EP0427291A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Ink jet print head
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1990-11-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-11-09
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet print head (1) in which a portion along which both piezoelectric conversion elements (15) and a nozzle forming member (17) are fixed by means of an adhesive (16) is positioned at least a distance (d) exceeding that of a stress concentration region toward a base portion of the piezoelectric conversion elements (15) from a vibrating fulcrum of the piezoelectric conversion elements (15). As a result, any thermally induced stress concentration in the piezoelectric conversion elements (15) is diffused over the adhesively fixed stress that acts backward of such stress concentration region. This prevents each piezoelectric conversion element (15) from being deformed, thereby contributing to eliminating variations in the nozzle gap (δ).
Inventors
- 👤 Shuji Yonekubo
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Kitahara
- 👤 Tatsuo Furuta
- 👤 Takahiro Katakura
- 👤 Naomi Serizawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:02
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14201; B41J2/14282; B41J2002/14387
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An ink jet print head (1) comprising: a supporting body (13, 23, 33), a plurality of piezoelectric conversion elements (15, 25, 35) fixed to said supporting body at base ends thereof in a cantilevered manner such that an edge (13a, 23a, 33a) of said supporting body (13, 23,33) acts as a fulcrum of said piezoelectric conversion elements (15, 25, 35), a nozzle plate (17, 27, 37) positioned over said piezoelectric conversion element (15, 25, 35) with a gap (δ) therebetween, and an adhesive (16, 26, 36) for fixing said nozzle plate (17, 27, 37) to said piezoeletric conversion elements (15, 25, 35) at said base ends of said piezoelectric conversion elements, said adhesive (16, 26, 36) terminating such that said gap (δ) extends inward of said fulcrum toward said base ends of said piezoelectric conversion elements (15, 25, 35) by a distance (d).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
An ink jet print head (1) comprising: a supporting body (13, 23, 33), a plurality of piezoelectric conversion elements (15, 25, 35) fixed to said supporting body at base ends thereof in a cantilevered manner such that an edge (13a, 23a, 33a) of said supporting body (13, 23,33) acts as a fulcrum of said piezoelectric conversion elements (15, 25, 35), a nozzle plate (17, 27, 37) positioned over said piezoelectric conversion element (15, 25, 35) with a gap (δ) therebetween, and an adhesive (16, 26, 36) for fixing said nozzle plate (17, 27, 37) to said piezoeletric conversion elements (15, 25, 35) at said base ends of said piezoelectric conversion elements, said adhesive (16, 26, 36) terminating such that said gap (δ) extends inward of said fulcrum toward said base ends of said piezoelectric conversion elements (15, 25, 35) by a distance (d).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The ink jet print head of claim 1, wherein said distance (d) at least exceeds the length of a region of stress concentration toward said base ends of said piezoelectric conversion elements (15, 25, 35) from said fulcrum, said stress concentration being caused when said piezoelectric conversion elements are subjected to thermal stress.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ink jet print head of claim 1 or 2, wherein said distance (d) is at least 0.5mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The ink jet print head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a groove (28) for limiting a front end edge of said adhesive (26) is formed in said nozzle plate (27) at said distance (d) backward of said vibrating fulcrum toward said base ends of said piezoelectric conversion element (25), said groove (28) extending preferably parallel with said edge (23a) of said supporting body (23).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The ink jet print head according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a thin metal plate (35a) fixed to each of said piezoelectric conversion elements (35) on free ends thereof and on a side thereof confronting said nozzle plate (37), said thin metal plate terminating at least said distance (d) from said fulcrum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ink jet print head according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a base plate (22), an insulating layer (22a) formed on one side of said base plate (22), said supporting body (23) being fixed to said insulating layer (22a).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The ink jet print head according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a layer of adhesive (14, 24) fixing said piezoelectric conversion elements (15, 25) to said supporting body (13,23), the thickness of said supporting body (13, 23) being greater than the thickness of said layer of adhesive (14, 24)
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The ink jet print head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a groove (38) for limiting a front end edge of said adhesive (36) is formed in said piezoelectric conversion element (35) at said distance backward of said vibrating fulcrum toward said base ends of said piezoeletric conversion elements (35), said groove (38) extending preferably parallel with said edge (33a) of said supporting body (33).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE3028404A1
Cited
EP0337429A2
Cited
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