METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INKJET HEAD, AND INKJET HEAD

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an inkjet head having a pressure chamber that stores ink, a nozzle that is provided at the pressure chamber and ejects the ink, and an actuator that changes an internal pressure of the pressure chamber to eject the ink in the pressure chamber through the nozzle. The method includes the steps of: forming the actuator on a substrate by using one of a liquid phase method and a vapor phase method to manufacture an upper structure; separating the upper structure from the substrate; forming a lower structure having the pressure chamber with metallic glass, independently of the substrate; and joining the upper structure and the lower structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an inkjet head in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a bottom side of the inkjet head shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A-3D are views showing steps of manufacturing the inkjet head shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4A-4D are views showing steps of manufacturing the inkjet head shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a silicon substrate, for describing a manufacturing process.

FIGS. 6A-6C are views showing steps of manufacturing the inkjet head shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7A-7C are views showing steps of manufacturing the inkjet head shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing steps of manufacturing a lower structure.

FIGS. 9A-9E are views showing steps of manufacturing the lower structure.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an inkjet head having a pressure chamber that stores ink, a nozzle that is provided at the pressure chamber and ejects the ink, and an actuator that changes an internal pressure of the pressure chamber to eject the ink in the pressure chamber through the nozzle, the method comprising the steps of: forming the actuator on a substrate by using one of a liquid phase method and a vapor phase method to manufacture an upper structure;separating the upper structure from the substrate;forming a lower structure having the pressure chamber with metallic glass, independently of the substrate; andjoining the upper structure and the lower structure.

2. A method for manufacturing an inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the step of forming the lower structure includes the steps of: forming a silicon mold for forming the lower structure by processing silicon;placing metallic glass in the silicon mold; andseparating the metallic glass from the silicon mold to thereby form the lower structure.

3. A method for manufacturing an inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the step of forming the lower structure includes the steps of: forming a replica of the lower structure by processing silicon;forming a conductive film on a surface of the replica;forming a metal mold that covers the surface of the replica by an electroforming method;separating the replica from the metal mold;placing metallic glass in the metal mold; andseparating the metallic glass from the metal mold to thereby form the lower structure.

4. A method for manufacturing an inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the step of forming the lower structure includes forming an oxide film on a surface layer section of the lower structure composed of the metallic glass by thermally oxidizing the surface layer section.

5. A method for manufacturing an inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the step of forming the lower structure includes forming a plurality of members with metallic glass that compose the lower structure, and then assembling the members to form the lower structure.

6. A method for manufacturing an inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is formed from a piezoelectric device.

7. A method for manufacturing an inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a silicon substrate.

8. A method for manufacturing an inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the metallic glass includes at least one of Pd, Cu, Si, Al, Zr, a rare earth, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ni, Co and Ca as a principal constituent or an additive constituent.

9. An inkjet head comprising a pressure chamber that stores ink, a nozzle that is provided at the pressure chamber and ejects the ink, an actuator that changes an internal pressure of the pressure chamber to eject the ink in the pressure chamber through the nozzle, wherein the actuator is formed on a substrate by using one of a liquid phase method and a vapor phase method, and an upper structure obtained by separating from the substrate and a lower structure having the pressure chamber and formed from metallic glass independently of the substrate are joined together in one piece.