# US 2013/0278673 A1 · Liquid droplet discharge device and method of manufacturing liquid droplet discharge device

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- Number: US 2013/0278673 A1
- Document ID: US20130278673A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/864,790
- Filed: 2013-04-17
- Published: 2013-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-18
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Junichi TAKEUCHI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278673A1

## CPC

- B41J 2/16535: {using wiping constructions (B41J2/16552 takes precedence)}
- B41J 2/1433: {Structure of nozzle plates}
- B41J 2/1606: {Coating the nozzle area or the ink chamber}
- B41J 2/162: {Manufacturing of the nozzle plates}
- B41J 2/1628: {dry etching}
- B41J 2/1632: {machining}
- B41J 2/1634: {laser machining}
- B41J 2/1642: {thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]}
- B41J 2/164: {thin film formation}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

In a liquid droplet discharge head, a liquid repellent layer is continuously formed from a liquid droplet discharge surface to a middle position in a thickness direction of an end surface of a nozzle plate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid droplet discharge device comprising:
a liquid droplet discharge head in which a liquid repellent layer is coated on a liquid droplet discharge surface of a nozzle plate;
a fixing plate that fixes the liquid droplet discharge head to a head supporter; and
a wiping member that wipes the liquid droplet discharge surface by a relative movement with the liquid droplet discharge head,
wherein the liquid repellent layer is continuously coated to an end surface of the nozzle plate over a boundary between the liquid droplet discharge surface and the end surface, and
the fixing plate does not overlap the liquid droplet discharge surface and fixes the liquid droplet discharge head to the head supporter, at least in an end portion of the nozzle plate located at an initial point side of wiping using the wiping member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 1,
wherein, on the end surface, a boundary between a portion coated with the liquid repellent layer and a non-coated portion is closer to the liquid droplet discharge surface than a back surface of the liquid droplet discharge surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 2,
wherein the end surface includes a first end surface connected to the back surface of the liquid droplet discharge surface, and a second end surface connected to the first end surface and parallel to the liquid droplet discharge surface, and
the liquid repellent layer is continuously coated from the liquid droplet discharge surface to the second end surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 3,
wherein the second end surface extends along a surface parallel to the liquid droplet discharge surface, and the end surface includes a third end surface that is connected to the liquid droplet discharge surface and the second end surface between the liquid droplet discharge surface and the second end surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 3,
wherein the second end surface includes an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to both the liquid droplet discharge surface and the first end surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 3,
wherein the second end surface includes a concave-shaped curved surface.

### Claim 7

A method of manufacturing a liquid droplet discharge device that has a liquid droplet discharge head in which a liquid repellent layer is coated on a liquid droplet discharge surface of a nozzle plate, a fixing plate that fixes the liquid droplet discharge head to a head supporter, and a wiping member that wipes the liquid droplet discharge surface by a relative movement with the liquid droplet discharge head, the method comprising:
forming nozzle holes on the substrate;
forming a plurality of grooves on one main surface of the substrate;
coating the liquid repellent layer on the main surface; and
cutting the substrate along the plurality of grooves to obtain individual pieces of a plurality of nozzle plates.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of manufacturing a liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 7,
wherein, in the forming of the nozzle holes and in the forming of the grooves, the nozzle holes and the grooves are concurrently formed on the substrate.

### Claim 9

A liquid droplet discharge device that has a nozzle plate in which a liquid repellent layer is formed on a liquid droplet discharge surface,
wherein the liquid repellent layer is also formed in an end portion of the nozzle plate, and the liquid repellent layer formed on the liquid droplet discharge surface continues with the liquid repellent layer formed in the end portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 9,
wherein the end portion includes a first end surface connected to the back surface of the liquid droplet discharge surface, and a second end surface connected to the first end surface and the liquid droplet discharge surface, and
the liquid repellent layer is formed on the liquid droplet discharge surface and the second end surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 10,
wherein the second end surface includes a surface that intersects with both the liquid droplet discharge surface and the first end surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 10,
wherein the second end surface includes a curved surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The liquid droplet discharge device according to claim 9,
wherein the end portion includes a first end surface connected to the back surface of the liquid droplet discharge surface, a second end surface connected to the first end surface, and a third end surface connected to the second end surface and the liquid droplet discharge surface,
the second end surface is parallel to the liquid droplet discharge surface, and
the liquid repellent layer is formed on the liquid droplet discharge surface, the second end surface, and the third end surface.