Inkjet array and method of producing the same

Abstract: An inkjet array provided with a piezoelectric member and a member in the form of a plate opposite the same, its surface which faces the piezoelectric member being provided with a number of parallel elongated ink ducts, while the piezoelectric member is provided with a number of elongated parallel piezoelectric elements substantially rectangular in cross-section, each piezoelectric element being situated opposite an ink duct, characterised in that the piezoelectric member is received in a recess in a baseplate which abuts the ink duct surface of the plate member containing the ink ducts and is fixed to said plate member.

Description: The invention relates to an inkjet array provided with a piezoelectric member and a plate member opposite the same, its surface which faces the piezoelectric member being provided with a number of parallel elongated ink ducts, while the piezoelectric member is provided with a number of elongated parallel piezoelectric elements substantially rectangular in cross section, each piezoelectric element being situated opposite an ink duct, whereby the piezoelectric member has opposite sides substantially parallel to the elongated piezoelectric elements and is received in a recess in a baseplate which faces the ink duct surface of the plate member containing the ink ducts and is fixed to said plate member and the recess having opposite side walls. Inkjet printheads of this kind are used in printers and the like, it being possible to discharge ink drops from intended ink ducts by controlling the current supply to the separate piezoelectric elements in order to cause expansion of the piezoelectric elements in the direction of the associated ink ducts and thus obtain ejection of an ink drop from an associated ink duct. An example of such a printhead is disclosed in JP 60-90770. The object of the invention is to provide an inkjet array of the above type of simple construction while providing a solid support for the piezoelectric elements. To this end, according to the invention, the piezoelectric member is received in the recess such that the opposite sides of the piezoelectric member are respectively flush with the opposite side walls of the recess. By using the construction according to the invention, the piezoelectric member can be solidly enclosed in the recess in the baseplate, while the material selected for the baseplate can be independent of the material from which the piezoelectric member is constructed. The invention also relates to a method of making a piezoelectric member for an inkjet array, which in addition to the piezoelectric member is provided with a plate member situated opposite the piezoelectric member and having on its surface facing the piezoelectric member a number of parallel elongate ink ducts. When assembling an inkjet array, it is important that the piezoelectric elements should be situated accurately opposite and parallel to the elongate ink ducts. According to the invention, the piezoelectric member is fixed in a baseplate provided with at least one reference member used to fix the baseplate to the plate member provided with the ink ducts during the assembly of the inkjet array, and then parallel incisions are formed in the piezoelectric member to form piezoelectric elements, the reference member being used to locate the incisions. By using the same reference member in forming the incisions and assembling the inkjet array, it is possible to facilitate accurate adjustment of the piezoelectric elements with respect to the ink ducts. In this connection, in a method of making a plate member intended for an inkjet array, the surface of the plate member being provided with a reference member used in assembly of the plate member and a piezoelectric member in the inkjet array, during the formation of the ink ducts the reference member is used for locating the ink ducts to be formed. The invention will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to possible embodiments of an inkjet array according to the invention illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet array according to the invention, showing the various parts of the array in exploded form. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a piezoelectric member with a baseplate for the same separated from one another. Fig. 3 shows the baseplate of Fig. 2 with the piezoelectric member secured therein, incisions having been formed in the piezoelectric member to form piezoelectric elements. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 with the piezoelectric member covered by a plastic layer and connections provided for the supply of current to the piezoelectric elements. Fig. 5 is an enlarged scale view of the detail V encircled in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged scale bottom view of a plate member provided with the ink ducts, looking in the direction of arrow VI in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of part of the piezoelectric member and ink ducts. Fig. 8 is a similar cross-section to Fig. 7 showing one of the piezoelectric elements activated. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of part of the piezoelectric member intended to show the construction of the ink ducts. As shown in Fig. 1, an inkjet printhead comprises a baseplate 1 for a piezoelectric member which will be described in detail hereinafter and which, with reference to Fig. 1, is covered at the top of the baseplate 1 by a plastic covering layer 2. The inkjet printhead also comprises a member 3 in the form of a plate which, in the surface facing the baseplate, contains a large number of ink ducts 4 extending parallel to one another (Fig. 6). Accurately positioned holes 5 and 6 respectively disposed in extension of one another are provided in the baseplate 1 and in the plate member 3. To assemble the inkjet array, the plate member 3 with its surface having the ink ducts 4 is placed on the plastic covering layer 2, while locating bushes 8 fitting accurately in the holes 5 and 6 are inserted into said holes for accurate positioning of the baseplate 1 and the plate member 3 relatively to one another. The bushes 8 are provided with internally tapped bores 9 into which bolts 10 are screwed to fix the baseplate 1 and the plate member 3 relatively to one another. Pressure-application springs or clamping springs can be used in wide inkjet arrays to produce the required clamping force. In this way, the printhead can always be repaired in the event of malfunction. The plate member 3 is provided with a projecting part 11 formed with an elongate chamber 12 communicating with the ink ducts 4. With the interposition of a packing 13 a block 14 is fixed on the projecting part 11 by means of bolts 15. A chamber 16 is formed in the block 14 and at the bottom is in open communication with the recess 12 and during operation is used to supply ink to the inkjet array. The construction of the piezoelectric member with the baseplate 1 supporting the same will now be explained in detail with reference to Figs. 2 - 5 and Fig. 7. As will be apparent from Fig. 2, the top surface of the baseplate 1 with respect to Fig. 2 is formed with a recess 17 which is rectangular in cross-section and open at both ends. This recess 17 is intended to receive flush therein a piezoelectric member 18 which is constructed from a preferably ceramic support layer 19 and a plate 20 of piezoelectric material stuck to the top surface thereof. That surface of the plate 19 which faces the plate 20 is covered with a thin metal layer 21. As will be seen from Fig. 2, the construction is such that the plate 19 projects from the plate 20 at one end. The piezoelectric element 18 constructed in this way is fixed in the recess 17 of the baseplate 1, e.g. by gluing, in such manner that the coplanar ends of the plates 19 and 20 project inwards somewhat in the recess 17 with respect to the adjacent top surface of the plate 1 (Fig. 3). As will also be apparent from Fig. 3, the length of the ceramic plate 19 is a little shorter than the length of the recess 17, so that the plate 19 is supported by the bottom surface of plate 17 over its entire length. After the piezoelectric element has thus been fixed in the recess, the baseplate 3 is fixed in a suitable processing machine for the formation of a number of slots extending parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric member, through the plate 20 and over a short distance in the plate 19, in such manner that the plate 20 is divided into a large number of piezoelectric elements 23 separated from one another by slots or incisions 22. When the incisions or slots 22 are made, at least one of the holes 5 in the baseplate 1 is used as a guide, such holes being accurately dimensioned and located and acting as a reference means for making the slots or gaps 22. As will be explained in detail hereinafter, this has a favourable effect on the assembly of the inkjet array, since said holes 5 in fact also form reference means for locating the ink duct plate 3 relatively to the baseplate 1. After the incisions 22 have been made, the plastic covering layer 2 is applied, for example by so casting the plastic that it also penetrates into the incisions 22 in the plates 19 and 20 so that these incisions are filled with plastic separating strips 24 which separate the piezoelectric elements 23 from one another (Fig. 7). As will be explained in detail hereinafter, it has been found advantageous to prevent the separating strips 24 from adhering to the piezoelectric elements 23. To this end, before the plastic forming the covering layer 2 and the separating strips 24 is poured, the facing sides of the piezoelectric elements 23 can be treated with a substance which prevents subsequent adhesion of the plastic material forming the separating strips 24 to the opposite wall parts of the piezoelectric elements 23. To this end, for example, a layer of material covering the free top edges of the piezoelectric elements 23 can first be placed over the piezoelectric member, whereafter a suitable liquid, which, for example, leaves a thin Teflon layer on the facing sides of the piezoelectric elements 23, is passed through the gaps between the piezoelectric elements 23. As will also be clear from Figs. 4 and 5, the space formed near one end face of the baseplate 1 at that end of the piezoelectric member which recedes slightly with respect to the associated end face, is also filled with a plastic layer 2', it also being possible to ensure that this plastic projects initially slightly beyond the associated end face of the baseplate 1. The top surface of the covering layer 2 is also finished to be very accurately flat. As will also be apparent from Fig. 4, the piezoelectric elements project slightly beyond the covering plate 2. Those ends of the piezoelectric elements 23 which project from the covering plate 2 are interconnected by a conductor 25, which can be earthed by means of a cable 26 when the device is in use. It will also be clear that the provision of the incisions 22 causes the plate 19 to be subdivided, at the metal layer 21 forming its top, into a large number of electrodes 27 each connected to one of the piezoelectric elements 23. A lead 28 for the supply of current is connected to each of these electrodes. A number of parallel ink ducts 4 (Figs. 6 to 9) are formed in that surface of the plate member 3 which faces the baseplate, i.e., in the bottom of the plate 3 in the position shown in Fig. 1. These ink ducts have a constant depth (+/- 10 to 100 µm deep, preferably 30 µm deep) over their entire length, and a constant rectangular cross-section over the major part of their length. Comparable results were also obtained with shallow ducts which were of decreasing depth towards one side. By means of these shallow ducts it is possible to increase the integration density (number of ducts per mm) without appreciably affecting the strength and life of the array. To assemble the array, that surface of the plate 3 which is formed with the ink ducts is placed on the covering layer 2 so that the latter bears against ribs 32 which separate the ink ducts from one another and form part of the plate 3, so that a good seal is obtained between adjacent ink ducts 30. During this assembly, a piezoelectric element 23 extending parallel to the ink duct will be located opposite each ink duct 4 in the manner indicated in Figs. 7 to 9. This accurate alignment of the piezoelectric elements 23 (with a width of about 150 µm) with respect to the ink ducts 30 (with a width of about 200 µm) is achieved in a simple and efficient manner by the fact that the holes 5 and 6 in the plates 1 and 3 respectively, which ensure accurate positioning of the plates relatively to one another by means of locating bushes 8, are used as reference means for locating the incisions 22 and ink ducts 4 respectively. After the two plates 1 and 3 have thus been fitted against one another by means of the bolts 10, the end surface of the resulting assembly where the jets 31 discharge can be finished, any excess of plastic being removed from the covering edge 21 of the piezoelectric member received in the recess 17. As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8, when a piezoelectric element is triggered by the supply of a control current via a cable 25, the associated piezoelectric element will expand so that that part of the covering layer 2 extending over said piezoelectric element is forced up into the associated ink duct 4 so that ink is ejected in the form of a drop via the jet 31 of the associated ink duct, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9. Since, as already explained above, care is taken to ensure that the piezoelectric elements 23 are prevented from adhering to one another by separating strips 24, such intended displacement of that part of the covering layer 2 which covers the piezoelectric element can take place with much less energy than in the case in which the separating strips 24 are fixed to the piezoelectric elements 23. Control of the volume of an ink duct situated adjacent the ink duct opposite the piezoelectric element activated to eject an ink drop also appears to be considerably less than in the case of a rigid connection between the piezoelectric elements 23 and the separating strips 24 which separate the piezoelectric elements from one another. The above-described inkjet array is intended more particularly for use with ink which is solid at room temperature (hot-melt ink-jet system). To keep the ink liquid during operation, a heating element (not shown) can be disposed for example beneath the baseplate 1. Since the plate 20 (Fig. 1) is divided into a number of completely separated piezoelectric elements 23 (Fig. 7) disposed on the ceramic support layer 19, the coefficient of expansion of the piezoelectric material on heating of the inkjet array will not cause the piezoelectric elements 23 to be displaced with respect to the plate 3 and hence arrive next to the ink ducts 4. This is the case particularly if the plate 3 is also made of ceramic material. A good effect at elevated temperature is also obtained with a plate 3 made from a metal or plastic having a coefficient of expansion which does not differ too much from that of the support layer 19. Since in such hot-melt ink-jet systems the melting temperature of the ink is generally between 60°C and 120°C, the plastic used for the separating strips 24 is also one which is resistant to such temperature. The same applies for all other plastics used in the inkjet array for use in hotmelt inkjet systems. These must be thermally stable, resistant against the inks used, swell as less as possible and have a viscosity low enough to use it for casting purposes. It was shown that fluor containing rubbers with a fluor content as high as possible fulfil these requirements. Very good inkjet arrays were achieved by using a liquid fluor silicon rubber unfilled and cured via a hydrosilylation reaction with a cross linking agent (catalyst). Also ink-supply tubes made of this material showed outstanding qualities for use in relation with the described inkjet array.

Claims: An inkjet array provided with a piezoelectric member (18) and a member (3) in the form of a plate opposite the same, its surface which faces the piezoelectric member being provided with a number of parallel elongated ink ducts (4), while the piezoelectric member (18) is provided with a number of elongated parallel piezoelectric elements (23) substantially rectangular in cross section, each piezoelectric element (23) being situated opposite an ink duct (4), whereby the piezoelectric member (18) has opposite sides substantially parallel to the elongated piezoelectric elements (23) and is received in a recess (17) in a baseplate (1) which faces the ink duct surface of the plate member (3) containing the ink ducts (4) and is fixed to said plate member (3), said recess having opposite side walls, characterised in that the piezoelectric member is received in the recess such that the said opposite sides of the piezoelectric member (18) are respectively flush with the opposite side walls of the recess. An inkjet array according to claim 1, characterised in that the piezoelectric member (18) is constructed from a plate (19) on which are secured a number of parallel piezoelectric elements (23), the plate (19) projecting from the piezoelectric elements at one end and being provided at the top with electrodes each connected to a piezoelectric element. An inkjet array according to claim 1, characterised in that the piezoelectric elements (23) disposed on the plate (19) are interconnected while each of the electrodes on the plate is connected to a current supply line. An inkjet array according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the plate (19) is made from ceramic material. An inkjet array according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that there are provided in gaps (24) between the piezoelectric elements (23) separating strips which fill the gaps and which are detached from the piezoelectric elements. An inkjet array according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the piezoelectric elements (23) and also the parts of the support plate (19) situated on either side of said piezoelectric elements are covered by a plastic covering layer. An inkjet array according to claim 6, characterised in that near one end the covering layer is provided with a projecting part received in the baseplate recess (7) and covering the piezoelectric member (18) at one end. An inkjet array according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ink ducts (4) have a constant depth over their entire length, have a constant rectangular cross section over the major part of their length, and gradually decrease in cross section near their ends to merge into a jet (31). An inkjet array according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the baseplate (1) and the plate member (3) provided with ink ducts (4) are secured to one another by bolts (10, 15) screwed into locating bushes extending in bores (5, 6) formed in the baseplate (1) and in the plate member (3). An inkjet array according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is provided with a heating element by means of which ink solid at room temperature can be brought into the liquid state in the ink ducts during operation.

Inventors: BERKHOUT RONALD, BUIS EDWIN JOHAN, GIELEN GODEFRIDUS GERARDUS HUB, WITTEVEEN BONTKO, BERKHOUT, RONALD, BUIS, EDWIN JOHAN, GIELEN, GODEFRIDUS GERARDUS HUBERTUS, WITTEVEEN, BONTKO
Applicants: OCE TECH BV, OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B41J2
IPC codes: B41J2