Inkjet Head Electrode Adhesion via Preliminary Groove Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ink jet printers, the peeling-off of electrodes from piezoelectric base materials during clearance groove processing is a significant issue, leading to reduced adhesive force and increased risk of electrode failure, especially when using plating methods that require surface roughening, which weakens the end surfaces of channel grooves.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves forming an electrode clearance groove before the plating process, ensuring that the electrode is securely integrated with the actuator plate's surface, and then separating the electrodes using cutting or laser processing to prevent peeling-off, thereby maintaining the structural integrity of the piezoelectric base material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an electrode is formed by a plating method with surface roughening, then adhesive force of the electrode is improved, but the end surface of the channel groove becomes weakened and more prone to peeling
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode clearance groove is formed before the electrode formation process. This preliminary action prevents subsequent cutting operations from damaging the already-formed electrode and causes peeling at the channel groove end surface, while still allowing the plating method to provide strong adhesive force through surface roughening
2Productivity
If the channel groove width is reduced to increase nozzle density, then productivity is improved, but the electrode can only be formed to a limited depth and sufficient driving power cannot be generated
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode clearance groove extends in the second direction (width direction) to provide lateral separation between electrodes, allowing the channel groove to maintain sufficient depth in the third direction (depth direction) even when the width is reduced. This dimensional approach enables both high nozzle density and adequate electrode depth for generating driving power
3Manufacturing precision
If cutting is performed after electrode formation to create clearance groove, then electrode separation is achieved, but the electrode may be peeled off
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode clearance groove is formed before electrode formation, so subsequent cutting or laser processing only affects the groove structure and not the electrode itself. This preliminary timing of groove formation ensures precise electrode separation while preventing electrode peeling, as the electrode is already securely formed on the intact piezoelectric base material
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively suppresses electrode peeling-off, enhances the adhesive force, and reduces the risk of yield degradation, allowing for the formation of electrodes even in narrow channel grooves, thus improving the driving force and reliability of the ink jet head.
Implementation Method 1
processing is performed on a piezoelectric (for example, PZT) base material so as to form a channel groove, electrodes are formed on the inner side and the surface of the channel groove by vapor deposition, sputtering, plating, or the like, and then an ink is discharged by driving the electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
Channel grooves for a discharge channel and a non-discharge channel are formed in the surface of an actuator plate by cutting. The discharge channel includes an extension portion and a raise-and-cut portion, and the non-discharge channel also includes an extension portion and a raise-and-cut portion. In an embodiment, an electrode clearance groove is formed in advance by cutting with a dicing blade or the like. After the electrode clearance groove is formed, an electrode is formed by plating. Since plating is performed after the electrode clearance groove is formed, a clearance groove electrode is integrally formed with an AP-side common pad in the electrode clearance groove, and thus the clearance groove electrode and the AP-side common pad are short-circuited. Thus, an electrode separation portion is formed by cutting a short-circuited portion of the clearance groove electrode and the AP-side common pad through cutting or irradiation with laser.