Abstract:
An ink jet recording head includes a recording element substrate having energy generating means for generating energy in accordance with an electric signal, and an electrode portion for receiving the electric signal to be supplied to said energy generating means; an electric line member including an opening in which said recording element substrate is contained, an electric line extending toward an inside of the opening and connected to said electrode portion, an inclined electric wiring extending in a direction crossing with said electric line and contacted to said recording element substrate, wherein said electric line member is disposed above a surface, having the electrode, of said recording element substrate, wherein the inclined member extends in a direction of an arrangement of a plurality of such electric lines, and constitutes an inclined surface descending from said electric wiring toward the surface of said recording element substrate.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an ink jet recording head which records by causing ink droplets to jet out of its ink jetting openings (holes). 
         [0002]    An ink jet recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer has an ink jet recording head (which hereafter will be referred to as recording head) provided with an energy generating means which generates the energy used for jetting ink from ink jetting openings (holes). The essential structural components of this type of recording head are a recording head chip and an electrical wiring tape. The recording head chip has the ink jetting openings (holes), energy generating means, liquid chamber(s) (to which ink is delivered), etc. The electrical wiring tape is a flexible member through which the recording head chip is supplied with electrical signals from an external source. 
         [0003]    First, a typical method for manufacturing a recording head such as the above described one will be briefly described. First, the energy generating means (heat generating resistors, for example) and the electrically conductive wiring for supplying the heat generating resistors with electricity, are formed on a substrate for forming the recording head chip. Then, the energy generating means and wiring are covered with a protective film. Next, the portion of the recording head chip, which has the ink passages and ink jetting openings (holes), is formed. Then, the substrate on which multiple recording head chips have been formed through the above described steps is diced to separate the array of recording head chips into individual recording head chips. Then, the pads of each recording head chip is plated, or provided with a ball bump, in order to make it possible for the recording head chip to be connected to an electrical wiring tape. Then, the completed recording head chip is connected to an electrical wiring tape. More concretely, the electrical contacts (which hereafter may be referred to as pads) of the recording head chip are connected to the leads of the electrical wiring tape. Then, sealant is applied to the area having the joints between the pads of the recording head chip and the leads of the electrical wiring tape to cover (seal) the joints, and is hardened to electrically insulate the joints, and also, to reinforce the joints. 
         [0004]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , in the case of a recording head chip, in accordance with the prior art, which is manufactured through the above described steps, it has been a common practice to connect the pads of the recording head chip  1  with the leads of the electrical wiring tape  10 , at both edges of the recording head chip, which are perpendicular to the rows of ink jetting openings (holes) of the recording head chip. Next, referring to  FIG. 7B , the joints between the pads  2  of the recording head chip  1 , and the leads  12  of the electrical wiring tape  10 , are covered with a first sealant  30 , whereas the areas other than these electrical joints are generally sealed with a second sealant  31  (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application H10-44442). The second sealant  31  is for preventing the problem that ink reaches the back surface of the recording head chip  1  by circumventing the first sealant  30 . 
         [0005]    Incidentally, the size and shape of the opening  11  of the electrical wiring tape  10  is determined so that a distance (D 1 ) between one of the long edges of the recording head chip  1 , and the corresponding edge of the opening  11  is greater than a distance (D 2 ) between one of the short edges of the recording head chip  1  and the corresponding edge of the opening  11  ( FIG. 7A ). This set-up is for making it easier to apply of the first sealant  30 . Incidentally, if the distance (D 1 ) is equal or less than the distance (D 2 ), the distance (D 1 ) will be too small for the needle of a sealant dispenser to enter the gap between the abovementioned long edge of the recording head chip  1  and corresponding edge of the opening  11  when applying the sealant  31 . If the needle cannot be placed in the gap (D 1 ), it may be impossible to satisfactorily apply the sealant  31 , and also, the needle of the dispenser may crack the recording head chip  1  by colliding with the edge(s) of the recording head chip  1  when applying the sealant  31 . 
         [0006]    As described above, in the case of a recording head in accordance with the prior art, a substantial amount of gap is provided between the recording head chip  1  and electrical wiring tape  10 . Therefore, the second sealant  31 , that is, the first sealant to be applied, cannot satisfactorily support the first sealant  30 , that is, the second sealant to be applied. Thus, when the first sealant  30  is applied, it sinks (invades) into the sealant  31 , failing thereby to be properly applied, as shown in  FIG. 7B . Therefore, some leads  12  remain exposed. If any of the leads  12  remains exposed, it may come into contact with ink, being thereby corroded by the ink. 
         [0007]    Further, even when the first sealant  30  can be precisely applied, there is the following problem to be dealt with. That is, if the first and second sealants  30  and  31  are hardened at the same time, both of the lengthwise end portions of the body of first sealant  30  are pulled downward (thickness direction of recording head chip  1 ) by the contraction of the body of second sealant  31  (by which body of first sealant  30  is surrounded), which occurs as the sealant  31  hardens. Therefore, the lengthwise end portions of the body of first sealant  30  sometimes cracks. The presence of cracks in the first body of sealant  30  allows ink to seep into the body of first sealant  30 , allowing thereby the ink to come into contact with some of the leads  12  and corrodes them. Thus, a preset manufacturing sequence had to be followed to prevent this problem. That is, it had to be after the hardening of the body of second sealant  31  that the first sealant  30  was applied and hardened. This requirement added to the number of steps carried out to manufacture a recording head chip  1 , which was problematic in that this requirement in turn made it necessary to prepare a large number of various manufacturing apparatuses. 
         [0008]    One of the solutions to the above described problem is to change the shape of the opening  11  of the electrical wiring tape  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , so that the distance between the portion of the recording head chip  1 , which has the pads  12  (electrical contacts), and the edge of the opening  11 , which are parallel to the rows of ink jetting openings  3  (holes), is smaller than the distance between the rest of the recording head chip  1  and the edge of the opening  11 , which are parallel to the rows of ink jetting openings  3  (holes). Reducing the distance between the portion of the head chip  1 , which has the pads  12  and the corresponding edge of the opening  11 , which are parallel to the rows of ink jetting openings  3  (holes), positions a part of the electrical wiring tape  10  between the body of first sealant  30  and body of second sealant  31 , minimizing thereby the above described effect, which the contraction of the body of sealant  31  has upon the body of first sealant  30 . Thus, even if the two bodies of sealants  30  and  31  are hardened at the same time, the problems, such as the cracking of the body of first sealant  30 , does not occur. This solution however creates another problem. That is, in the past, in order to prevent the problem that the ink jetting openings (holes)  3  are damaged by the contact between the front surface of the substrate of the recording head chip  1  and recording medium, an ink jet recording cartridge was designed so that the surface of the electrical wiring tape  10 , which faced recording medium, was positioned higher than the surface of the recording head chip  1 , which faced the recording medium. Here, “being positioned higher” means “being positioned farther from the surface of the sheet of paper which has  FIG. 8A , in terms of the direction perpendicular to the surface of the sheet of paper (upward direction from surface of recording head chip  1 )”. Therefore, there was a step between the surface of the recording head chip  1 , and the surface of the electrical wiring tape which was positioned higher than the surface of the recording head chip  1 . This step was problematic in that it narrowed the portion of the body of first sealant  30 , which corresponded in position to the step, as shown in  FIG. 9 . This narrowing of the body of first sealant  30  was more likely to occur while the needle for applying the first sealant  30  was moving across the step from the higher surface (surface of electrical wiring tape  10 ) to the lower surface (surface of recording head chip  1 ) than otherwise. The narrowing of the body of sealant  30  sometimes left some of the leads  12  exposed, allowing therefore ink to corrode the lead  12 , which the body of sealant  30  failed to cover. 
         [0009]    One of the methods for preventing the occurrence of this narrowing of the body of sealant  30  is to increase the amount by which the first sealant  30  is applied. However, increasing the amount of the first sealant  30  increases in thickness the resultant body of sealant  30 , making it possible for the body of sealant  30  to touch the recording medium. Thus, in order to prevent the body of sealant  30  from touching the recording medium, the distance between the recording head and recording medium must be increased. Increasing the distance between the recording head and recording medium increases the distance between the ink jetting openings  3  (holes) and recording medium, which in turn reduces in an ink jet recording apparatus in the accuracy with which each ink droplet hits its target point on the recording medium. 
         [0010]    Another method for preventing the above described narrowing of the body of sealant  30  is to reduce the sealant  30  in viscosity. However, reducing the sealant  30  in viscosity makes it easier to run (flow), increasing in size the area which the sealant  30  covers (seals), which in turn makes it possible for the sealant  30  to spread wide enough to flow into some ink jetting openings  3  (holes). Further, the lower in viscosity the sealant  30 , the thinner the resultant body of sealant  30 . Thus, reducing the sealant  30  in viscosity may result in the failure to satisfactorily seal the aforementioned electrical joints, making it thereby possible for ink to come into contact with some leads  12  and corrodes them. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a method for precisely applying sealant to proper portions of an ink jet recording head without derogatorily affecting the properties of the ink jet recording, in order to make it possible to provide a properly sealed ink jet recording head. 
         [0012]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided An ink jet recording head comprising a recording element substrate having energy generating means for generating energy in accordance with an electric signal, and an electrode portion for receiving the electric signal to be supplied to said energy generating means; an electric line member including an opening in which said recording element substrate is contained, an electric line extending toward an inside of the opening and connected to said electrode portion, an inclined electric wiring extending in a direction crossing with said electric line and contacted to said recording element substrate, wherein said electric line member is disposed above a surface, having the electrode, of said recording element substrate, wherein the inclined member extends in a direction of an arrangement of a plurality of such electric lines, and constitutes an inclined surface descending from said electric wiring toward the surface of said recording element substrate. 
         [0013]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of the ink jet recording cartridge in one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are exploded perspective views of the ink jet recording cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the recording head chip of the ink jet recording cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 , and its adjacencies,  FIGS. 3A and 3B  showing the ink jet head chip and its adjacencies prior to, and after, the application of the sealant, respectively. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a part of the ink jet head chip shown in  FIG. 4A , and its adjacencies. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the recording head chip of the ink jet recording cartridge, and its adjacencies, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIGS. 5A and 5B  showing the ink jet head chip and its adjacencies prior to, and after, the application of the sealant, respectively. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 5A , and  FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a part of the ink jet head chip and its adjacencies, shown in  FIG. 6A . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the ink jet head chip of an ink jet recording cartridge in accordance with the prior art, and its adjacencies,  FIGS. 7A and 7B  showing the ink jet head chip and its adjacencies prior to, and after, the application of the sealant, respectively. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the ink jet head chip of an example of another ink jet recording cartridge in accordance with the prior art, and its adjacencies,  FIGS. 8A and 8B  showing the ink jet head chip and its adjacencies prior to, and after, the application of the sealant, respectively. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of the ink jet recording cartridge in accordance with the prior art, showing the narrowing which occurred to the body of first sealant. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment 1 
       [0023]    Next, an example of an ink jet recording head in accordance with the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings.  FIGS. 1A and 1B  are external perspective views of the ink jet recording cartridge (which hereafter will be referred to as recording head  100 ), and show the general structure of the ink jet recording cartridge.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are exploded perspective views of the ink jet recording cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    The recording head  100  in this embodiment is an integral combination of several structural components. It is removably mountable on the carriage of the main assembly of an unshown ink jet recording apparatus. As it is mounted on the carriage, it is firmly held to the carriage, by the positioning means and electrical contacts of the carriage so that it is precisely positioned relative to the carriage. It is to be replaced with another recording head ( 100 ) as the ink therein is completely consumed. Incidentally, not only is the present invention applicable to the recording head  100  in this embodiment, that is, a recording head integral with an ink container, but also, a recording head which is physically independent from an ink container so that as the ink container with which it is fitted becomes empty, the ink container alone can be replaced. 
         [0025]    Hereafter, the recording head  100  will be described in detail. 
         [0026]    The recording head  100  in this embodiment is an ink jet recording head which employs electrothermal transducers as the means for generating the thermal energy for boiling ink in response to electrical signals. As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , which are exploded perspective views of the recording head  100 , the recording head  100  in this embodiment is made up of an ink jet head chip  1 , an electrical wiring tape  10 , a housing  20 , a filter  22 , an absorbent member  23  which absorbs and retains ink, and a lid  24 . 
         [0027]    The electrical wiring tape  10  is a flexible member which has electrical wiring. It provides passages through which the electrical signals, for making the ink jet head chip  1  jet ink, are applied to the ink jet head chip  1 . The electrical wiring tape  10  is provided with an opening  11  (hole), in which the ink jet head chip  1  is fitted. The electrical wiring tape  10  is also provided with leads  12  (first wires), which extend from the edges of the opening  11 , and are connected to the pads  2  (electrical contacts) ( FIG. 4A ) of the ink jet head chip  1 . Further, the electrical wiring tape  10  is provided with signal input terminals  13  through which external signals, that is, the electrical signals from the main assembly of the ink jet recording apparatus, are received. The first leads  12  are in connection to the external signal input terminals  13  through a patterned wiring (unshown) made up of thin foil of copper. 
         [0028]    The electrical wiring tape  10  structured as described above is laid along the external surface of the housing  20 . More concretely, it is bent at a preset point in terms of its lengthwise direction, and one side of the electrical wiring tape  10  relative to the line of bend is provided with the aforementioned external electrical signal input terminals  13 . The electrical wiring tape  10  is solidly attached to one of the lateral walls of the housing  20  by the abovementioned portion having the external electrical signal input terminals  13 , whereas the other portion, that is, the portion having the opening  11 , is solidly attached to the bottom surface (which faces recording medium during recording) of the housing  20 . Further, the ink jet head chip  1  is in the opening  11  of the electrical wiring tape  10 . 
         [0029]    The electrical connection between the electrical wiring tape  10  and ink jet head chip  1  is made using one of the following methods: For example, a bump, with which each of the pads  2  (electrical contacts) of the ink jet head chip  1  is provided, may be joined with the corresponding first lead  12  of the electrical wiring tape  10  by ultrasonic welding. Further, in order to increase production efficiency, it is possible to use gang bonding to make electrical connection between the electrical wiring tape  10  and ink jet head chip  1 . In this case, the pads  2  of the ink jet head chip  1  are plated, and the multiple leads  12  (first wires) of the electrical wiring tape  10  are joined all at once with the corresponding pads  2  of the ink jet head chip  1 . 
         [0030]    Next, referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the structural features of the adjacencies of the ink jet head chip  1 , which are related to the sealing of the electrical junctions between the ink jet head chip  1  and electrical wiring tape  10 , will be described.  FIGS. 3A and 3B  are bottom plan views of the ink jet head chip  1 , and its adjacencies, of the recording head  100 , prior to, and after, the application of the sealant (thermally curable resin, for example), respectively.  FIG. 4A  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a part of the portion of the recording head  100  shown in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3A , the first leads  12  extend, in parallel with preset intervals, from the opposing two edges of the opening  11  of the electrical wiring tape  10 , in the direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the electrical wiring tape  10 . The electrical wiring tape  10  is also provided with second leads  15 , each of which extends from the other opposing two edges of the openings  11 . More specifically, the second leads  15  is a member for catching and supporting sealant, and extends in the direction perpendicular in which the first leads  12  extend. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 4A , the first and second leads  12  and  15  are similar to each other in that they both extend inward of the opening  11  from one of the edges of the opening  11 . In this embodiment, the first and second leads  12  and  15  are the same in shape and measurement. Obviously, it is not mandatory for the applicability of the present invention that the first and second leads  12  and  15  are similar in shape and measurement. Incidentally, the edge of the opening  11 , from which the first leads  12  extend, and the edge of the opening  11 , from which the second leads  15  extend, are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, the direction in which the first leads  12  extend is intersectional, or perpendicular, to the direction in which second leads  15  extend. Each of the second leads  15  extends in the direction parallel to the direction (which is parallel to edge of opening  11 , from which first leads  12  extend) in which the first sealant  30  is applied to cover the electrical joints between the leads  12  and pads  2 . Further, each second lead  15  is in contact with the surface of the ink jet head chip  1 . 
         [0033]    Further, the second leads  15  are in connection to the external signal input terminals  13  ( FIG. 1A ) also through an unshown patterned wiring, and are in contact with the preset pads  2  of the ink jet head chip  1 , as are the first leads  12 . The method used for joining the second leads  15  with the pads  2  is the same as the method used for joining the first leads  12  with the pads  2 . 
         [0034]    As described above, the surface of the electrical wiring tape  10  is positioned higher than the surface (which has pads  2 ) of the ink jet head chip  1 . Here, “positioned higher” means “greater in distance from the housing  20 ”. For example, it is evident from  FIG. 4B  that the surface of the electrical wiring tape  10  is higher in position than the surface of the ink jet head chip  1 . 
         [0035]    The second lead  15  provides a slanted surface which gently slopes downward from the surface of the electrical wiring tape  10 , which is higher in position than the surface of ink jet head chip  1 , to the surface of the ink jet head chip  1  ( FIG. 4B ). Therefore, the body of first sealant  30  does not narrow (it remains uniform in width) after the application of the first sealant  30  ( FIG. 3B ); in other words, it is possible to reliably apply the first sealant  30 . The second lead  15  is in contact with the corresponding pad  2  of the ink jet head chip  1 , as is the first lead  12 . Therefore, it may be utilized as the lead for applying an electrical signal to the ink jet head chip  1 , or may be left as a dummy signal wire, that is, an lead through which an electrical signal is not transmitted. 
         [0036]    As described above, the second lead  15 , which is for catching and supporting the first sealant  30 , and is located next to the end of the set of first leads  12 , is connected to the ink jet head chip  1 . Thus, a slanted surface which gently slopes down from the electrical wiring tape  10  to the ink jet head chip  1  is provided. Therefore, as far as the application of the sealant  30  is concerned, the step which is present between the surface of the electrical wiring tape  15  and the surface of the ink jet head chip  1  is eliminated, preventing thereby the problem that the needle for applying the first sealant  30  has to be abruptly changed in the direction while it is used for applying the first sealant  30 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the problem that the body of first sealant  30  partially narrows after the application of the first sealant  30 . 
         [0037]    Obviously, even if the second lead  15  is not in connection with the pad  2  of the ink jet head chip  1 , the above described effect is achievable, because the above described slanted surface can be provided as long as the second lead  15  is placed in contact with the surface of the ink jet head chip  1  (preferably, portion of surface of ink jet head chip  1 , which has pads  2 , or adjacencies thereof). Here, “contact” is a concept which includes “connection”. Further, the second lead  15  does not need to be a lead; it may be simply a member forming an inclined surface although it is a long and narrow rectangle member in this example. 
         [0038]    Incidentally, as will be evident from FIG.  3 A, in this embodiment, the distance between the long edge of the ink jet head chip  1  and the opposing edge of the opening  11  of the electrical wiring tape  10  is not uniform. More concretely, the distance between the ink jet head chip  1  and electrical wiring tape  10  is smaller in the area corresponding to the lengthwise end portions of the ink jet head chip  1  than the area corresponding to the lengthwise center portion of the ink jet head chip  1 . This structural feature can minimize the effects of the contraction of the body of first second sealant  30 , which occurs when the second sealant  30  hardens. Obviously, in this embodiment, the gentle slope is provided between the electrical wiring tape  10  and ink jet head chip  1  by the second lead  15 . Therefore, even if the opening  11  of the electrical wiring tape  10  is not shaped so that the distance between the end portion of each long edge of the ink jet head chip  1  and the corresponding edge of the opening  11 , which is parallel to the long edge of the ink jet head chip  1 , is smaller than the distance between the rest of each long edge of the ink jet head chip  1  and the corresponding edge of the opening  11 , which is parallel to the long edge of the ink jet head chip  1 , it is possible to properly apply the first sealant  30 , and therefore, it is possible to prevent the body of first sealant  30  from being cracked by the contraction of the body of second sealant  31 , which occurs as the second sealant  31  hardens. 
         [0039]    Designated by a referential number  14  in the drawing is a dummy lead, which is located a preset distance from the end of the set of first leads  12 . The dummy lead  14  extends in the same direction as the first leads  12 . The presence of a dummy lead, such as the dummy lead  14 , enhances the effect of the provision of the second lead  15 , that is, the effect of preventing the problem that the needle for applying the first sealant  30  has to be abruptly changed in the direction while it is used for applying the first sealant  30 . Therefore, it is possible to move effectively prevent the problem that the body of first sealant  30  partially narrows after the application of the first sealant  30 . Thus, it is possible to apply the first sealant  30  with a higher level of accuracy. It is obvious, however, that the dummy lead  14  is not a structural element which is mandatory for the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0040]    Further, as described above, the second lead  15  may be a member enabled to function as an actual electrical lead, or it may be a member incapable of functioning as an electrical lead. Further it may be an integral part of the electrical wiring tape  10 , which is free of the leads  12 . That is, as long as the second lead  15  is a member capable of achieving the object of the present invention, it does not matter whether it is an actual electrical lead or not, or whether it is capable of transmitting electrical signals. It is an elongated member. 
       Embodiment 2 
       [0041]    Next, the ink jet recording head in another preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference the appended drawings.  FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the ink jet head chip  1 , and its adjacencies, of the ink jet recording cartridge (which hereafter will be referred to as recording head  200 ), in another preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIGS. 5A and 5B  showing the ink jet head chip  1  and its adjacencies prior to, and after, the application of the sealant, respectively.  FIG. 6A  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 5A , and  FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a part of the ink jet head chip  1 , and its adjacencies, shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0042]    The recording head  200  in this embodiment is the same in basic structure as the recording head  100  in the first embodiment, and therefore, the portions of the recording head  200 , which are the same as those of the recording head  100 , will not be described. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 5A , in the case of the recording head  200  in this embodiment, the second lead  15 , which is for catching and supporting the first sealant  30 , is wider than the first lead  12 . More concretely, referring to  FIG. 6A , in terms of the direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the recording head  200 , the portion of the second lead  15 , which is not placed in contact with the first pad  2  of the ink jet head chip  1 , is wider than the portion of the second lead  15 , which is placed in contact with the first pad  2 . Further, the portion of the second lead  15 , which is not placed in contact with the first pad  2 , is wider than the width of the first lead  12 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 6B , with the provision of the structural arrangement described above, a slanted surface, which gently slopes from the surface of the electrical wiring tape  10  to the surface of the ink jet head chip  1 , is provided by the second lead  15 , that is, the lead for catching and supporting the first sealant  30 . Therefore, the first sealant  30  can be applied reliably, that is, while preventing the body of first sealant  30  from partially narrowing while the first sealant  30  is applied. 
         [0045]    Further, in the case of the recording head  200  in this embodiment, the portion of the second lead  15 , which is not placed in contact with the pad  2  of the ink jet head chip  1 , is wider than the portion of the second lead  15 , which is placed in contact with the pad  2  of the ink jet head chip  1 . Therefore, it is ensured that the first sealant  30  is caught and supported by the second lead  15 . Therefore, even if the sealant  30  is applied at a higher speed for tact reduction, it is ensured that the sealant  30  properly settles (body of sealant  30  does not partially narrows). Further, the second lead  15  is placed in contact with the pad  2  of the ink jet head chip  1 , or the adjacencies of the pad  2 , as is the first lead  12  of the electrical wiring tape  10 . Therefore, the second lead  15  can be used as an actual electrical lead for applying electrical signals to the ink jet head chip  1 . The concept of “being placed in contact” includes the concept of “being connected”. Incidentally, the second lead  15  may be a dummy lead, that is, a member which is formed of the same substance as the material for the lead, but, through which an electrical signal is not transmitted. Further, it may be a long and narrow rectangular member which is not formed of electrically conductive substance. 
         [0046]    As described above, in this embodiment, the second lead  15 , which is for catching and supporting the sealant  30 , is positioned next to each end of the set of the first leads  12 , and is placed in contact with the ink jet head chip  1 . Therefore, a slanted surface, which gently slopes from the surface of the electrical wiring tape  10  to the surface of the ink jet head chip  1 , is provided. In addition, the second lead  15  in the second embodiment is wider than the second lead  15  in the first embodiment. Therefore, it can provide a sealant supporting surface, which is greater in size than the sealant supporting surface provided by the second lead  15  in the first embodiment. Therefore, it can eliminate the step between the surface of the electrical wiring tape  10  and the surface of the ink jet head chip  1 , across the wider area. Therefore, even if the speed at which the sealant  30  is applied is increased for tact reduction, the first sealant  30  can be applied reliably, that is, without causing the body of first sealant to partially narrow. 
         [0047]    Further, as described above, the second lead  15  may be formed as an actual electrical lead, that is, a member having an electrical connection, or may be formed as a dummy lead. Further, it may be formed as an integral part of the substrate of the electrical wiring tape  10 , which is in the form of a long and narrow rectangle. That is, as long as the second lead  15  in this embodiment is in the form of an elongated member, it does not matter whether or not it has electrical wiring, or whether or not it is capable of conducting electricity. 
         [0048]    While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims. 
         [0049]    This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 338199/2006 and 283519/2007 filed Dec. 15, 2006 and Oct. 31, 2007, respectively, which are hereby incorporated by reference.