Liquid discharge head

Abstract

To prevent a sealing material from entering a space between a wiring member and an actuator member.SOLUTION: A head 10 comprises: a flow path member 12; an actuator member 13 arranged on an upper surface 12X of the flow path member 12; a frame 19 arranged around the actuator member 13, on the upper surface 12X of the flow path member 12; a COF 14 including a connection part 141 arranged on an upper surface 13X of the actuator member 13; a sealing material B, arranged along an end portion of the connection part 141, which secludes a space between the connection part 141 and the actuator member 13 from an external space; and a preventing member 20 having a preventing part 23 arranged between the frame 19 and the connection part 141 in a longitudinal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid from a nozzle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that the exposed side surface of the actuator member is sealed with a sealant to isolate the side surface from the atmosphere. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-073309 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the sealing material gets into the space between the wiring member and the actuator member and reaches the region where the electrodes are arranged, it will hinder the deformation of the actuator member.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection head that can prevent a sealant from entering the space between a wiring member and an actuator member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The liquid ejection head according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a flow path member having a liquid flow path including a nozzle; an actuator member for ejecting liquid from the nozzle, the actuator member being arranged on an upper surface of the flow path member and having an upper surface on which a first contact is arranged; a frame arranged around the actuator member on the upper surface of the flow path member; a wiring member including a connection portion arranged on the upper surface of the actuator member, the connection portion having a second contact connected to the first contact; a sealant arranged along an end of the connection portion and insulating the space between the connection portion and the actuator member from external space; and a preventive member having a preventive portion arranged between the frame and the connection portion in a first direction parallel to the upper surface of the actuator member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the length of the gap in the first direction in which the sealant is disposed is shorter than when the prevention member is not provided. Therefore, the sealant is less likely to enter the space between the wiring member and the actuator member and to reach the area where the electrodes are disposed. In other words, according to the present invention, the sealant can be prevented from entering the space between the wiring member and the actuator member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a head 10 included in a printer 100. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the head 10. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of region IV shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the head 10. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the head 10 taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of region VII shown in FIG. [Figure 8]4 is a perspective view showing the front prevention member 20 of the two prevention members 20 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] <Embodiment> 1 includes a head 10, which is one embodiment of a "liquid ejection head" according to the present invention. In the following description, the up-down direction is defined based on the state in which the printer 100 is installed for use, the front-rear direction is defined with the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper 9 as the front, and the left-right direction is defined when viewed from the front of the printer 100.

[0010] The printer 100 includes a head 10, a carriage 11 that holds the head 10, a scanning mechanism 30 that moves the carriage 11 and the head 10 left and right, a platen 40 that supports the paper 9 from below, a transport mechanism 50 that transports the paper 9 forward, and a control device 90.

[0011] The scanning mechanism 30 includes a pair of guides 31 and 32 that support the carriage 11, and a belt 33 connected to the carriage 11. The guides 31 and 32 and the belt 33 extend in the left-right direction. When the carriage motor is driven under the control of the control device 90, the belt 33 runs, and the carriage 11 and head 10 move left-right along the guides 31 and 32.

[0012] The platen 40 is disposed below the carriage 11 and the head 10. The paper 9 is supported on the upper surface of the platen 40.

[0013] The transport mechanism 50 has a roller 51 arranged behind the head 10 and a roller 52 arranged in front of the head 10. The head 10, the carriage 11, and the platen 40 are arranged between the roller 51 and the roller 52 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0014] Each of rollers 51 and 52 is made up of a set of rotating members. The set of rotating members includes an upper rotating member arranged above the transport path of paper 9 and a lower rotating member arranged below the transport path of paper 9. The upper rotating member and the lower rotating member are arranged so that their peripheral surfaces are in contact with each other.

[0015] When the conveying motor is driven under the control of the control device 90, the rotating members of the rollers 51 and 52 rotate. As the rotating members of the rollers 51 and 52 rotate while nipping the paper 9, the paper 9 is conveyed forward.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the head 10 includes a flow path member 12 and an actuator member 13.

[0017] A plurality of nozzles 123 open on the lower surface of the flow path member 12. A common flow path 121 communicating with an ink tank and individual flow paths 122 each for each nozzle 123 are formed inside the flow path member 12. The individual flow paths 122 are flow paths that run from the outlet of the common flow path 121 through the pressure chambers 12P to the nozzles 123. A plurality of pressure chambers 12P open on the upper surface 12X of the flow path member 12. The common flow path 121 and the individual flow paths 122 correspond to the "liquid flow paths" of the present invention.

[0018] The actuator member 13 is disposed on the upper surface 12X of the flow path member 12. The actuator member 13 includes a metallic vibration plate 131 disposed on the upper surface 12X of the flow path member 12 so as to cover the plurality of pressure chambers 12P, a piezoelectric layer 132 disposed on the upper surface of the vibration plate 131, and a plurality of individual electrodes 133 disposed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 132 so as to face each of the plurality of pressure chambers 12P.

[0019] The diaphragm 131 and the individual electrodes 133 are electrically connected to the driver ICs 15A and 15B via the COF 14. The driver ICs 15A and 15B are electrically connected to the control device 90. The COF 14 corresponds to the "wiring member" of the present invention.

[0020] On the upper surface 13X of the actuator member 13, there are arranged contacts that are arranged on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 132 and electrically connected to the vibration plate 131, and contacts 139 that are arranged on the upper surfaces of the individual electrodes 133. The COF 14 has contacts 149 that are electrically connected to the contacts arranged on the upper surface 13X, and signal lines that electrically connect the contacts 149 and the driver ICs 15A and 15B. The contacts 139 correspond to the "first contacts" of the present invention. The contacts 149 correspond to the "second contacts" of the present invention.

[0021] Under the control of the control device 90, the driver ICs 15A and 15B maintain the potential of the diaphragm 131 at ground potential while changing the potential of the individual electrode 133. As a result, the potential of the individual electrode 133 changes between a predetermined drive potential and ground potential. At this time, the actuator 130, which is the portion of the diaphragm 131 and the piezoelectric layer 132 sandwiched between each individual electrode 133 and each pressure chamber 12P, deforms, changing the volume of the pressure chamber 12P. Pressure is applied to the ink in the pressure chamber 12P, causing ink to be ejected from the nozzle 123.

[0022] 6, the COF 14 includes a connection portion 141 disposed on the upper surface 13X of the actuator member 13, and two folded portions 142 folded upward from each end in the front-rear direction of the connection portion 141. The front-rear direction corresponds to the "first direction" of the present invention, the left-right direction corresponds to the "second direction" of the present invention, and the up-down direction corresponds to the "third direction" of the present invention.

[0023] The connection portion 141 extends in the front-rear and left-right directions in parallel with the upper surface 13X. A plurality of contact points 149 (see FIG. 2) are arranged on the lower surface of the connection portion 141.

[0024] Each of the two folded portions 142 includes a vertical portion extending upward from the end of the connecting portion 141 and a horizontal portion extending forward or backward from the upper end of the vertical portion toward the center in the front-to-rear direction of the head 10. Of the two folded portions 142, the driver IC 15A is disposed on the upper surface of the horizontal portion of the front folded portion 142, and the driver IC 15B is disposed on the upper surface of the horizontal portion of the rear folded portion 142.

[0025] A frame 19 is disposed around the actuator member 13 on the upper surface 12X of the flow path member 12. The frame 19 is a rectangular frame-shaped member disposed along the periphery of the upper surface 12X. As shown in FIG. 3, four openings 191 are provided on each of the front and rear edges of the frame 19. Each opening 191 communicates with a common flow path 121 of the flow path member 12 and also communicates with an ink tank via a tube. For example, ink in an ink tank flows into the common flow path 121 via the tube and the four front openings 191, and returns to the ink tank via the four rear openings 191 and the tube.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 6, the actuator member 13 and the COF 14 are disposed within the frame 19. The pressing member 18, the support member 16, and the circuit board 17 are disposed in a space surrounded by the connection portion 141 and the two folded portions 142 of the COF 14. The pressing member 18, the support member 16, and the circuit board 17 are disposed above the connection portion 141. The vertical portion of the folded portion 142 is disposed along the side surface 18X of the pressing member 18.

[0027] 3 and 5, the flow path member 12 and the frame 19 are rectangular in shape with their long sides in the front-to-rear direction in a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The actuator member 13, the pressing member 18, and the support member 16 are also rectangular in shape with their long sides in the front-to-rear direction in a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 6, the lower surface of the pressing member 18 has a recess 181 and an outer periphery 182 surrounding the recess 181. The recess 181 overlaps in the up-down direction with a region 13R on the upper surface 13X of the actuator member 13. A plurality of individual electrodes 133 (see Fig. 2) are arranged in the region 13R. On the lower surface of the pressing member 18, the outer periphery 182 contacts the connection portion 141, while the portion where the recess 181 is provided is spaced apart from the connection portion 141.

[0029] The pressing member 18 presses the connection portion 141 downward toward the actuator member 13. The pressing member 18 may be made of resin, metal, or the like.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 6, the support member 16 is supported from below by a pressing member 18, and supports three circuit boards 17 on the lower surface.

[0031] The circuit board 17 is disposed in a recess provided on the upper surface of the pressing member 18 and is electrically connected to the COF 14.

[0032] A sealing material B is disposed along the inner peripheral edge of the frame 19. The sealing material B may be, for example, a thermosetting fluorine-based potting material.

[0033] As shown in Figure 6, the sealant B is disposed along the edge of the connection portion 141, and isolates the space between the connection portion 141 and the actuator member 13 from the external space. If ink or moisture in the air enters the space, migration may occur between the multiple individual electrodes 133. The sealant B can prevent this migration.

[0034] Two prevention members 20 are disposed between the inner peripheral edge of the frame 19 and the folded-back portion 142 of the COF 14. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the two prevention members 20 are attached to the front and rear ends of the pressing member 18 so as to be able to swing. The prevention members 20 function to prevent the sealing material B from entering the space between the connecting portion 141 and the actuator member 13. The prevention members 20 are made of, for example, resin.

[0035] 3, 5, and 8, each of the two prevention members 20 has a prevention portion 23 extending in the left-right direction, a first arm 21 extending from the left end of the prevention portion 23, and a second arm 22 extending from the right end of the prevention portion 23. Of the two prevention members 20, the first arm 21 and the second arm 22 of the front prevention member 20 extend rearward, and the first arm 21 and the second arm 22 of the rear prevention member 20 extend forward. The first arm 21 and the second arm 22 extend from the prevention portion 23 toward the pressing member 18 in the front-rear direction.

[0036] 5, first arm 21 has a protrusion 21P protruding to the right, and second arm 22 has a protrusion 22P protruding to the left. Protrusion 21P fits into recess 18P1 of pressing member 18, and protrusion 22P fits into recess 18P2 of pressing member 18.

[0037] The recesses 18P1 are arranged at the front and rear ends of the left side surface of the pressing member 18. The recesses 18P2 are arranged at the front and rear ends of the right side surface of the pressing member 18. The recesses 18P1 correspond to the "first support portion" of the present invention and support the first arm 21 so that it can swing. The recesses 18P2 correspond to the "second support portion" of the present invention and support the second arm 22 so that it can swing.

[0038] The first arm 21, the second arm 22 and the prevention member 20 including them are attached to the pressing member 18 so as to be swingable around an axis along the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the convex portions 21P and 22P protrude, with the convex portion 21P supported by the concave portion 18P1 and the convex portion 22P supported by the concave portion 18P2.

[0039] 3 to 5, the pressing member 18 has a first stopper 18S1 and a second stopper 18S2 for each of the two prevention members 20. The stoppers 18S1 and 18S2 have the function of preventing the prevention members 20 from coming off the pressing member 18.

[0040] The first stopper 18S1 is disposed above the first arm 21 at a position closer to the prevention portion 23 in the front-rear direction than the protrusion 21P is. The second stopper 18S2 is disposed above the second arm 22 at a position closer to the prevention portion 23 in the front-rear direction than the protrusion 22P is.

[0041] The first stopper 18S1 overlaps with the first arm 21 in the vertical direction at a position closer to the prevention portion 23 in the front-rear direction than the recessed portion 18P1 and farther from the connection portion 141 in the vertical direction than the first arm 21. The second stopper 18S2 overlaps with the second arm 22 in the vertical direction at a position closer to the prevention portion 23 in the front-rear direction than the recessed portion 18P2 and farther from the connection portion 141 in the vertical direction than the second arm 22.

[0042] 6 and 7, the prevention portion 23 is disposed between the frame 19 and the connection portion 141 in the front-rear direction. The prevention portion 23 also sandwiches the folded portion 142 of the COF 14 between itself and the side surface 18X of the pressing member 18.

[0043] 7, a gap G1 in the front-to-rear direction between the prevention portion 23 and the connection portion 141 is smaller than a gap G2 in the front-to-rear direction between the prevention portion 23 and the frame 19. The sealing material B is applied, for example, from above the prevention portion 23 to fill the gap G2.

[0044] As described above, the head 10 of this embodiment is provided with the prevention member 20 (see FIG. 6). In this case, the length of the gap in which the sealant B is disposed is shorter in the front-to-rear direction than when the prevention member 20 is not provided. Therefore, the sealant B is less likely to enter the space between the connection portion 141 and the actuator member 13, and is less likely to reach the region 13R where the individual electrodes 133 (see FIG. 2) are disposed. In other words, according to this embodiment, the sealant B can be prevented from entering the space between the COF 14 and the actuator member 13.

[0045] A gap G1 in the front-rear direction between the prevention portion 23 and the connection portion 141 is smaller than a gap G2 in the front-rear direction between the prevention portion 23 and the frame 19 (see FIG. 7). In this case, the sealing material B is less likely to enter the gap G1. Furthermore, the sealing material B that has entered the gap G2 is less likely to reach the region 13R (see FIG. 6) because the length of the path it must take to reach the region 13R in the front-rear direction is long.

[0046] The prevention member 20 is attached to the pressing member 18 so as to be able to swing (see FIGS. 3 to 5). If the prevention member 20 is fixed to the pressing member 18, a load will be applied to the prevention member 20, as well as to the flow path member 12 and the COF 14, when the sealing material B cures and shrinks. In this embodiment, however, the prevention member 20 is attached to the pressing member so as to be able to swing, and therefore the prevention member 20 swings to absorb the load when the sealing material B cures and shrinks, making it less likely that a load will be applied to the flow path member or the wiring member.

[0047] The first arm 21 and the second arm 22 are attached to the pressing member 18 so as to be swingable about an axis extending in the left-right direction (see FIGS. 3 to 5). By swinging the first arm 21 and the second arm 22 about the axis extending in the left-right direction, the gap in the front-rear direction between the prevention portion 23 and the connection portion 141 varies, and the gap can be reduced. Consequently, the effect of preventing the sealing material B from entering the space between the COF 14 and the actuator member 13 can be more reliably achieved.

[0048] The pressing member 18 has stoppers 18S1 and 18S2 (see FIGS. 3 to 5). In this case, the stoppers 18S1 and 18S2 can prevent the prevention member 20 from coming off the pressing member 18.

[0049] The preventive portion 23 sandwiches the folded portion 142 of the COF 14 between itself and the side surface 18X of the pressing member 18 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). In this case, the preventive portion 23 not only prevents the intrusion of the sealing material B but also maintains the posture of the folded portion 142. Furthermore, in a configuration in which the side surface 18X and the folded portion 142 are fixed to each other with adhesive tape or the like, the preventive portion 23 is expected to have an effect of maintaining the posture of the folded portion 142, so the amount of adhesive tape can be reduced.

[0050] The flow path member 12 and the actuator member 13 are long in the front-rear direction (see FIGS. 3 and 5). In the front-rear direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the flow path member 12 and the actuator member 13, it is difficult to increase the gap between the frame 19 and the connection portion 141 in order to avoid increasing the size of the head 10. Therefore, the sealant B has to be applied near the connection portion 141, and the sealant B is likely to enter the space. However, in this embodiment, the preventive members 20 are arranged at the front and rear, and the preventive members 20 can prevent the sealant B from entering the space.

[0051] The COF 14 includes folded portions 142 folded upward from the front-rear end portions of the connection portion 141 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The front and rear ends of the connection portion 141, where the folded portions 142 are provided, are more likely to float upward than the left and right ends, where the folded portions 142 are not provided. As a result, the vertical size of the opening that serves as the entrance to the space between the connection portion 141 and the actuator member 13 becomes larger, making it easier for the sealant B to enter the space. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the preventive portions 23 are disposed at the front and rear ends of the connection portion 141, where the folded portions 142 are provided, thereby preventing the sealant B from entering the space.

[0052] The prevention member 20 is made of resin, which makes it easy to manufacture the prevention member 20.

[0053] <Modification> Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0054] The prevention member is not limited to being made of resin, but may be made of any material, for example, metal.

[0055] The wiring member may not include a folded portion.

[0056] The flow path member and the actuator member are not limited to being long in the first direction. For example, the flow path member and the actuator member may be long in the second direction, or the lengths in the first direction and the second direction may be the same.

[0057] The pressing member may not have a stopper.

[0058] The prevention member is not limited to being attached to the pressing member so as to be swingable, but may be fixed to the pressing member.

[0059] The prevention member is not limited to being attached to the pressing member, but may be attached to the frame, for example.

[0060] The flow path member is not limited to a serial type, but may be a line type.

[0061] The object onto which the liquid is ejected from the nozzles is not limited to paper, but may be, for example, cloth, a substrate, a plastic member, or the like.

[0062] The liquid ejected from the nozzles is not limited to ink, but may be any liquid (for example, a treatment liquid that aggregates or precipitates components in the ink, etc.).

[0063] The present invention is not limited to printers, but can also be applied to facsimiles, copiers, multifunction machines, etc. The present invention can also be applied to liquid ejection devices used for purposes other than image recording (for example, liquid ejection devices that eject conductive liquid onto a substrate to form a conductive pattern). [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 10 head (liquid ejection head) 12 Flow path member 121 common flow path (liquid flow path) 122 Individual flow path (liquid flow path) 123 nozzle 12X top 13 Actuator member 139 contact (first contact) 13X top 14 COF (wiring materials) 141 Connection part 142 Folded part 149 contacts (second contacts) 18 Pressing member 18X side 18P1 Recess (first support part) 18P2 Recess (second support part) 18S1 Stopper (first stopper) 18S2 Stopper (second stopper) 19 frames 20 Prevention member 21 First Arm 22 Second Arm 23 Prevention part G1,G2 gap B Encapsulant

Claims

1. a flow path member having a liquid flow path including a nozzle; an actuator member for ejecting liquid from the nozzle, the actuator member being disposed on an upper surface of the flow path member and having an upper surface on which a first contact point is disposed; a frame disposed around the actuator member on the upper surface of the flow path member; a wiring member including a connection portion disposed on the upper surface of the actuator member, the connection portion having a second contact connected to the first contact; a sealant disposed along an end of the connection portion to isolate a space between the connection portion and the actuator member from an external space; a preventing member having a preventing portion disposed between the frame and the connecting portion in a first direction parallel to the upper surface of the actuator member; A liquid ejection head comprising:

2. 2. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the gap in the first direction between the prevention portion and the connection portion is smaller than the gap in the first direction between the prevention portion and the frame.

3. a pressing member disposed above the connection portion and configured to press the connection portion toward the actuator member; 2. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the prevention member is attached to the pressing member so as to be able to swing.

4. the prevention portion extends in a second direction parallel to the upper surface of the actuator member and intersecting with the first direction; The prevention member is a first arm extending in the first direction from one end of the prevention portion in the second direction toward the pressing member; a second arm extending in the first direction from the other end of the prevention portion in the second direction toward the pressing member, 4. The liquid ejection head according to claim 3, wherein the first arm and the second arm are attached to the pressing member so as to be swingable about an axis extending in the second direction.

5. The pressing member is a first support portion that supports the first arm so that the first arm can swing; a second support portion that supports the second arm so that the second arm can swing; a first stopper that is closer to the prevention portion than the first support portion in the first direction and overlaps with the first arm in a third direction perpendicular to the top surface of the actuator member at a position farther from the connection portion than the first arm in the third direction; a second stopper that overlaps with the second arm in the third direction at a position that is closer to the prevention portion than the second support portion in the first direction and farther from the connection portion than the second arm in the third direction; The liquid ejection head according to claim 4 , further comprising:

6. a pressing member disposed above the connection portion and configured to press the connection portion toward the actuator member; the wiring member further includes a folded portion folded upward from an end of the connection portion and disposed along a side surface of the pressing member, The liquid ejection head according to claim 1 , wherein the prevention portion sandwiches the folded portion between the side surface and the prevention portion.

7. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path member and the actuator member are elongated in the first direction.

8. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1 , wherein the wiring member further includes a folded portion folded upward from the end of the connecting portion in the first direction.

9. 9. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the prevention member is made of resin.

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