Ink jet recording head formed by cutting process

Claim 2

A droplet forming apparatus for high speed recording, comprising: means for generating a high frequency driving signal; a recording head having a passageway for a liquid with an opening for discharging liquid from said passageway, said opening having a maximum diameter d; and bubble generating means, formed on a substrate and positioned in said passageway, for sequentially generating a bubble in the liquid in response to the high frequency signal, with the generation and disappearance of the bubble causing the liquid to be discharged through said opening, said bubble generating means having an edge closest to said opening which is spaced from said opening by a predetermined distance D in the range of d to 50d, wherein the relationship of said maximum diameter d and said predetermined distance D produces a bubble of such a size as to generate in the liquid a pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from said opening without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside said passageway and said predetermined distance D and the frequency of the driving signal are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater, wherein said predetermined distance D is formed by cutting and removing a portion of the substrate between the bubble generating means and an edge of the substrate corresponding to said opening.

Claim 3

The droplet forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bubble generating means is a heat generating member.

Claim 4

The droplet forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distance D is about 10d to 30d and droplets are discharged at a speed of at least about 2.6 m/sec.

Claim 5

The droplet forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bubble generating means includes a planar heat generating member elongated along the length of said fine bore.

Claim 6

The droplet forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said bubble generating means is attached to the inner wall of said fine bore.

Claim 7

The droplet forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distance D is about d to 10d and droplets are discharged with a substantially uniform diameter.

Claim 8

The droplet forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said opening has an area within the range of 10 μm×10 μm to 150 μm×150 μm.

Claim 9

The droplet forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high frequency driving signal has a frequency of 10 KHz.

Claim 10

The droplet forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the high frequency driving signal has a pulse width of 10 μsec.

Claim 11

A droplet forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording head is a multi-nozzle head having a plurality of openings with substantially the same size.

Claim 12

An ink jet recording method for high speed recording, which comprises: applying a high frequency input signal to a heat generating means located in a chamber containing a liquid and having a discharge orifice with a maximum diameter d, the heat generating means being spaced a predetermined distance D within a range of d to 50d from the discharge orifice; and driving the heat generating means in response to the high frequency input signals to repetitively cause formation of a bubble in the liquid and discharge of liquid droplets from the discharge orifice; wherein the relationship of the predetermined distance D of the heat generating means to the maximum diameter d of the discharge orifice is such that formation and disappearance of the bubble in the liquid in the chamber produces sufficient pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from the orifice without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside of the chamber and the predetermined distance D and the frequency of the applied input signals are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 13

An ink jet recording method for high speed recording, which comprises: applying a high frequency input signal to a heat generating means located in a chamber containing a liquid and having a discharge orifice with a maximum diameter d, the heat generating means being spaced a predetermined distance D within a range of d to 50d from the discharge orifice; and driving the heat generating means in response to the high frequency input signals to repetitively cause formation of a bubble in the liquid and discharge of liquid droplets from the discharge orifice; wherein the relationship of the predetermined distance D of the heat generating means to the maximum diameter d of the discharge orifice is such that formation and disappearance of the bubble in the liquid in the chamber produces sufficient pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from the orifice without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside of the chamber and the predetermined distance D and the frequency of the applied input signals are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 14

The ink jet recording method according to claim 11, wherein the high frequency input signal applied to said heat generating means has a frequency of 10 KHz.

Claim 15

The ink jet recording method according to claim 12, wherein the high frequency input signal applied to said heat generating means has a pulse width of 10 μsec.

Claim 16

An ink jet recording apparatus for high speed recording, comprising: means for generating a high frequency driving signal; a recording head having a passageway for a liquid with an opening for discharging liquid from said passageway, said opening having a maximum diameter d; and bubble generating means, positioned in said passageway and having a pair of electrodes for supplying the high frequency signal to opposite sides of said bubble generating means with respect to said passageway, said bubble generating means sequentially generating a bubble in the liquid in response to the high frequency signal, with the generation and disappearance of the bubble causing the liquid to be discharged through said opening, said bubble generating means having an edge closest to said opening which is spaced from said opening by a predetermined distance D in the range of d to 50d, and wherein one of said electrodes is attached to said side of said bubble generating means proximate to said opening and outside the space between said bubble generating means and said opening, wherein the relationship of said maximum diameter d and said predetermined distance D produces a bubble of such a size as to generate in the liquid a pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from said opening without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside said passageway and said predetermined distance D and the frequency of the driving signal are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 17

An ink jet recording apparatus for high speed recording, comprising: means for generating a high frequency driving signal; a recording head having a passageway for a liquid with an opening for discharging liquid from said passageway, said opening having a maximum diameter d; and bubble generating means, positioned in said passageway and having a pair of electrodes for supplying the high frequency signal to opposite sides of said bubble generating means with respect to said passageway, said bubble generating means sequentially generating a bubble in the liquid in response to the high frequency signal, with the generation and disappearance of the bubble causing the liquid to be discharged through said opening, said bubble generating means having an edge closest to said opening which is spaced from said opening by a predetermined distance D in the range of d to 50d, and wherein one of said electrodes is attached to said side of said bubble generating means proximate to said opening and outside the space between said bubble generating means and said opening, wherein the relationship of said maximum diameter d and said predetermined distance D produces a bubble of such a size as to generate in the liquid a pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from said opening without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside said passageway and said predetermined distance D and the frequency of the driving signal are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 18

An ink jet recording method for high speed recording, which comprises: applying a high frequency input signal to a heat generating means mounted on a substrate and located in a chamber containing a liquid and having a discharge orifice with a maximum diameter d, the heat generating means being spaced a predetermined distance D within a range of d to 50d from the discharge orifice, wherein the predetermined distance D is formed by cutting and removing a portion of the substrate between the heat generating means and an edge of the substrate corresponding to the discharge orifice; and driving the heat generating means in response to the high frequency input signals to repetitively cause formation of a bubble in the liquid and discharge of liquid droplets from the discharge orifice, wherein the relationship of the predetermined distance D of the heat generating means to the maximum diameter d of the discharge orifice is such that formation and disappearance of the bubble in the liquid in the chamber produces sufficient pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from the orifice without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside of the chamber and the predetermined distance D and the frequency of the applied input signals are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 19

An ink jet recording method for high speed recording, which comprises: applying a high frequency input signal to a heat generating means mounted on a substrate and located in a chamber containing a liquid and having a discharge orifice with a maximum diameter d, the heat generating means being spaced a predetermined distance D within a range of d to 50d from the discharge orifice, wherein the predetermined distance D is formed by cutting and removing a portion of the substrate between the heat generating means and an edge of the substrate corresponding to the discharge orifice; and driving the heat generating means in response to the high frequency input signals to repetitively cause formation of a bubble in the liquid and discharge of liquid droplets from the discharge orifice, wherein the relationship of the predetermined distance D of the heat generating means to the maximum diameter d of the discharge orifice is such that formation and disappearance of the bubble in the liquid in the chamber produces sufficient pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from the orifice without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside of the chamber and the predetermined distance D and the frequency of the applied input signals are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 20

An ink jet recording method for high speed recording, which comprises: applying a high frequency input signal to a heat generating means located in a chamber containing a liquid and having a discharge orifice with a maximum diameter d, the heat generating means being spaced a predetermined distance D within a range of d to 50d from the discharge orifice, the heat generating means having a pair of electrodes for supplying the high frequency signal to opposite sides of the heat generating means with respect to said chamber, wherein one of the electrodes is attached to the side of the heat generating means proximate to the orifice and outside the space between the heat generating means and the orifice; and driving the heat generating means in response to the high frequency input signals to repetitively cause formation of a bubble in the liquid and discharge of liquid droplets from the discharge orifice, wherein the relationship of the predetermined distance D of the heat generating means to the maximum diameter d of the discharge orifice is such that formation and disappearance of the bubble in the liquid in the chamber produces sufficient pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from the orifice without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside of the chamber and the predetermined distance D and the frequency of the applied input signals are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 21

An ink jet recording method for high speed recording, which comprises: applying a high frequency input signal to a heat generating means located in a chamber containing a liquid and having a discharge orifice with a maximum diameter d, the heat generating means being spaced a predetermined distance D within a range of d to 50d from the discharge orifice, the heat generating means having a pair of electrodes for supplying the high frequency signal to opposite sides of the heat generating means with respect to said chamber, wherein one of the electrodes is attached to the side of the heat generating means proximate to the orifice and outside the space between the heat generating means and the orifice; and driving the heat generating means in response to the high frequency input signals to repetitively cause formation of a bubble in the liquid and discharge of liquid droplets from the discharge orifice, wherein the relationship of the predetermined distance D of the heat generating means to the maximum diameter d of the discharge orifice is such that formation and disappearance of the bubble in the liquid in the chamber produces sufficient pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from the orifice without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside of the chamber and the predetermined distance D and the frequency of the applied input signals are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 22

An ink jet recording head for high speed recording, comprising: a body having a passageway for a liquid and an opening for discharging liquid from said passageway, said opening having a maximum diameter d; and bubble generating means, formed on a substrate and positioned in said passageway, for sequentially generating a bubble in the liquid in response to a high frequency signal, with the generation and disappearance of the bubble causing the liquid to be discharged through said opening, said bubble generating means having an edge closest to said opening which is spaced from said opening by a predetermined distance D in the range of d to 50d, wherein the relationship of said maximum diameter d and said predetermined distance D produces a bubble of such a size as to generate in the liquid a pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from said opening without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside said passageway and said predetermined distance D and the frequency of the driving signal are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater, wherein said predetermined distance D is formed by cutting and removing a portion of the substrate between the bubble generating means and an edge of the substrate corresponding to said opening.

Claim 23

An ink jet recording head for high speed recording, comprising: a body having a passageway for a liquid and an opening for discharging liquid from said passageway, said opening having a maximum diameter d; and bubble generating means, formed on a substrate and positioned in said passageway, for sequentially generating a bubble in the liquid in response to a high frequency signal, with the generation and disappearance of the bubble causing the liquid to be discharged through said opening, said bubble generating means having an edge closest to said opening which is spaced from said opening by a predetermined distance D in the range of d to 50d, wherein the relationship of said maximum diameter d and said predetermined distance D produces a bubble of such a size as to generate in the liquid a pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from said opening without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside said passageway and said predetermined distance D and the frequency of the driving signal are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater, wherein said predetermined distance D is formed by cutting and removing a portion of the substrate between the bubble generating means and an edge of the substrate corresponding to said opening.

Claim 24

An ink jet recording head for high speed recording, comprising: a body having a passageway for a liquid with an opening for discharging liquid from said passageway, said opening having a maximum diameter d; and bubble generating means, positioned in said passageway and having a pair of electrodes for supplying a driving signal to opposite sides of said bubble generating means with respect to said passageway, said bubble generating means sequentially generating a bubble in the liquid in response to the driving signal, with the generation and disappearance of the bubble causing the liquid to be discharged through said opening, said bubble generating means having an edge closest to said opening which is spaced from said opening by a predetermined distance D in the range of d to 50d, one of said electrodes being attached to said side of said bubble generating means proximate to said opening such that it is outside the space between said bubble generating means and said opening, wherein the relationship of said maximum diameter d and said predetermined distance D produces a bubble of such a size as to generate in the liquid a pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from said opening without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside said passageway and said predetermined distance D and the frequency of the driving signal are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 25

An ink jet recording head for high speed recording, comprising: a body having a passageway for a liquid with an opening for discharging liquid from said passageway, said opening having a maximum diameter d; and bubble generating means, positioned in said passageway and having a pair of electrodes for supplying a driving signal to opposite sides of said bubble generating means with respect to said passageway, said bubble generating means sequentially generating a bubble in the liquid in response to the driving signal, with the generation and disappearance of the bubble causing the liquid to be discharged through said opening, said bubble generating means having an edge closest to said opening which is spaced from said opening by a predetermined distance D in the range of d to 50d, one of said electrodes being attached to said side of said bubble generating means proximate to said opening such that it is outside the space between said bubble generating means and said opening, wherein the relationship of said maximum diameter d and said predetermined distance D produces a bubble of such a size as to generate in the liquid a pressure to cause droplets to be discharged from said opening without the bubble communicating with the atmosphere outside said passageway and said predetermined distance D and the frequency of the driving signal are preselected so as to discharge droplets at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. or greater.

Claim 26

An ink jet recording head, comprising: a plurality of discharge openings formed in a discharge opening surface for discharging ink; a plurality of liquid passageways for holding ink, each said liquid passageway communicating independently with a respective discharge opening; and a plurality of heat generating members, each said heat generating member corresponding to a liquid passageway for providing thermal energy to the ink in said liquid passageway for abruptly forming a bubble for discharging ink from said discharge opening, each said heat generating member having a pair of electrodes for driving said heat generating member individually, each said pair of electrodes and corresponding heat generating member forming a U-shaped wiring portion, each said U-shaped wiring portion corresponding to a respective liquid passageway, wherein said recording head is manufactured using a cutting process for forming said discharge opening surface.

Claim 27

An ink jet recording head, comprising: a plurality of discharge openings formed in a discharge opening surface for discharging ink; a plurality of liquid passageways for holding ink, each said liquid passageway communicating independently with a respective discharge opening; and a plurality of heat generating members, each said heat generating member corresponding to a liquid passageway for providing thermal energy to the ink in said liquid passageway for abruptly forming a bubble for discharging ink from said discharge opening, each said heat generating member having a pair of electrodes for driving said heat generating member individually, each said pair of electrodes and corresponding heat generating member forming a U-shaped wiring portion, each said U-shaped wiring portion corresponding to a respective liquid passageway, wherein said recording head is manufactured using a cutting process for forming said discharge opening surface.

Claim 28

An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein each said pair of electrodes are arranged in the same direction.

Claim 29

An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein a section of said pair of electrodes are parallel.

Claim 30

An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein said liquid passageways are arranged along said electrodes.

Claim 31

An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein said U-shaped wiring portion forms a square bracket shape including said heat generating member.

Claim 32

An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein said U-shaped wiring portion is proximate said discharge opening.

Claim 33

An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein the relationship between the maximum diameter d of said discharge opening and the distance D between said discharge opening and the edge of said heat generating member proximate said discharge opening, is represented by d≦D≦50d, such that ink discharged from said discharge opening does not splash.

Claim 34

An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein the relationship between the maximum diameter d of said discharge opening and the distance D between said discharge opening and the edge of said heat generating member proximate said discharge opening, is represented by d≦D≦10d, such that ink discharged from said discharge opening does not splash.

Claim 35

An ink jet recording head, comprising: a plurality of discharge openings formed in a discharge opening surface for discharging ink; a plurality of liquid passageways for holding the ink, each said liquid passageway communicating independently with a respective discharge opening; a plurality of heat generating members, each said heat generating member corresponding to a liquid passageway for abruptly forming a bubble in the ink in said liquid passageway for discharging ink from said discharge opening; and pairs of electrodes, each said pair of electrodes being connected to a corresponding heat generating member for driving said heat generating member, each said pair of electrodes and corresponding heat generating member forming a U-shaped wiring portion, each said U-shaped wiring portion corresponding to a respective liquid passageway, wherein said recording head is manufactured using a cutting process to form said discharge opening surface.

Claim 36

An ink jet recording head, comprising: a plurality of discharge openings formed in a discharge opening surface for discharging ink; a plurality of liquid passageways for holding the ink, each said liquid passageway communicating independently with a respective discharge opening; a plurality of heat generating members, each said heat generating member corresponding to a liquid passageway for abruptly forming a bubble in the ink in said liquid passageway for discharging ink from said discharge opening; and pairs of electrodes, each said pair of electrodes being connected to a corresponding heat generating member for driving said heat generating member, each said pair of electrodes and corresponding heat generating member forming a U-shaped wiring portion, each said U-shaped wiring portion corresponding to a respective liquid passageway, wherein said recording head is manufactured using a cutting process to form said discharge opening surface.

Claim 37

An ink jet recording head according to claim 27, wherein each said pair of electrodes are arranged in the same direction.

Claim 38

An ink jet recording head according to claim 27, wherein a section of said pair of electrodes are parallel.

Claim 39

An ink jet recording head according to claim 27, wherein said liquid passageways are arranged along said electrodes.

Claim 40

An ink jet recording head according to claim 27, wherein said U-shaped wiring portion forms a square bracket shape including said heat generating member.

Claim 41

An ink jet recording head according to claim 27, wherein said U-shaped wiring portion is proximate said discharge opening.

Claim 42

An ink jet recording head according to claim 27, wherein the relationship between the maximum diameter d of said discharge opening and the distance D between said discharge opening and the edge of said heat generating member proximate said discharge opening is represented by d≦D≦50d, such that ink discharged from said discharge opening does not splash.

Claim 43

An ink jet recording head according to claim 27, wherein the relationship between the maximum diameter d of said discharge opening and the distance D between said discharge opening and the edge of said heat generating member proximate said discharge opening, is represented by d≦D≦10d, such that ink discharged from said discharge opening does not splash.

Claim 44

An ink jet recording head, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of discharge openings formed in a discharge opening surface for discharging ink; a plurality of liquid passageways for holding the ink, each said liquid passageway communicating independently with a respective discharge opening; and a plurality of heat generating members provided on said substrate, each said heat generating member corresponding to a liquid passageway for providing thermal energy to the ink in said liquid passageway for abruptly forming a bubble for discharging ink from said discharge opening, each said heat generating member having a pair of electrodes for driving said heat generating member individually, each said pair of electrodes and corresponding heat generating member forming a U-shaped wiring portion, each said U-shaped wiring portion corresponding to a respective liquid passageway, wherein said recording head is manufactured using a cutting process to form said discharge opening surface.

Claim 45

An ink jet recording head, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of discharge openings formed in a discharge opening surface for discharging ink; a plurality of liquid passageways for holding the ink, each said liquid passageway communicating independently with a respective discharge opening; and a plurality of heat generating members provided on said substrate, each said heat generating member corresponding to a liquid passageway for providing thermal energy to the ink in said liquid passageway for abruptly forming a bubble for discharging ink from said discharge opening, each said heat generating member having a pair of electrodes for driving said heat generating member individually, each said pair of electrodes and corresponding heat generating member forming a U-shaped wiring portion, each said U-shaped wiring portion corresponding to a respective liquid passageway, wherein said recording head is manufactured using a cutting process to form said discharge opening surface.

Claim 46

An ink jet recording head according to claim 35, wherein each said pair of electrodes are arranged in the same direction.

Claim 47

An ink jet recording head according to claim 35, wherein a section of said pair of electrodes are parallel.

Claim 48

An ink jet recording head according to claim 35, wherein said liquid passageways are arranged along said electrodes.

Claim 49

An ink jet recording head according to claim 35, wherein said U-shaped wiring portion forms a square bracket shape including said heat generating member.

Claim 50

An ink jet recording head according to claim 35, wherein said U-shaped wiring portion is proximate said discharge opening.

Claim 51

An ink jet recording head according to claim 35, wherein the relationship between the maximum diameter d of said discharge opening and the distance D between said discharge opening and the edge of said heat generating member proximate said discharge opening, is represented by d≦D≦50d, such that ink discharged from said discharge opening does not splash.

Claim 52

An ink jet recording head according to claim 35, wherein the relationship between the maximum diameter d of said discharge opening and the distance D between said discharge opening and the edge of said heat generating member proximate said discharge opening, is represented by d≦D≦10d, such that ink discharged from said discharge opening does not splash.

Claim 53

An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: means for generating a signal to drive a heat generating member; and a recording head manufactured using a cutting process to form a discharge opening surface, said recording head having a plurality of discharge openings formed in the discharge opening surface for discharging ink, a plurality of liquid passageways for holding the ink, each said liquid passageway communicating independently with a discharge opening, heat generating members, each said heat generating member being provided in a corresponding liquid passageway for providing thermal energy to the ink in said liquid passageway for abruptly forming a bubble in the ink, and a pair of electrodes corresponding to each said heat generating member, each said pair of electrodes for individually driving said corresponding heat generating member, wherein said pair of electrodes and corresponding heat generating member form a U-shaped wiring portion, each said U-shaped wiring portion corresponding to a respective liquid passageway.

Claim 54

An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: means for generating a signal to drive a heat generating member; and a recording head manufactured using a cutting process to form a discharge opening surface, said recording head having a plurality of discharge openings formed in the discharge opening surface for discharging ink, a plurality of liquid passageways for holding the ink, each said liquid passageway communicating independently with a discharge opening, heat generating members, each said heat generating member being provided in a corresponding liquid passageway for providing thermal energy to the ink in said liquid passageway for abruptly forming a bubble in the ink, and a pair of electrodes corresponding to each said heat generating member, each said pair of electrodes for individually driving said corresponding heat generating member, wherein said pair of electrodes and corresponding heat generating member form a U-shaped wiring portion, each said U-shaped wiring portion corresponding to a respective liquid passageway.

Claim 55

An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein each said pair of electrodes are arranged in the same direction.

Claim 56

An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein a section of said pair of electrodes are parallel.

Claim 57

An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said liquid passageways are arranged along said electrodes.

Claim 58

An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said U-shaped wiring portion forms a square bracket shape including said heat generating member.

Claim 59

An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said U-shaped wiring portion is proximate said discharge opening.

Claim 60

An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the relationship between the maximum diameter d of said discharge opening and the distance D between said discharge opening and the edge of said heat generating member proximate said discharge opening, is represented by d≦D≦50d, such that ink discharged from said discharge opening does not splash.

Claim 61

An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the relationship between the maximum diameter d of said discharge opening and the distance D between said discharge opening and the edge of said heat generating member proximate said discharge opening, is represented by d≦D≦10d, such that ink discharged from said discharge opening does not splash.