this embodiment, the protective tape 105 on the recording head 106 can be precisely controlled in adhesive strength. More specifically, the protective tape 105 on the recording head 106 can be processed so that the portions of the protective tape 105, which correspond to the portions of the recording head 106, which are less in mechanical strength (portions equivalent to portions E and F in first embodiment), reduces in adhesive strength, becoming therefore relatively smaller in adhesive strength, and the rest of the protective tape 105 remains the same in adhesive strength, becoming therefore relatively greater in adhesive strength. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the problem that when the protective tape 105 is peeled from the recording head 106, the portions of the recording head 106, which are relatively inferior in mechanical strength, from being damaged by the adhesive strength (peel resistance) of the adhesive on the protective tape 105. Further, the opening of each of the ink jetting orifices remains sealed by the portion of the protective tape 105, which is high in adhesive strength. Therefore, it does not occur that ink comes out of an ink jetting orifice 1. Therefore, it does not occur that the ink in a given ink jetting orifice 1 will come out of the nozzle 1, enters an ink jetting orifice which is different in the color of the ink therein, and mixes with the ink in this jetting nozzle. Thus, the ink jet recording head 106, that is, the ink jet recording head in this embodiment, is superior in that the various inks in the recording head remain separated prior to the first time usage of the ink jet recording head.
In this embodiment, the ink jetting orifices are arranged in a zig-zag pattern (ink jetting orifices are arranged in multiple straight line so that ink jetting orifices in one line are deviated by a preset distance in direction parallel to line of ink jetting orifices), and the protective tape 107 is processed so that the pattern in which the protective tape 107 is changed in adhesive strength matches the ink jetting orifice arrangement pattern. More specifically, the protective tape 107 is pasted to the recording head 108 which has the multiple ink jetting orifices arranged in the zig-zag pattern, and the protective tape 107 on the recording head 108 is changed in adhesive strength by projecting light on the protective tape 107 with the presence of a mask between the light source and the protective tape 107. The mask in this embodiment is different from that in the first embodiment, in the shape and position of the slits for changing the preselected portions of the protective tape 107 in adhesive strength. With the use of the process described above, the diagonally hatched portion 107a of the protective tape 107, which corresponds to the portions B and D of the recording head 101 in the first embodiment, remained unchanged, being therefore increased in adhesive strength in relative terms, whereas the diagonally hatched portion 107b of the protective tape 107, which corresponds to the portions E and F of the recording head 101 in the first embodiment was reduced in adhesive strength.
The pattern in which the protective tape 107 is changed in adhesive strength can be changed by changing, in shape and position, the slits of the mask, which determine the portions of the protective tape, which are irradiated with light. Therefore, even if the pattern in which the ink jetting orifices are arranged is complicated, the protective tape 107 can be changed in the adhesive strength so that the pattern in which the protective tape 107 is changed in adhesive strength matches the pattern of the ink jetting orifice arrangement. For example, even if the protective tape 107 is pasted on the recording head 108 which has multiple ink jetting orifices arrange in a zig-zag pattern, the protective tape 107 can be processed so that its adhesive strength changes in such a pattern that matches the ink jetting orifice arrangement pattern of the recording head. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the portion of the recording head 108, which is inferior in mechanical strength, from being damaged when the protective tape 107 is peeled.
Further, the portion 107a of the protective tape 107, which is on the areas of the top surface of the top plate of the recording head 108, which are next to the ink jet orifices, was left unchanged in adhesive strength, that is, it remains relatively high in adhesive strength. Therefore, each of the ink jetting orifices of the recording head 108 remains completely sealed with the portion of the protective tape 107, which is relatively high in adhesive strength. Therefore, it is possible to prevent ink from flying out of the ink jetting orifices. Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording head, which does not suffer from the problem that ink flies out of an ink jetting orifice, enters an ink jetting orifice which is different in the color of the ink therein, and mixes with the ink in this jetting nozzle. In other words, it is possible to provide a recording head in which the various inks in the recording head remain separated prior to the first time usage of the ink jet recording head.
The present invention is effectively applicable to both an ink jet recording head independent from an ink container, and an ink jet recording head which is an integral part of an ink jet cartridge, that is, an integral combination of an ink jet head and an ink container. Further, the present invention is compatible with ink of any type, as long as the selected ink is an ordinary ink used by an ordinary ink jet recording apparatus.
As the material for the substrate of the protective tape in accordance with the present invention, any substance can be used, as long as the selected substance does not interfere with the process of changing the excitation of the adhesive of the protective tape, and it allows the protective tape to be easily peeled. However, in consideration of such factors as the compatibility of the selected substance with the patterning process, and how easy it is to peel the protective tape, the thickness of the substrate is desired to be no more than 100 μm, preferably, no more than 50 μm.
Further, as the material for the substrate of the protective tape, any substance can be used, as long as the selected substance is low in gas permeability and resistant to ink. Further, in the preceding embodiments of the present invention, the means for generating the energy for jetting ink as recording liquid was a heat generating element. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to a recording apparatus, the means of which for generating the energy for jetting ink is a heat generating element.
While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.
This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 130789/2006 filed May 9, 2006 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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130789/2006(PAT.) | May 2006 | JP | national |