JPH0976502A - Electrostatic attraction type ink jet apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved electrostatic attraction type ink jet apparatus capable of being made small-sized and compact as a whole and expanded in the degree of freedom of ink planning. SOLUTION: In an ink jet apparatus wherein a multi-nozzle head 1 having a large number of nozzles 2 and the rear electrode substrate 3 having back electrodes 4 provided thereto corresponding to the nozzle positions of the multi- nozzle head 1 are opposedly arranged at an approach position and high voltage is applied across the nozzles 2 and the rear electrodes 4 to electrostatically suck ink K, electric circuit patterns 6 for applying printing voltage V1 across the nozzles 2 and the rear electrodes 4 are at least provided to the rear electrode substrate 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrostatic suction type ink jet apparatus used in a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus which adopts an ink jet recording system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows an outline of a recording apparatus using an electrostatic suction type ink jet device. In this device, a multi-nozzle head 21 having a large number of nozzles 22 is provided.
And a back electrode substrate 23 provided with a back electrode corresponding to the nozzle position of the multi-nozzle head 21 are arranged to face each other at a close position across the conduction path of the recording medium 25. A high voltage is selectively applied according to the image signal to electrostatically attract the ink K from the nozzles 22 and
To be printed on the recording medium 25.

Here, a head substrate (not shown) supporting the multi-nozzle head 21 is selectively applied with a high printing voltage V between itself and a back electrode so that the ink K is individually supplied from each nozzle 22. An electric circuit pattern 26 such as an electrode pattern line 27 connected to the nozzle electrode and a driver IC 28 for controlling the switching in order to fly.
Is provided. Further, the ink head 29 having the multi-nozzle 22 is configured such that the ink head pressure and the viscosity are controlled from an ink tank 29 provided separately, and the ink K is sequentially supplied.

[0004]

However, the printing voltage required for the nozzle 22 and the back electrode 23 is controlled by the electric circuit pattern 26 provided on the side of the head substrate supporting the multi-nozzle head 21. The following problems are pointed out in the device.

First, the entire device is large and has a complicated structure. It is necessary to incorporate the electric circuit patterns 26 in a number corresponding to the number of nozzles in the head substrate on which the multi-nozzle head 21 is mounted. However, when the print dots are made dense, the area occupied by the circuit patterns increases. Becomes inevitable, and the substrate as a whole has to have a large size and a complicated structure. Further, since the multi-nozzle 22 and the circuit pattern 26 are integrated, it is difficult to manufacture the nozzle head 21. Therefore, the nozzle head 21 and the ink tank 29 have to be separated from each other as shown in the drawing. This is also a factor that hinders the reduction in the number of parts and the compactness.

The second problem is that the insulation of the nozzle electrodes is indispensable when the printing voltage is applied from the nozzle side by the electric circuit pattern 26 provided on the head substrate side. This means that conductive ink cannot be used, which limits the degree of freedom in ink selection.

In view of the above problems, the present invention proposes an improved electrostatic suction type ink jet device which can be made compact and compact as a whole as a whole and which also has a high degree of freedom in ink design. ing.

[0008]

According to the present invention, as means for achieving the above object, a multi-nozzle head having a large number of nozzles and a back electrode corresponding to the nozzle positions of the multi-nozzle head are provided. In order to apply a printing voltage to at least the nozzle and the back electrode in an ink jet device in which the back electrode substrate and the back electrode substrate are arranged in close proximity to each other and a high voltage is applied to the nozzle and the back electrode to electrostatically attract ink from the nozzle. This electric circuit pattern is provided on the back electrode substrate. By doing so, the multi-nozzle and the electric circuit pattern can be separated, the structure of the nozzle head can be simplified, and the nozzle head and the ink tank can be easily integrated. In addition, by applying the printing voltage from the back electrode side, it is not necessary to insulate the nozzle electrodes from each other, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in ink design.

In the above apparatus, it is preferable to apply a bias voltage to each nozzle of the multi-nozzle head so as to be superimposed on the printing voltage on the back electrode side. This way,
Switching at a low printing voltage is possible, and the circuit can be constructed at a lower cost.

Further, in order to make the back electrode substrate side on which the electric circuit pattern is provided smaller and more compact, the back electrode substrate is provided with the back electrode on the substrate edge and the electric circuit pattern on the side surface of the substrate, and at the same time, the edge is formed. The pattern electrodes are arranged so as to face the nozzle rows of the multi-nozzle head in parallel.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows the outline of a recording apparatus having an electrostatic attraction type ink jet apparatus improved according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a multi-nozzle head integrated with an ink tank in which a large number of nozzles 2 are opened in a predetermined arrangement, and 3 is a back surface provided with a back electrode 4 corresponding to the nozzle position of the multi-nozzle head 1. 2 shows an electrode substrate, both of which are arranged facing each other at a close position across the conduction path of the recording medium 5.

Here, a high voltage is selectively applied to each nozzle 2 and the back electrode 4 to electrostatically attract the ink K from the nozzle 2 and fly the ink K onto the recording medium 5 for printing. The electric circuit pattern 6 is provided on the side of the back electrode substrate 3 that supports the back electrode 4. That is,
An electrode pattern line 7 is connected to each back electrode 4 on the substrate 3, and a predetermined printing voltage V1 is applied via a switching element such as a driver IC 8.

On the other hand, a conductive coating 9 is formed on the inner surface of the multi-nozzle head 1 in which the ink tanks 1a are arranged in series, and through this coating 9, each nozzle electrode is superposed on the printing voltage V1 on the back electrode side. Bias voltage (-V0)
Is applied. By the way, the bias voltage (-V0) on the nozzle side is set to about -700 to -3000V, and the printing voltage V1 on the back electrode side is 150 to
It is set to about 1000V.

Thus, the required electric circuit pattern 6 is
If the back electrode 4 is provided on the back electrode substrate 3 that supports the back electrode 4, and the printing voltage V1 is applied from the back electrode 4 side, the structure is complicated when the conventional multi-nozzle head and the electric circuit pattern are integrated. Therefore, the structure of the nozzle head 1 can be simplified. Further, as shown in the drawing, since the nozzle head 1 and the ink tank 1a can be easily integrated, the structure on the nozzle side can be made smaller and more compact.

Further, in this apparatus, since the printing voltage V1 is applied from the back electrode side, it is not necessary to insulate the nozzle electrodes from each other, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in ink design. Specifically, conductive ink can be used.

By utilizing the fact that the nozzles are electrically connected to each other, the advantage that the bias voltage (-V0) can be easily applied to each nozzle 2 of the multi-nozzle head 1 is obtained. The voltage can be switched at the printing voltage V1, and there is an advantage that the circuit can be constructed at a lower cost.

By the way, even when the electric circuit pattern 6 is provided on the rear electrode substrate 3 side, the substrate 3
If the planar layout structure adopted on the nozzle head 1 side is followed in the layout of the circuit pattern above, this causes a problem that the planar size of the back electrode substrate 3 becomes large.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the electric circuit pattern 6 provided on the back electrode substrate 3. In this case, assuming a specification of 200 dpi / A4 for the multi-nozzle head 1, 8 × 210 = 1 for the rear electrode substrate 3 corresponding to the number of nozzles.
It is necessary to install 680 back electrodes 4, pattern lines 7, and the like. At that time, as shown in the drawing, when the patterns are distributed in four directions on the substrate 3, the pattern line width is 0.2 mm, and the substrate 3 has a (about 200 mm) × b (about 300 mm).
Area is required, which results in hindering miniaturization of the entire device.

Therefore, in the present invention, the electric circuit pattern 6 is used.
The electric circuit pattern 6 for the back electrode substrate 3 provided with the electric circuit pattern 6 for the substrate 3 is also small and compact.
3 and the arrangement of the substrate 3 with respect to the nozzle head 1.
As shown in, improvements are made. Here, each of the plurality of divided back electrode substrates 3 is provided with a back electrode 4 on the edge of the substrate and an electric circuit pattern 6 on the side surface of the substrate, and the pattern electrodes 4 on the edges are connected to the nozzle row of the multi-nozzle head 1. It is placed in a vertical position facing in parallel with.

If this structure is adopted, the back electrode substrate 3
The pattern electrode 4 provided at the edge constitutes a line head corresponding to the nozzle row, and a very compact substrate arrangement that does not occupy a plane space is realized. Also,
Since the pattern width of the pattern electrode 4 provided on the edge of the substrate can be narrowed to 0.1 mm, the electric field concentration between the pattern electrode 4 and the opposing nozzle 1 is strengthened, and by extension, the dot position of ink ejected from each nozzle 2. It has been experimentally confirmed that the accuracy is improved.

[0022]

As described above, in the electrostatic attraction type ink jet device according to the present invention, at least the electric circuit pattern for applying the printing voltage to the nozzle and the back electrode is provided on the back electrode substrate. The structure on the nozzle head side can be simplified to contribute to the reduction of the number of parts and the compactness and compactness of the apparatus, and at the same time, the effect of improving the ink design can be obtained. Further, the back electrode substrate has a structure in which the back electrode is provided at the edge thereof, the electric circuit pattern is provided at the side surface of the substrate, and the pattern electrode at the substrate edge is arranged in parallel to the nozzle row of the multi-nozzle head. Thus, it is possible to realize a compact structure that does not occupy a flat space on the back electrode substrate side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a recording apparatus showing an embodiment of an electrostatic attraction type inkjet apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a back electrode substrate having an electric circuit pattern.

FIG. 3 shows an improved embodiment of a back electrode substrate, (A) is a side surface portion, and (B) is a side view of (A).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a recording device showing a conventional example of an electrostatic attraction type inkjet device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Multi Nozzle Head 1a Ink Tank 2 Nozzle 3 Back Electrode Substrate 4 Back Electrode 5 Recording Medium 6 Electric Circuit Pattern 7 Electrode Pattern Line 8 Driver IC 9 Conductive Coating K Ink

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A multi-nozzle head and a back electrode substrate provided with a back electrode corresponding to a nozzle position of the multi-nozzle head are arranged in close proximity to each other, and a high voltage is applied to the nozzle and the back electrode so as to apply the nozzle. In the inkjet device for electrostatically sucking ink from the above, an electrostatic suction type inkjet device is provided with an electric circuit pattern for applying a printing voltage to the nozzle and the back electrode on the back electrode substrate. 2. The electrostatic attraction type inkjet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a bias voltage superimposed on the printing voltage is applied to each nozzle of the multi-nozzle head. 3. The back electrode substrate is provided with a back electrode on a substrate edge and an electric circuit pattern on a side surface of the substrate, and the pattern electrode of the edge is arranged in parallel to a nozzle row of a multi-nozzle head. The electrostatic suction type inkjet device according to claim 1.