EP0479441A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink-jet recording apparatus and method for producing the head thereof
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 1991-09-12
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-09-12
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an ink-jet recording apparatus comprising an ink-jet head which includes a plurality of nozzle openings (4), a plurality of independent ejection chambers (6) respectively communicating with the nozzle openings (4), diaphragms (5) formed in the ejection chambers on at least one side wall of each ejection chamber, a plurality of driving means (31) for driving respective diaphragms (5), and a common ink cavity (8) for supplying ink to the plurality of ejection chambers. Upon application of electric pulses to the driving means, the driving means distort the respective diaphragm to increase the pressure in that ejection chamber (6) to eject ink drops from the nozzle opening (4) onto recording paper. The driving means (31) are constituted by electrodes (31) to distort the diaphragms by electrostatic force. The electrodes are formed on a substrate. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiro C/O Seiko Epson Corporation Ohno
- 👤 Mitsuro c/o Seiko Epson Corporation Atobe
- 👤 Hitoshi Tanbo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:42
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/16; B41J2/435; B41J2/447; B41J2/45; B41J2/14; B41J2/14314; B41J2/1621; B41J2/1623; B41J2/1626; B41J2/1629; B41J2/1631; B41J2/164; B41J2/1645; B41J2/1646; B41J2002/14387; B41J2202/00; B41J2202/01; B41J2202/11; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising an ink-jet head which includes a plurality of nozzle openings (4), a corresponding plurality of independent ejection chambers (6) respectively communicating therewith, diaphragms (5) formed in said ejection chambers (6) on at least one side wall thereof, a plurality of driving means (31) for driving respective diaphragms, and a common ink cavity (8) for supplying ink to said plurality of ejection chambers (6), characterised in that said driving means (31) are electrodes for distorting a respective diaphragm by electrostatic force, and in that said electrodes are formed on a substrate, whereby upon application of an electric pulse to one or more said electrodes distorts a respective one or more diaphragms to increase the pressure in respective ejection chambers (6) to eject ink drops from said nozzle openings onto recording paper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said ink-jet head has a laminated structure formed by bonding at least three substrates (1, 2, 3) stacked one on another, said ejection chambers (6) bottom portions used as respective diaphragms (5) being provided on an intermediate one (2) of said substrates; and said electrodes (31) being provided on a lowermost one (3) of said substrates so that said electrodes (31) are closely opposite to respective diaphragms (5).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in either Claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said electrodes (31) are covered with an insulating film (34).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that upper and lower walls in each of said ejection chambers (6) are formed as diaphragms (5) and said electrodes (31) are arranged to correspond with each said diaphragm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each of said diaphragms (5) is shaped to be a rectangle or a square and is supported through bellows-like grooves (27) formed on two opposite sides of or on four sides of said rectangle or square.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each of said diaphragms (5) is shaped to be a rectangle or a square, one side of which is supported in the form of a cantilever, and insulating ink is used as said ink.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said electrodes (31) are provided so that a pair of first and second electrodes are formed for each of said diaphragms (5), said first electrode (31) being disposed inside a vibration chamber (9) provided just under said diaphragm (5), said second electrode (33) being disposed outside said vibration chamber (9), and in that an oscillation circuit is provided so as to apply electric pulses opposite in polarity to each other alternately to said two electrodes (31, 33).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that two electrodes (31) are disposed within a vibration chamber (9) provided adjacent each diaphragm (5).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that metal electrodes are respectively correspondingly provided in said diaphragms so that said metal electrodes are opposite to said electrodes (31).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in either Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised in that said vibration chambers (9) communicate with the air through air passages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said nozzle openings (4) are arranged at equal intervals in an end portion of said intermediate substrate (2).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that said nozzle openings (4) are arranged at equal intervals in the uppermost substrate (1), each above a respective ejection chamber (6).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for producing an ink-jet head comprising the steps of: preparing a nozzle substrate (2) by anisotropic etching of a silicon monocrystal substrate; preparing an electrode substrate by forming electrodes (31) only or electrodes and an insulationg film (34) on a substrate (3); and sticking said nozzle substrate and said electrode substrate to each other by anodic bonding.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.