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US 5,992,978 AGranted
Ink jet recording apparatus, and an ink jet head manufacturing method
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsMasahiro Fujii, Keiichi Mukaiyama, Hiroyuki Maruyama, Tadaaki Hagata, Ikuhiro Miyashita
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Abstract
A high reliability ink jet head for an ink jet recording apparatus enabling consistent ink ejecting with no nozzle clogging. The ink jet head therefor comprises a substrate comprising plural ink passages, each comprising a nozzle, pressure generator continuous to the nozzle, and an orifice, and an ink supply member common to the plural ink passages. The substrate comprising an anisotropic crystalline material such as silicon, and a filter channel formed integrally to the ink supply member by anisotropic etching.
Claims7
An ink jet head having a plurality of nozzle openings, a plurality of independent ejection chambers respectively communicating with each of said plurality of nozzle openings from which ink droplets are ejected according to a change in pressure generated in each of said plurality of independent ejection chambers, said ink jet head comprising:
- a one piece anisotropic crystalline substrate having formed therein:
- a plurality of first channels, each of said plurality of first channels having a first depth and forming a portion of a respective one of said plurality of independent ejection chambers,
- a second channel having a second depth and forming a portion of an ink cavity for storing ink,
- a plurality of third channels, each of said plurality of third channels having a third depth and forming a part of a respective ink supplying path which supplies ink to a corresponding one of said plurality of independent ejection chambers from said ink cavity, and
- a plurality of fourth channels, each of said plurality of fourth channels having a fourth depth, the fourth depth being shallower than the first depth, second depth, and third depth, each of said plurality of fourth channels constituting a part of a filter which supplies ink to said ink cavity;
- a cover substrate disposed on said anisotropic crystalline substrate and forming together with said plurality of first channels, said second channel, sad plurality of third channels, and said plurality of fourth channels, said plurality of independent ejection chambers, said ink cavity, said ink supplying path and said filter respectively;
- and
- a pressure generating means disposed in correspondence with said ejection chambers for generating pressure to eject the ink from at least one of said plurality of independent ejection chambers,
- wherein said filter has a first inertance (Mf), wherein said plurality of first channels have a second inertance, wherein said plurality of third channels have a third inertance, wherein said plurality of nozzle openings have a fourth inertance, wherein a total inertance (Ma) is defined as a sum of the second inertance, the third inertance, and the fourth inertance, and wherein the first inertance is at most one-fifth of the total inertance.
6 more elements
An ink jet head having a plurality of nozzle openings, a plurality of independent ejection chambers respectively communicating with each of said plurality of nozzle openings from which ink droplets are ejected according to a change in pressure generated in each of said plurality of independent ejection chambers, said ink jet head comprising:
- a one piece anisotropic crystalline substrate having formed therein:
- a plurality of first channels, each of said plurality of first channels having a first depth and forming a portion of a respective one of said plurality of independent ejection chambers,
- a second channel having a second depth and forming a portion of an ink cavity for storing ink,
- a plurality of third channels, each of said plurality of third channels having a third depth and forming a part of a respective ink supplying path which supplies ink to a corresponding one of said plurality of independent ejection chambers from said ink cavity, and
- a plurality of fourth channels, each of said plurality of fourth channels having a fourth depth, the fourth depth being shallower than the first depth, second depth, and third depth, each of said plurality of fourth channels constituting a part of a filter which supplies ink to said ink cavity;
- a cover substrate disposed on said anisotropic crystalline substrate and forming together with said plurality of first channels, said second channel, said plurality of third channels, and said plurality of fourth channels, said plurality of independent ejection chambers, said ink cavity, said ink supplying path and said filter respectively;
- and
- a pressure generating means disposed in correspondence with said ejection chambers for generating pressure to eject the ink from at least one of said plurality of independent ejection chambers,
- wherein said filter has a first flow resistance, wherein said plurality of first channels have a second flow resistance, wherein said plurality of third channels have a third flow resistance, wherein said plurality of nozzle openings have a fourth flow resistance, wherein a total flow resistance is defined as a sum of the second flow resistance, the third flow resistance, and the fourth flow resistance, wherein the first flow resistance is at most one-fourth of the total flow resistance.
6 more elements
An ink jet head comprising:
- an ink supply port;
- a common ink cavity;
- a filter having a plurality of filter channels each of said plurality of filter channels having a respective first end and a respective second end, wherein the respective first end communicates with said ink supply port, wherein a respective second end communicates with said common ink cavity, wherein each of said plurality of filter channels has a first cross-sectional area, and wherein said filter has a first inertance;
- a plurality of ink ejection nozzles each comprising a respective ink passage and connected to said common ink cavity by said respective ink passage, wherein each of said plurality of ink ejection nozzles has a second cross-sectional area, and wherein said plurality of ink ejection nozzles have a second inertance;
- and
- a corresponding plurality of pressure generating means associated with a respective one of said plurality of ink passages for generating pressure to eject ink, said corresponding plurality of pressure generating means being selectively drivable to eject ink droplets through respective ones of said plurality of ink ejection nozzles;
- wherein the first cross-sectional area is less than the second cross-sectional area, and wherein the first inertance is at most one-fifth the second inertance.
4 more elements
An ink jet head comprising:
- an ink supply port;
- a common ink cavity;
- a filter having a plurality of filter channels each of said plurality of filter channels having a respective first end and a respective second end, wherein the respective first end communicates with said ink supply port, wherein a respective second end communicates with said common ink cavity wherein each of said plurality of filter channels has a first cross-sectional area, and wherein said filter has a first flow resistance;
- a plurality of ink ejection nozzles each comprising a respective ink passage and connected to said common ink cavity by said respective ink passage, wherein each of said plurality of ink ejection nozzles has a second cross-sectional area, and wherein said plurality of ink ejection nozzles have a second flow resistance;
- and
- a corresponding plurality of pressure generating means associated with a respective one of said plurality of ink passages for generating pressure to eject ink, said corresponding plurality of pressure generating means being selectively drivable to eject ink droplets through respective ones of said plurality of ink ejection nozzles,
- wherein a first cross-sectional area is less than the second cross-sectional area, and wherein the first flow resistance is at most one-fourth the second flow resistance.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.