Method for manufacturing discharge port member and method for manufacturing liquid discharge head

A method for manufacturing a discharge port member used in a liquid discharge head, comprising in the following order, preparing a substrate at least whose surface is conductive, the substrate having, formed on said surface, a first insulating resist for forming a discharge port and a second insulating resist for forming a recessed portion of a wall of a flow path, forming on surface a first plating layer by plating using said first resist and said second resist as a mask, removing said second resist, forming a second plating layer on an exposed portion of said substrate from which said second resist has been removed, said second plating layer being formed by plating using said first resist as a mask, said second plating layer forming said recessed portion of said wall, and removing said first resist to form said discharge port and removing said substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a discharge port member having a liquid discharge port and to a method for manufacturing a liquid discharge head.

2.Description of the Related Art

A liquid discharge head includes a fine discharge port provided in a discharge port member and a flow path in communication with the discharge port, and recording is performed by discharging liquid supplied from the flow path toward a recording medium.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-103613 discloses a method for manufacturing a discharge port member having recessed portions provided in sections that form ceiling portions of the flow paths of the discharge port member. In this method, a first plating layer is formed by plating on a conductive substrate on which a first resist corresponding to discharge ports is formed. A second resist is then formed on the first plating layer, and a second plating layer is formed by plating. Then the second resist is removed, and portions from which the second resist has been removed serve as the recessed portions corresponding to the discharge ports. The formation of the recessed portions is advantageous for refilling with liquid because the volume of the flow paths is larger than the volume when no recessed portions are formed.

However, during patterning by exposure to light to form the second resist, the light passing through the second resist can be reflected from the surface of the first plating layer. Therefore, portions of the second resist that should not be exposed to light can be exposed to the reflected light. This may result in an undesired resist shape, and the flow paths formed from the plating layers may not have the desired shape.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above problem. Another object is to provide a discharge port member manufacturing method that can produce, at a high yield, a discharge port member having recessed portions and formed with high shape accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above mentioned object, a method for manufacturing a discharge port member used in a liquid discharge head from which a liquid is discharged, the discharge port member including a discharge port that discharges the liquid and a recessed portion that is a part of a wall of a flow path of said liquid, the flow path being in communication with said discharge port, the method comprising in the following order: a step of preparing a substrate at least whose surface is conductive, the substrate having, formed on the surface, a first insulating resist for forming the discharge port and a second insulating resist for forming said recessed portion of the wall of the flow path; a first plating step of forming on said surface a first plating layer, which forms a part of the discharge port member, by plating using the first resist and the second resist as a mask, wherein the first resist is exposed through a first opening of the first plating layer, and the second resist is exposed through a second opening of the first plating layer; a step of removing the second resist; a second plating step of forming a second plating layer on an exposed portion of the substrate from which said second resist has been removed, the second plating layer being formed by plating using the first resist as a mask, said second plating layer forming said recessed portion of said wall; and a step of removing said first resist to form the discharge port and removing the substrate, whereby the discharge port member is formed.

According to the present invention, a discharge port member having recessed portions and formed with high shape accuracy can be obtained at a high yield.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In the following description, the invention is applied to an ink jet recording head as an example. However, the application range of the invention is not limited thereto. The invention is also applicable to the manufacturing of liquid discharge heads used to produce biochips and liquid discharge heads used to print electronic circuits. Examples of the liquid discharge head include, in addition to the ink jet recording head, heads for manufacturing color filters.

Numerical values used in the following embodiments are examples only, and the invention is not limited thereto. The invention is not limited to the embodiments, and any combinations of these embodiments are encompassed by the invention. The invention is also applicable to other technologies included in the inventive idea described in the claims of the specification.

FIGS. 1A,1B,2A and2B show an exemplary structure of a liquid discharge head manufactured in accordance with the present embodiment.

FIG. 1Ais a schematic top view of the liquid discharge head, andFIG. 1Bis an enlarged view of the portion A inFIG. 1A.FIG. 2Ais a schematic cross sectional view taken along B-B′ inFIG. 1B, andFIG. 2Bis a schematic cross sectional view taken along C-C′ inFIG. 1B.

InFIGS. 1A and 1B, one or more ink supply ports are formed in a silicon (Si) substrate1. When a plurality of ink supply ports10are formed, they are formed in a row. As shownFIGS. 1A and 1B, discharge ports4are arranged in a staggered pattern.

InFIGS. 1A to 2B, a plurality of energy generation elements2are formed in the substrate1. These energy generation elements2are arranged in rows on opposite sides of each ink supply port10interposed therebetween. Flow path walls3made of, for example, a resin are disposed on the substrate1, and a discharge port member5is bonded onto the flow path walls3with an adhesive6. The discharge port member5is bonded onto the flow path walls3such that liquid chambers7and the discharge ports4are positioned above the energy generation elements2. Flow paths9are formed by the discharge port member5, the flow path walls3, and the element substrate1such that the liquid chambers7are in communication with the ink supply ports10. The discharge port member5forms the upper walls of the flow paths9and has recesses8provided in portions corresponding to the flow paths9. These recesses8inhibit air bubbles from residing during filling with ink, and stable ink dischargeability can thereby be ensured.

The liquid chambers7are surrounded by the flow path walls3, the element substrate1, and the discharge port member5and are regions formed above the energy generation elements. The liquid chambers7as well as the flow paths9and the ink supply ports10are filled with the ink. The energy generated by the energy generation elements2causes the ink in the liquid chambers7to be formed into ink droplets, and the ink droplets fly from the discharge ports4of the discharge port member5and adhere to a printing paper sheet (not shown).

In the present embodiment, single stage recesses are formed in the discharge port member5, but two or more stage recesses may be formed therein. The shape of the recesses may be appropriately selected according to the shape of the flow paths. For example, the depth and width of the recesses may be changed. The recesses may have a shape formed in consideration of ink discharge efficiency.

Next, a process of manufacturing the liquid discharge head having the structure shown inFIGS. 1A to 2Bwill be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 3A to 3Fshowing cross-sections taken along C-C′ inFIG. 1B.

First, as shown inFIG. 3A, a first resist layer16is formed on a substrate11at least whose surface is conductive. Further, the first resist layer16is formed on portions corresponding to the discharge ports (portions in which the discharge ports are to be formed). The first resist layer16serves as a mold material for the end portions of the discharge ports. Next, as shown inFIG. 3B, a second resist layer17is formed on portions of the substrate11that correspond to the recesses (portions in which the recesses are to be formed). The surface of the substrate11is conductive so as to function as a seed layer for plating. The entire substrate11may be conductive, or the substrate may be formed from a base material such as silicon and a conductor that forms the surface functioning as the seed layer.

An insulating material such as a resist material or a silicon-containing compound may be used as the material for the first resist layer16. Examples of the silicon-containing compound include silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxide (SiO), and silicon oxynitride (SiON). Examples of the resist material include a positive resist and a negative resist.

Examples of the second resist layer17include a positive resist and a negative resist.

Preferably, when a resist material is used for the first resist layer16, a negative resist is used for one of the first and second resist layers that is formed first, and a positive resist is used for a layer that is formed later. Particularly, it is preferable to use a negative resist for the first resist layer16and a positive resist for the second resist layer17.

The thickness of the first resist layer16is, for example, 0.01 to 10 μm, preferably 0.01 to 3 μm, and more preferably 0.1 to 2 μm.

The thickness of the second resist layer17is, for example, 1.5 to 3,000 μm, preferably 6 to 250 μm, and more preferably 6 to 150 μm.

The width of the second resist layer17is appropriately selected according to the width of the flow paths to be formed.

Any conductive materials may be used as the material for the conductive substrate. Examples of the usable substrate include a metal substrate and a substrate including a conductive layer formed on, for example, a resin, ceramic, or glass material. The conductive layer may be formed using a conductive metal such as copper, nickel, chromium, or iron by a thin-film formation method such as sputtering, vapor deposition, plating, or ion plating.

Next, as shown inFIG. 3C, a first plating layer18is formed by precipitating a metal material such as nickel (Ni) by electroforming on the exposed surface portions of the substrate11having the first resist layer16and the second resist layer17formed thereon. The first plating layer is formed such that the height of its upper surface is equal to or lower than the upper surface of the second resist layer17. The upper surface of the first plating layer formed is preferably equal to or higher than the upper surface of the first resist layer16and more preferably equal to or higher than one-third of the height of the second resist layer17. The first plating layer is formed so as to overhang the first resist layer16with openings formed above the first resist layer16.

In addition to nickel, for example, palladium, copper, gold, rhodium, a composite material thereof, or the like may be used as the material for the discharge port member. The thickness of the first plating layer is, for example, 1 to 1,000 μm, preferably 5 to 750 μm, and more preferably 5 to 400 μm.

Next, as shown inFIG. 3D, the second resist layer17is removed. By removal of the second resist layer17, the conductive substrate is partially exposed to form an exposed surface21.

Next, as shown inFIG. 3E, a second plating layer19is formed by electroforming on the exposed surface of the conductive substrate and on the first plating layer18so as to cover it, and the discharge port member5is thereby formed. The second plating layer is formed such that the openings are formed above the first resist layer16.

The thickness of the second plating layer is, for example, 1 to 200 μm, preferably, 2 to 100 μm, and more preferably 2 to 50 μm.

The second resist layer17can be removed by, for example, development.

Next, as shown inFIG. 3F, the discharge port member5is detached from the substrate11, and the discharge port member5is thereby obtained.

This discharge port member5is bonded to the substrate1such that the discharge ports4are disposed at positions corresponding to the energy generation elements2of the substrate1that generate energy used to discharge liquid. The liquid discharge head shown inFIGS. 2A and 2Bis thereby obtained.

The present invention is different from the conventional method in that the second resist is not formed on a plating layer. Therefore, pattern deformation does not occur at the interface between the first and second plating layers and near the discharge ports, so that the plating layers can be easily formed into desired shapes by electroforming.

In the present embodiment, a process of manufacturing a liquid discharge head shown inFIGS. 7A and 7Bwill be described.FIG. 7Ais a schematic top view of a discharge port member in an exemplary configuration of the liquid discharge head, andFIG. 7Bis an enlarged view of the portion A inFIG. 7A.

The process of manufacturing the liquid discharge head having the structure shown inFIGS. 7A and 7Bwill be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 4A to 4Eshowing cross-sections taken along D-D′ inFIG. 7B.

First, as shown inFIG. 4A, a first resist layer16is formed on portions of a substrate11that correspond to discharge ports (portions in which the discharge ports are to be formed). The first resist layer16serves as a mold material for the end portions of the discharge ports. Next, as shown inFIG. 4B, a second resist layer17is formed on portions of the substrate11that correspond to recesses (portions in which the recesses are to be formed). InFIG. 4B, the second resist layer17is formed to have a reverse tapered shape. More specifically, the second resist layer17is formed such that its vertical cross-section along a liquid flow path has the reverse tapered shape. Such a shape can reduce the flow resistance of the liquid flow path to be formed.

Next, as shown inFIG. 4C, a first plating layer18is formed by precipitating nickel (Ni) by electroforming on the exposed surface portions of the substrate11having the first resist layer16and the second resist layer17formed thereon. The first plating layer is formed such that the height of its upper surface is equal to or lower than the upper surface of the second resist layer17. The upper surface of the first plating layer formed is preferably equal to or higher than the upper surface of the first resist layer16and more preferably equal to or higher than one-third of the height of the second resist layer17. The first plating layer is formed so as to overhang the first resist layer16with openings formed above the first resist layer16.

Next, the second resist layer17is removed. Then a second plating layer19is formed by electroforming on the exposed surface of the conductive substrate and on the first plating layer18so as to cover it, as shown inFIG. 4D, and a discharge port member5is thereby formed. The second plating layer is formed such that the openings are formed above the first resist layer16.

Next, as shown inFIG. 4E, the discharge port member5is detached from the substrate11, and the discharge port member5is thereby obtained.

In the thus-obtained discharge port member5, the recesses have a tapered shape. Therefore, the resistance to the flow of ink is smaller than that when the side walls of the recesses are substantially vertical, and air bubbles, etc. are less likely to reside in the recesses. In the liquid discharge head obtained by bonding the discharge port member5manufactured in the present embodiment to the walls of the flow paths, print failures such as non-discharge due to insufficient refilling with ink do not occur even when the ink is continuously discharged, and therefore the liquid discharge head has good printing performance.

In the present embodiment, a process of manufacturing a liquid discharge head shown inFIGS. 7A and 7Cis described.FIG. 7Ais the schematic top view of a discharge port member in an exemplary configuration of the liquid discharge head, andFIG. 7Cis the enlarged view of the portion A inFIG. 7A.

The process of manufacturing the liquid discharge head having the structure shown inFIGS. 7A and 7Cwill be described in detail with reference to cross-sections taken along E-E′ inFIG. 7C.

First, as shown inFIG. 6A, a first resist layer16made of an insulating material is formed on portions of a substrate11that correspond to discharge ports (portions in which the discharge ports are to be formed). Next, as shown inFIG. 6B, a third resist layer20is formed on the first resist layer16, and a second resist layer17is formed on portions of the substrate11that correspond to recesses (portions in which the recesses are to be formed). The third resist layer20is formed on the first resist layer16so as to cover the first resist layer16, as shown inFIG. 6B. More specifically, the shape of the third resist layer20in in-plane directions is larger than the shape of the first resist layer16, and the third resist layer20covers the first resist layer16. The in-plane directions are directions along the surface of the substrate and are horizontal directions when the substrate is placed horizontally.

The second resist layer17and the third resist layer20can be formed from a single resist material by providing the resist material on the substrate11having the first resist layer16formed thereon so as to cover the first resist layer16and then patterning the resist material such that the resist material is partially removed.

Preferably, when a resist is used for the first resist layer16, a negative resist is used for the first resist layer16, and a positive resist is used for the second resist layer17.

The thickness of the first resist layer16is, for example, 0.1 to 10 μm, preferably 0.1 to 3 μm, and more preferably 0.1 to 2 μm.

The thickness of the second resist layer17is, for example, 1.5 to 3,000 μm, preferably 6 to 250 μm, and more preferably 6 to 150 μm.

Next, as shown inFIG. 6C, a first plating layer18is formed by electroforming on the exposed surface of the substrate11. The first plating layer is formed such that the height of its upper surface is equal to or lower than the upper surface of the second resist layer17. The upper surface of the first plating layer formed is preferably equal to or higher than the upper surface of the first resist layer16and more preferably equal to or higher than one-third of the height of the second resist layer17.

The thickness of the first plating layer is, for example, 1 to 1,000 μm, preferably 5 to 750 μm, and more preferably 5 to 400 μm.

Next, the second resist layer17and the third resist layer20are removed. Then a second plating layer19is formed by electroforming on the exposed surface of the substrate11and on the first plating layer18so as to cover it, as shown inFIG. 6D. A discharge port member5is thereby formed. The second plating layer is formed so as to overhang the first resist layer16with openings formed above the first resist layer16.

The thickness of the second plating layer is, for example, 1 to 200 μm, preferably 2 to 200 μm, and more preferably 2 to 50 μm.

Next, as shown inFIG. 6E, the discharge port member5is detached from the substrate11, and the discharge port member5is thereby obtained.

In the discharge port member5manufactured in the present embodiment, discharge ports each having a cross-section with straight sections can be formed, and no edges are formed in liquid flow paths and in the discharge ports. Since the discharge ports have straight sections, the straightness of the discharged ink can be improved. In the present embodiment, even when nozzles are formed at high density, a discharge port member having good discharge performance can be easily manufactured by electroforming with the required thickness of the discharge port member ensured.

In the liquid discharge head obtained by bonding the discharge port member5manufactured in the present embodiment to flow path walls3, print failures such as non-discharge due to insufficient refilling with ink do not occur even when the ink is continuously discharged. Therefore, the liquid discharge head has good printing performance, and discharged ink droplets have good straightness.

In the structure in the third embodiment, the shape of the third resist layer20in the in-plane directions is larger than the shape of the first resist layer16, and the third resist layer20covers the first resist layer16in the step shown inFIG. 6B.

The first resist layer16and the third resist layer20may form a different stacking structure. For example, the stacked first and third resist layers16and20may have the same planar shape. More specifically, in this stacked structure, the first resist layer16and the third resist layer20are formed so as to have the same shape in the in-plane directions.

In another possible stacked structure, the shape of the first resist layer16in the in-plane directions is larger than the shape of the third resist layer20, and the third resist layer20is formed inside the first resist layer16. The structure formed of the first resist layer16and the third resist layer20may be appropriately selected in consideration of the target shape of the discharge ports.

Next, example 1 of the present invention will be described. In this Example, the liquid discharge head shown inFIGS. 1A to 2Bwas manufactured by electroforming. In this Example, the pitch of nozzles was 1,200 dpi, and the discharge ports4were arranged in a staggered pattern. In this Example, a discharge port member having discharge ports with a hole diameter d of 10 μm and recesses with a width of 5 μm, a length of 60 μm, and a depth of 8 μm was produced.

FIGS. 3A to 3Fare diagrams illustrating the process of manufacturing in a cross-section taken along C-C′ inFIG. 1B.

First, as shown inFIG. 3A, a substrate11made of a stainless steel plate, or the like was coated with a negative resist forming an insulating layer to a thickness of 1 μm. Then a mask patterned such that the negative resist remained on 30 μm diameter portions corresponding to the discharge ports (portions in which the discharge ports were to be formed) was placed on the resist, and a first resist16(corresponding to the insulating layer) was formed by photolithography. SU-8 2000 (product of Kayaku MicroChem) was used as the negative resist.

Next, the substrate11and the first resist16were coated with a positive resist forming a resist layer to a thickness of 20 μm. Then a mask patterned such that the positive resist remained on portions with a width of 11 μm and a length of 66 μm in which recesses were to be formed was placed on the positive resist, and a second resist17(corresponding to a resist layer) was formed by photolithography, as shown inFIG. 3B. In this Example, PMER P-LA900PM (product of TOKYO OHKA KOGYO Co., Ltd.) was used as the positive resist.

Next, as shown inFIG. 3C, the substrate11having the first resist16and the second resist17formed thereon was plated by electroforming with nickel (Ni) to a thickness of 8 μm, whereby a first plating layer18was formed. In this electroforming process, holes having a diameter of 16 μm were formed in portions corresponding to the discharge ports.

Next, the entire plated side surface of the substrate was exposed to light, and the second resist17was developed and removed, as shown inFIG. 3D. Then the exposed surface of the conductive substrate and the first plating layer were plated by electroforming with nickel to a thickness of 3 μm to form a second plating layer19, as shown inFIG. 3E.

A discharge port member5having discharge ports with a diameter of 10 μm and recesses with a width of 5 μm, a length of 60 μm, and a depth of 8 μm was produced by the above process.

Next, as shown inFIG. 3F, the discharge port member5was separated from the substrate11, and the first resist was peeled and removed, whereby the discharge port member5was obtained.

In the conventional double layer electroforming method, a second resist is patterned on a first plating layer. To prevent the patterned second resist from peeling at its end portions and narrow portions, the second resist must be increased in shape so as to communicate with a common flow path, or a dummy pattern must be formed. In the present invention, the resist layer for forming the recesses, which corresponds to the second resist in the conventional example, is patterned on the conductive substrate. Since the conductive substrate can be selected in consideration of adhesion properties with the resist, the adhesion properties between the substrate and the resist can be better than those between the resist and the plating layer. Therefore, a dummy pattern and a large resist shape are not required.

Example 2 of the present invention will now be described. In this Example, the liquid discharge head shown inFIG. 7Awas manufactured by electroforming. In this Example, a discharge port member having discharge ports4arranged in straight rows with a nozzle pitch of 1,200 dpi was formed. The discharge port member formed had discharge ports having a hole diameter d of 5 μm and recesses having a width of 5 μm, a length of 60 μm, and a depth of 8 μm. The recesses were disposed in flow paths. In this Example, the discharge ports were formed to have a small hole diameter to reduce the amount discharged.

FIG. 4Ais a diagram illustrating the process of manufacturing in a cross-section taken along D-D′ inFIG. 7B.

First, as shown inFIG. 4A, a first resist layer16made of an insulating material was formed on a substrate11made of a stainless steel plate, or the like. In this Example, the substrate11was coated with silicon nitride (SiN) to a thickness of 0.1 μm, and the silicon nitride film was patterned such that the film remained on 17 μm diameter portions corresponding to the discharge ports, whereby the first resist layer16was formed.

Next, the substrate having the first resist layer16formed thereon was coated with a negative resist forming a second resist layer17to a thickness of 20 μm, as shown inFIG. 4B. Then a mask patterned such that the negative resist remained on portions with a width of 11 μm and a length of 66 μm in which recesses were to be formed was placed on the negative resist, and the second resist layer17was formed by photolithography. The second resist layer17was then patterned into a reverse tapered shape.

To form the reverse tapered shape, a general formation method may be used such as a method in which a plurality of stacked resist layers are patterned or a method in which patterning is performed using a gradation mask when the negative resist is exposed to light. The gradation mask used to form the resist layer into a reverse tapered shape has gradation formed in portions corresponding to the inclined reverse tapered portions of the resist layer. The gradation is formed such that the exposure amount is decreased from the inclination beginning portions of the reverse tapered portions of the resist layer toward the outer edges thereof. When the exposure is low, the upper portion of the resist layer is cured, but a portion near the substrate11is not cured because the light is attenuated in the resist layer and the amount of the light reaching that portion decreases. Therefore, the resist layer is formed into the reveres tapered shape.

The subsequent steps were the same as those in Example 1, and the discharge port member5was thereby formed.

The thus-produced discharge port member5had tapered recesses. Therefore, the resistance to the flow of ink is smaller than that when the side walls of the recesses are substantially vertical, and air bubbles, etc. are less likely to reside in the recesses. A liquid discharge head was obtained by bonding the discharge port member5obtained in this Example to flow path walls3. Print failures such as non-discharge due to insufficient refilling with ink were not found even when the ink was continuously discharged, and therefore the liquid discharge head had good printing performance.

Example 3 of the present invention will next be described. In this Example, the liquid discharge head shown inFIGS. 7A and 7Cwas manufactured by electroforming. In this Example, a discharge port member having discharge ports4arranged in rows with a nozzle pitch of 1,200 dpi was formed. The discharge port member formed had discharge ports having a hole diameter d of 10 μm and recesses having a width of 5 μm, a length of 60 μm, and a depth of 8 μm.

FIGS. 6A to 6Eare diagrams illustrating the process of manufacturing in a cross-section taken along E-E′ inFIG. 7C.

First, as shown inFIG. 6A, a first resist layer16made of an insulating material was formed on a substrate11made of a stainless steel plate, or the like. In this Example, the substrate11was coated with silicon nitride (SiN) to a thickness of 0.1 μm, and the coating was patterned such that the coating remained on 16 μm diameter portions corresponding to the discharge ports.

Next, the substrate11and the first resist layer16were coated with a positive resist forming a second resist layer17to a thickness of 20 μm, as shown inFIG. 6B. Then the second resist layer17was formed on portions in which the recesses were to be formed and a third resist layer20was formed on the first resist layer16by photolithography. More specifically, the positive resist was patterned by photolithography such that the second resist layer17remained on portions with a width of 11 μm and a length of 66 μm in which the recesses were to be formed and the third resist layer20remained so as to cover the first resist layer16.

Next, as shown inFIG. 6C, the substrate11having the first resist layer16, the second resist layer17and third resist layer20formed thereon was plated by electroforming with nickel (Ni) to a thickness of 8 μm to form a first plating layer18. In this electroforming process, holes having a diameter of 16 μm were formed in portions of the first plating layer that corresponded to the discharge ports.

Next, the entire surface was exposed to light and developed to remove only the second resist layer17. Then the exposed surface of the conductive substrate and the first plating layer were plated by electroforming with nickel to a thickness of 3 μm to form a second plating layer19, as shown inFIG. 6D.

A discharge port member5having discharge ports with a diameter of 10 μm and recesses with a width of 5 μm, a length of 60 μm, and a depth of 8 μm was thereby produced by the above steps.

Next, as shown inFIG. 6E, the substrate11and the first resist layer16were peeled and separated from the substrate11, whereby the discharge port member5was obtained.

In the discharge port member5manufactured in this Example, the required thickness of the discharge port member can be ensured even when the density of nozzles is high. The formed discharge ports4substantially vertically extended from the flow path side toward their ends. A liquid discharge head was obtained by bonding the discharge port member5manufactured in this Example to flow path walls3. Print failures such as non-discharge due to insufficient refilling with ink were not found even when the ink was continuously discharged, and printing performance was very good. The discharge state of the ink was observed. It was found that ink droplets discharged from the discharge ports were not deflected and had good straightness.

To improve the discharge characteristics of ink droplets from a liquid discharge head, an ink repellent layer is often formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the discharge ports in which the ink droplets are formed to thereby improve ink repellency. Therefore, in this Example, an ink repellent layer was formed on the ink discharge side surface of a discharge port member.

First, as shown inFIG. 5A, a discharge port member5was laminated from the lower side (the upper side in the figure) with a negative dry film resist22having a thickness of 70 μm using thermo-compression rollers (temperature: 60° C.) to introduce the film resist22into the discharge ports4. Hereinafter, the negative dry film resist is referred to as a negative DFR.

Next, the discharge port member5was laminated from the upper side (the lower side in the figure) with the negative DFR22having a thickness of 20 μm using thermo-compression rollers (temperature: 60° C.) to sandwich the discharge port member5between the layers of the negative dry film resist22. Then the discharge port member5was irradiated from the lower side (the upper side in the figure) with UV light, or the like to expose the entire surface to the UV light, or the like. In this Example, Riston FRA063 (product of Du Pont Kabushiki Kaisha) was used as the negative DFR.

Next, unexposed portions were removed by development and rinsing, as shown inFIG. 5B. The exposed negative DFR22remained on the upper side of the discharge port member5and protruded cylindrically from the discharge ports4.

Next, as shown inFIG. 5C, an ink repellent layer made of a fluorine-based resin was formed on the surface of the discharge port member. More specifically, the negative DFR did not remain on the upper surface (discharge surface) of the discharge port member5, and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-Ni layer having a thickness of 2 μm was formed only on this upper surface (i.e., except for the discharge ports4). The PTFE-Ni layer was formed by eutectoid electroplating in a nickel (Ni) electroforming solution containing PTFE particles.

After the negative DFR was removed, a washing step and then heat treatment (at 350° C. for 1 hour) were performed, and an ink repellent layer23(the PTFE-Ni layer having good ink repellency) was thereby formed only on the discharge surface of the discharge port member5except for the discharge ports4, as shown inFIG. 5D.

A liquid discharge head was obtained by bonding the discharge port member5manufactured in this Example to flow path walls3. Print failures such as non-discharge due to insufficient refilling with ink were not found even when the ink was discharged continuously or under varying frequency, and therefore very good printing was obtained.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-283896, filed Dec. 15, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.