ALIGNMENT JIG AND ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR LIQUID-JET HEAD AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING LIQUID-JET HEAD

• US 20080062218A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Inaoka, Yasuo, Yanagisawa, Isao, Okamuro, Takuma
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/19
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/19 Assembling head units
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/34 Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49401 Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53261 Means to align and advance work part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53265 with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

An alignment jig for a liquid-jet head, which is used when positioning and joining a nozzle plate and a fixing member, the nozzle plate having nozzle orifices for jetting a liquid of the liquid-jet head and an alignment mark for alignment, the fixing member being adapted to hold a plurality of the liquid-jet heads, the alignment jig comprising a mask which is a transparent member provided with a reference mark for alignment with the alignment mark, the reference mark being formed within the mask.

Claims

1. An alignment jig for a liquid-jet head, which is used when positioning and joining a nozzle plate and a fixing member, the nozzle plate having nozzle orifices for jetting a liquid of the liquid-jet head and an alignment mark for alignment, the fixing member being adapted to hold a plurality of the liquid-jet heads,

the alignment jig comprising a mask which is a transparent member provided with a reference mark for alignment with the alignment mark,

the reference mark being formed within the mask.

2. The alignment jig for a liquid-jet head according to claim 1, wherein

the mask has a mask body, and a protective plate stuck to a surface of the mask body facing the liquid-jet head, and

the reference mark is formed at a boundary between the mask body and the protective plate, the boundary serving as a joining surface.

3. The alignment jig for a liquid-jet head according to claim 1, wherein

the mask has a mask body, and a protective plate stuck to a surface of the mask body facing the liquid-jet head,

the reference mark is formed on a surface of the mask body facing the liquid-jet head, or on a surface of the protective plate facing the mask body, and

a predetermined space is present above the reference mark.

4. The alignment jig for a liquid-jet head according to claim 2, wherein

the protective plate has a smaller area in a plane direction than an area of the mask body, and is stuck to the mask body in a region opposed to the reference mark.

5. The alignment jig for a liquid-jet head according to claim 3, wherein

the protective plate has a smaller area in a plane direction than an area of the mask body, and is stuck to the mask body in a region opposed to the reference mark.

6. The alignment jig for a liquid-jet head according to claim 1, wherein

the mask comprises a mask body having the reference mark formed inside.

7. The alignment jig for a liquid-jet head according to claim 6, wherein

the mask body has a protrusion formed in a region where the reference mark is formed, the protrusion protruding toward the liquid-jet head.

8. An alignment apparatus for a liquid-jet head, comprising:

the alignment jig according to claim 1;

and

a bifocal microscope including two optical systems having an optical axis in common, the optical axis being pointed in a direction of the alignment mark via the reference mark from a side of the mask opposite to the fixing member,

one of the optical systems being capable of focusing on the alignment mark, and the other optical system being capable of focusing on the reference mark.

9. A method for producing a liquid-jet head including a nozzle plate and a fixing member, the nozzle plate having nozzle orifices for jetting a liquid of the liquid-jet head and an alignment mark for alignment, the fixing member being adapted to hold a plurality of the liquid-jet heads, comprising the steps of:

holding the fixing member by a mask in direct contact with the fixing member, the mask being a transparent member provided with a reference mark for alignment with the alignment mark, the reference mark being formed within the mask;

aligning the alignment mark with the reference mark; and

bonding the nozzle plate and the fixing member by an adhesive agent.

10. The method for producing a liquid-jet head according to claim 9, wherein

the mask has a mask body, and a protective plate stuck to a surface of the mask body facing the liquid-jet head,

the reference mark is formed at a boundary between the mask body and the protective plate, the boundary serving as a joining surface, and

the fixing member is held by the protective plate in direct contact with the fixing member.

11. The method for producing a liquid-jet head according to claim 9, wherein

the mask has a mask body, and a protective plate stuck to a surface of the mask body facing the liquid-jet head,

the reference mark is formed on a surface of the mask body facing the liquid-jet head, or on a surface of the protective plate facing the mask body,

a predetermined space is present above the reference mark, and

the fixing member is held by the protective plate in direct contact with the fixing member.

12. The method for producing a liquid-jet head according to claim 10, wherein

the protective plate has a smaller area in a plane direction than an area of the mask body, and is stuck to the mask body in a region opposed to the reference mark.

13. The method for producing a liquid-jet head according to claim 11, wherein

the protective plate has a smaller area in a plane direction than an area of the mask body, and is stuck to the mask body in a region opposed to the reference mark.

14. The method for producing a liquid-jet head according to claim 9, wherein

the mask comprises a mask body having the reference mark formed inside.

15. The method for producing a liquid-jet head according to claim 14, wherein

the mask body has a protrusion formed in a region where the reference mark is formed, the protrusion protruding toward the liquid-jet head.