A piezoelectric inkjet printhead

Abstract

The application discloses a piezoelectric inkjet print head, which comprises a substrate and a print chip, wherein the substrate is provided with a bottom position of the print chip, the print chip is communicated with the substrate, ink in the substrate can flow into the print chip, and the print chip can spray the ink.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of inkjet printheads, and more particularly to a piezoelectric inkjet printhead. Background Technology

[0002] Microdroplet jet printing is a printing technology that uses a certain squeezing method to create a pressure difference between the ink chamber and the outside world, causing the pressure inside the nozzle to be greater than the external pressure, thereby pushing the ink out of the nozzle to produce tiny ink droplets.

[0003] Generally speaking, microdroplet jetting technology can be divided into continuous and on-demand types. On-demand technology is more widely used because it has the advantages of simple structure, good droplet consistency, and high printing accuracy. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this application provides a piezoelectric inkjet printhead.

[0005] The specific technical solution of this application is as follows:

[0006] A piezoelectric inkjet printhead includes a substrate for ink flow and a printing chip, wherein the printing chip is disposed at the bottom of the substrate;

[0007] The printing chip is connected to the substrate, and ink in the substrate can flow into the printing chip; the printing chip can eject ink.

[0008] The substrate is made of metal; the printed chip includes a nozzle plate and a chip body, the chip body is connected to the substrate, and the nozzle plate is disposed at the lower end of the chip body; the nozzle plate and the chip body are integrally formed.

[0009] In one specific embodiment, the printed chip is a MEMS chip;

[0010] Preferably, the substrate is made of aluminum alloy.

[0011] In one specific embodiment, the nozzle plate has nozzles, and the chip body has an ink inlet groove communicating with the nozzles, and the ink inlet groove is communicating with the substrate.

[0012] In one specific embodiment, the printing chip includes a driving structure disposed on the side of the chip body, the ink inlet groove extending through to the side of the chip body, and the driving structure communicating with the ink inlet groove; the driving structure is capable of driving ink in the ink inlet groove to flow out from the nozzle.

[0013] Preferably, the driving structure comprises piezoelectric ceramic.

[0014] In one specific embodiment, an ink reservoir for ink to flow through is formed on the substrate, and the ink reservoir is connected to the printing chip.

[0015] In one specific embodiment, the substrate is provided with an ink inlet and an ink outlet at opposite positions; both the ink inlet and the ink outlet are connected to an ink tank.

[0016] In one specific embodiment, mounting holes are formed on the substrate, and two mounting holes are formed opposite to each other.

[0017] In one embodiment, the printhead further includes a driver board and a connecting board, the connecting board being connected to the driver board and the printing chip respectively, and the driver board being able to drive the printing chip to eject ink.

[0018] Preferably, the connecting plate is a flexible connecting plate.

[0019] In one specific embodiment, the number of nozzles is any number from 64 to 256; preferably, the number of nozzles is 128.

[0020] More preferably, the diameter of the nozzle is 10-80 micrometers; more preferably, the diameter of the nozzle is 18-60 micrometers.

[0021] More preferably, the spacing between the nozzles is 128–512 micrometers; more preferably, the spacing between the nozzles is 256 micrometers.

[0022] In one specific embodiment, an ink inlet connector and an ink outlet connector are connected to the substrate; the ink inlet connector is threaded to the ink inlet port, and the ink outlet connector is threaded to the ink outlet port; both the ink inlet connector and the ink outlet connector are provided with flexible rubber interfaces.

[0023] Beneficial effects

[0024] The piezoelectric inkjet printhead of this application integrates piezoelectric ceramics and nozzles onto a printing chip, and then connects the printing chip to a metal substrate. This reduces printhead wear and increases printhead lifespan. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is an overall schematic diagram of the printhead of this application;

[0026] Figure 2 This is the front view of the printhead in this application.

[0027] In the figure, 1. Substrate; 2. Chip body; 3. Nozzle plate; 4. Drive structure; 5. Connecting plate; 6. Drive board; 7. Ink inlet connector; 8. Ink outlet connector; 9. Mounting hole. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present application will now be described in detail. While specific embodiments of the present application are shown, it should be understood that the present application can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to enable a more thorough understanding of the present application and to fully convey the scope of the present application to those skilled in the art.

[0029] It should be noted that certain terms are used in the specification and claims to refer to specific components. Those skilled in the art will understand that different terms may be used to refer to the same component. This specification and claims do not distinguish components based on differences in terminology, but rather on differences in function. The terms "comprising" or "including" used throughout the specification and claims are open-ended and should be interpreted as "comprising but not limited to." The following descriptions in the specification are preferred embodiments for carrying out this application; however, these descriptions are for the purpose of understanding the general principles of the specification and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. The scope of protection of this application shall be determined by the appended claims.

[0030] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 This application provides a piezoelectric inkjet printhead, including a substrate 1 for ink flow and a printing chip, wherein the printing chip is disposed at the bottom of the substrate 1;

[0031] The printing chip is connected to the substrate 1, and the ink in the substrate 1 can flow into the printing chip; the printing chip can eject the ink.

[0032] The substrate 1 is made of aluminum alloy; the printed chip includes a nozzle plate 3 and a chip body 2, the chip body 2 is connected to the substrate 1, and the nozzle plate 3 is disposed at the lower end of the chip body 2; the nozzle plate 3 and the chip body 2 are integrally formed.

[0033] The printing chip is placed at the bottom of the substrate 1. Ink enters the printing chip from the substrate 1 and is then ejected from the printing chip to complete the printing process.

[0034] By establishing a connection between the printed chip and substrate 1, substrate 1 can be made of metal, reducing the corrosion of substrate 1 by ink and thus increasing its lifespan. Simultaneously, the printed chip can be tightly connected to substrate 1, thereby reducing the possibility of ink leakage between substrate 1 and the printed chip.

[0035] The chip body 2 is connected to the substrate 1, and then the ink is ejected through the nozzle plate 3. By integrating the chip body 2 and the nozzle plate 3 into a single structure, the sealing between them is improved, reducing the risk of ink leakage. Furthermore, connecting the chip body 2 to the substrate 1 further reduces the possibility of ink leakage.

[0036] In one specific embodiment, the printed chip is a MEMS chip.

[0037] As is well known, a MEMS chip is a miniature mechanical system fabricated on a silicon wafer using semiconductor technology, integrating microelectronics and micromachining techniques. Simply put, a MEMS chip is a miniature system that integrates mechanical components, sensors, actuators, and electronic circuits on a tiny scale (typically at the micrometer to millimeter level).

[0038] In this application, the printed chip is defined as a MEMS chip, that is, a printed chip manufactured using conventional MEMS chip fabrication processes and design concepts. Those skilled in the art can fabricate the structure of the printed chip described in this application using conventional MEMS chip manufacturing systems.

[0039] In one specific embodiment, the substrate 1 is made of aluminum alloy.

[0040] The nozzle plate 3 has nozzles, and the chip body 2 has an ink inlet groove that communicates with the nozzles. The ink inlet groove is connected to the substrate 1.

[0041] There are multiple nozzles and multiple ink inlet slots.

[0042] In one specific embodiment, the nozzle corresponds one-to-one with the ink inlet groove.

[0043] In one specific implementation, the ink inlet trough is connected to multiple nozzles.

[0044] The ink enters from the substrate 1 into the ink inlet tank in the chip body 2 for storage, and then the ink in the ink inlet tank is ejected from the corresponding nozzle according to the printing requirements.

[0045] The substrate 1 has an ink tank (not shown in the figure) for ink to flow through, and the ink tank is connected to the printing chip.

[0046] In one specific embodiment, an ink tank is provided, and the ink tank is connected to all the ink inlet tanks. The ink flows through the ink tank in the substrate 1 and then enters the corresponding ink inlet tank.

[0047] In one specific implementation, multiple ink inlet slots are provided, and each ink slot corresponds to one ink inlet slot.

[0048] When the chip body 2 is connected to the substrate 1, the ink tank and the ink inlet tank are connected, so that the ink can enter the ink inlet tank of the chip body 2 from the substrate 1.

[0049] The ink inlet is located on the chip body 2. The ink inlet and the nozzle are directly connected and are an integral structure. Therefore, the possibility of leakage between the ink inlet and the nozzle is greatly reduced.

[0050] The printing chip includes a driving structure 4, which is disposed on the side of the chip body 2. The ink inlet groove extends through to the side of the chip body 2, and the driving structure 4 is connected to the ink inlet groove. The driving structure 4 can drive the ink in the ink inlet groove to flow out from the nozzle.

[0051] Preferably, the driving structure 4 includes piezoelectric ceramic.

[0052] The drive structure 4 can vibrate when energized, thereby squeezing the ink in the ink inlet tank connected to the drive structure 4, causing the ink to be ejected from the nozzle.

[0053] The substrate 1 is provided with an ink inlet and an ink outlet in opposite positions; both the ink inlet and the ink outlet are connected to the ink tank.

[0054] The ink inlet and outlet are located on opposite sides of the substrate 1, allowing ink to enter from one side and exit from the other. This facilitates ink circulation within the substrate 1, reducing ink residue and solute deposition, thus minimizing corrosion and other damage. Furthermore, the shorter flow path reduces the likelihood of clogging, further improving printhead stability and lifespan.

[0055] Mounting holes 9 are provided on the substrate 1, and there are two mounting holes 9 facing each other.

[0056] Mounting holes 9 are respectively located at both ends of the substrate 1, and the mounting holes 9 are through holes. The substrate 1 can be mounted through the mounting holes 9, and the through hole structure of the mounting holes 9 not only facilitates the installation, removal and maintenance of the substrate 1, but also improves the mounting strength of the substrate 1 and reduces the possibility of the substrate 1 becoming loose.

[0057] The printhead also includes a driver board 6 and a connecting board 5. The connecting board 5 is connected to the driver board 6 and the printing chip respectively. The driver board 6 can drive the printing chip to eject ink.

[0058] Preferably, the connecting plate 5 is a flexible connecting plate 5.

[0059] The driver board 6 is a circuit board that provides the driving voltage and is used to control and output the driving structure 4 to operate. The connecting board 5 is used to connect the driver board 6 to the driving structure 4. That is, the connecting board 5 is connected to the electrode of the piezoelectric ceramic. The electromagnetic waves output by the driver board 6 are transmitted to the piezoelectric ceramic through the connecting board 5, and then the piezoelectric ceramic will vibrate, squeezing the ink in the ink tank out of the nozzle.

[0060] Since the drive plate 6 is a rigid structure, the connecting plate 5 is designed as a flexible connecting plate to facilitate the connection between the drive plate 6 and the drive mechanism. This allows for greater flexibility in positioning the drive plate 6, enabling it to be fixed in a suitable location.

[0061] In this application, the driver board is a circuit board conventionally used in the art, which is used to generate driving waves after being connected to a power source, thereby realizing the vibration of the piezoelectric ceramic. The driver board will not be described in detail here.

[0062] Similarly, the connecting board is a circuit board that connects the piezoelectric ceramic to the driving board, and it is also a conventional circuit board in this field. Since the piezoelectric ceramic in this application is directly connected to the printed chip, but the connection method and connection structure between the piezoelectric ceramic and the connecting board are common knowledge in this field, those skilled in the art can adapt them according to changes in parameters such as the position of the piezoelectric ceramic, and will not be described in detail here.

[0063] The number of nozzles is any number from 64 to 256; preferably, the number of nozzles is 128.

[0064] Specifically, the number of nozzles is: 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 192, 196, 200, 204, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, 252, 256.

[0065] More preferably, the diameter of the nozzle is 10-80 micrometers; more preferably, the diameter of the nozzle is 18-60 micrometers.

[0066] Specifically, the nozzle diameters are: 10 micrometers, 12 micrometers, 14 micrometers, 16 micrometers, 18 micrometers, 20 micrometers, 22 micrometers, 24 micrometers, 26 micrometers, 28 micrometers, 30 micrometers, 32 micrometers, 34 micrometers, 36 micrometers, 38 micrometers, 40 micrometers, 42 micrometers, 44 micrometers, 46 micrometers, 48 ​​micrometers, 50 micrometers, 52 micrometers, 54 micrometers, 56 micrometers, 58 micrometers, 60 micrometers, 62 micrometers, 64 micrometers, 66 micrometers, 68 micrometers, 70 micrometers, 72 micrometers, 74 micrometers, 76 micrometers, 78 micrometers, and 80 micrometers.

[0067] More preferably, the spacing between the nozzles is 128–512 micrometers; more preferably, the spacing between the nozzles is 256 micrometers.

[0068] Specifically, the nozzle spacing is: 128 micrometers, 136 micrometers, 144 micrometers, 152 micrometers, 160 micrometers, 168 micrometers, 176 micrometers, 184 micrometers, 192 micrometers, 200 micrometers, 208 micrometers, 216 micrometers, 224 micrometers, 232 micrometers, 240 micrometers, 248 micrometers, 256 micrometers, 264 micrometers, 272 micrometers, 280 micrometers, 288 micrometers, 296 micrometers, 304 micrometers, 312 micrometers. Micrometer, 320 micrometer, 328 micrometer, 336 micrometer, 344 micrometer, 352 micrometer, 360 micrometer, 368 micrometer, 376 micrometer, 384 micrometer, 392 micrometer, 400 micrometer, 408 micrometer, 416 micrometer, 424 micrometer, 432 micrometer, 440 micrometer, 448 micrometer, 453 micrometer, 464 micrometer, 472 micrometer, 480 micrometer, 488 micrometer, 496 micrometer, 504 micrometer, 512 micrometer.

[0069] An ink inlet connector 7 and an ink outlet connector 8 are connected to the substrate 1; the ink inlet connector 7 is threaded to the ink inlet port, and the ink outlet connector 8 is threaded to the ink outlet port; both the ink inlet connector 7 and the ink outlet connector 8 are provided with flexible rubber interfaces.

[0070] Both the ink inlet connector 7 and the ink outlet connector 8 are pipes used to connect ink. The ink inlet is threaded to the ink inlet connector 7, thereby using the tightening effect between the threads to reduce the possibility of leakage between the ink inlet connector 7 and the ink inlet, while increasing the connection strength between the ink inlet connector 7 and the ink inlet, reducing the possibility of the ink inlet connector 7 falling off the substrate 1.

[0071] The rubber interface is used to seal the connection between the ink delivery pipe and the ink inlet connector 7, reducing the possibility of ink leakage when entering and exiting the substrate 1.

[0072] In summary, this application provides a piezoelectric inkjet printhead that integrates piezoelectric ceramics and nozzle plate 3 onto a printing chip, forming the printing chip as a single unit, thereby improving the sealing performance of the printing chip. The printing chip is then mounted onto a metal substrate 1. While ensuring the overall sealing performance of the printhead, the metal substrate 1 can significantly improve the service life of the printhead.

[0073] When the printhead is in use, the ink enters the ink inlet connector 7 through the pipe, then enters the ink tank in the substrate 1 through the ink inlet, and then flows to the ink tank in the print chip. After the vibration of the piezoelectric ceramic, the ink in the ink tank is ejected from the nozzle.

[0074] This specific embodiment is merely an explanation of this application and is not intended to limit it. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art can make modifications to this embodiment without contributing any inventive step, but such modifications are protected by patent law as long as they fall within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric inkjet printhead, characterized in that, It includes a substrate for ink flow and a printing chip, wherein the printing chip is located at the bottom of the substrate; The printing chip is connected to the substrate, and ink in the substrate can flow into the printing chip; the printing chip can eject ink. The substrate is made of metal; the printed chip includes a nozzle plate and a chip body, the chip body is connected to the substrate, and the nozzle plate is disposed at the lower end of the chip body; the nozzle plate and the chip body are integrally formed.

2. The printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, The printed chip is a MEMS chip.

3. The printhead according to claim 2, characterized in that, The substrate is made of aluminum alloy.

4. The printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nozzle plate has nozzles, and the chip body has an ink inlet groove that communicates with the nozzles and is connected to the substrate.

5. The printhead according to claim 4, characterized in that, The printing chip includes a driving structure disposed on the side of the chip body, and the ink inlet groove extends through to the side of the chip body. The driving structure is connected to the ink inlet groove. The driving structure can drive the ink in the ink inlet groove to flow out from the nozzle.

6. The printhead according to claim 5, characterized in that, The driving structure includes piezoelectric ceramics.

7. The printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, The substrate has an ink reservoir for ink to flow through, and the ink reservoir is connected to the printing chip.

8. The printhead according to claim 7, characterized in that, The substrate has an ink inlet and an ink outlet positioned opposite each other; both the ink inlet and the ink outlet are connected to the ink tank.

9. The printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, Mounting holes are provided on the substrate, and two mounting holes are provided opposite to each other.

10. The printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, The printhead also includes a driver board and a connecting board. The connecting board is connected to the driver board and the printing chip respectively. The driver board can drive the printing chip to eject ink.

11. The printhead according to claim 10, characterized in that, The connecting plate is a flexible connecting plate.

12. The printhead according to claim 4, characterized in that, The number of nozzles is any number between 64 and 256.

13. The printhead according to claim 12, characterized in that, The number of nozzles is 128.

14. The printhead according to claim 12, characterized in that, The diameter of the nozzle is 10-80 micrometers.

15. The printhead according to claim 14, characterized in that, The diameter of the nozzle is 18-60 micrometers.

16. The printhead according to claim 12, characterized in that, The spacing between the nozzles is 128~512 micrometers.

17. The printhead according to claim 16, characterized in that, The spacing between the nozzles is 256 micrometers.

18. The printhead according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that, An ink inlet connector and an ink outlet connector are connected to the substrate; the ink inlet connector is threaded to the ink inlet port, and the ink outlet connector is threaded to the ink outlet port; both the ink inlet connector and the ink outlet connector are provided with flexible rubber interfaces.

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