Recording element driving unit having extra driving element to facilitate assembly and apparatus using same

• US 5,798,780 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Yasutomo, Koizumi, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartary, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US08/481,209
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 347/50, 347/58, 439/66, 439/91
• US Class Current: 347/50
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14024 Assembling head parts
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14072 Electrical connections, e.g. details on electrodes, connecting the chip to the outside...

Abstract

A recording element driving unit has an electrical connecting member having a support member of electrically insulating material and electroconductive members arranged on the support member. Each electroconductive member has one end exposed on one surface of the support member and another end exposed on another surface of the support member. A recording element substrate having recording elements is connected to one exposed end of at least one electroconductive member. A driving element substrate has driving elements thereon, and each driving element has connecting portions. The driving elements are larger in number than a number of driving elements electrically connected to the recording elements and are fewer in number than the electroconductive members. The driving element connecting portions are disposed at a pitch larger than a pitch at which the electroconductive members are arranged, and each driving element connecting portion is connected to the other exposed end of at least one electroconductive member.

Claims

1. A recording element driving unit comprising:

an electrical connecting member having a support member of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electroconductive members arranged on said support member, each said electroconductive member having one end exposed on one surface of said support member and another end exposed on another surface of said support member;

a recording element substrate having thereon a plurality of recording elements connected to one exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member; and

a driving element substrate having thereon a plurality of driving elements, each said driving element having connecting portions and said plurality of driving elements being larger in number than a number of driving elements electrically connected to said plurality of recording elements and fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, said driving element connecting portions being disposed at a pitch larger than a pitch at which said plurality of electroconductive members are arranged, wherein each said driving element connecting portion is connected to the other exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member.

2. A recording element driving unit according to claim 1 wherein

said recording element substrate has a liquid pathway communicated to a discharging opening for discharging ink formed thereon and said recording element performs recording by discharging ink through said discharging opening.

3. A recording element driving unit according to claim 2, further comprising a film which covers the other surface of said support member.

4. A recording element driving unit according to claim 3, wherein said film comprises an organic material.

5. In an ink jet apparatus, a recording element driving unit comprising:

an electrical connecting member having a support member of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electroconductive members arranged on said support member, each said electroconductive member having one end exposed on one surface of said support member and another end exposed on another surface of said support member;

a recording element substrate having thereon a plurality of liquid pathways each communicating with a discharging opening for discharging ink and a plurality of recording elements for performing recording by discharging ink through said discharging opening, each said recording element being electrically connected to one exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a driving element substrate having thereon a plurality of driving elements, each said driving element having connecting portions and said plurality of driving elements being larger in number than a number of driving elements electrically connected to said plurality of recording elements and fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, said driving element connecting portions being disposed at a pitch larger than a pitch at which said plurality of electroconductive members are arranged, wherein each said driving element connecting portion is connected to the other exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member; and

means for mounting said recording element driving unit.

6. A recording element driving unit comprising:

a plurality of electrical connecting members each having a support member of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electroconductive members arranged on said support member, each said electroconductive member having one end exposed on one surface of said support member and another end exposed on another surface of said support member;

a recording element substrate having thereon a plurality of recording elements fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, wherein each said recording element is electrically connected to an exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a driving element substrate having thereon a plurality of driving elements, each said driving element having connecting portions and said plurality of driving elements being larger in number than a number of driving elements electrically connected to said plurality of recording elements and fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, said driving element connecting portions being disposed at a pitch larger than a pitch at which said plurality of electroconductive members are arranged, wherein each said driving element connecting portion is connected to the other exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a base member for arranging said recording element substrate and said driving element substrate;

a circuit substrate to which said recording element substrate is connected through a first one of said electrical connecting members and to which said driving element substrate is connected through a second one of said electrical connecting members on a surface of said circuit substrate where a wiring pattern is formed; and

a pressure contact member for pressure contacting said circuit substrate with said recording element substrate, and said circuit substrate with said driving element substrate, respectively, through said electrical connecting members.

7. A recording element driving unit according to claim 6, further comprising an electrical signal transmitting means for transmitting a driving signal to the driving element substrate.

8. A recording element driving unit according to claim 6, further comprising a connector for inputting of a driving signal.

9. A recording element driving unit according to claim 6, wherein the recording element substrate and the driving element substrate are arranged on the same plane of the base member.

10. A recording element driving unit according to claim 6, wherein the pressure contact member is fixed on the base member at both ends in the longitudinal direction of said pressure contact member.

11. A recording element driving unit according to claim 6, wherein the pressure contact member is fixed on the base member at one end in the longer side of said pressure contact member.

12. A recording element driving unit according to claim 6 wherein

said recording element substrate has a liquid pathway communicated to a discharging opening for discharging ink formed thereon.

13. A recording element driving unit according to claim 6, wherein the number of recording elements on the recording element substrate is at least one more than the necessary number.

14. In an ink jet recording apparatus, a recording element driving unit comprising:

a plurality of electrical connecting members each having a holding member of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electroconductive members arranged on said holding member, each said electroconductive member having one end exposed on one surface of said holding member and another end exposed on another surface of said holding member;

a recording element substrate having thereon a liquid pathway communicating with a discharging opening for discharging ink and a plurality of recording elements fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, wherein each said recording element is electrically connected to an exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a driving element substrate having thereon a plurality of driving elements, each said driving element having connecting portions and said plurality of driving elements being larger in number than a number of driving elements electrically connected to said plurality of recording elements and fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, said driving element connecting portions being disposed at a pitch larger than a pitch at which said plurality of electroconductive members are arranged, wherein each said driving element connecting portion is connected to the other exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a base member for arranging said recording element substrate and said driving element substrate;

a circuit substrate to which said recording element substrate is connected through a first one of said electrical connecting members and to which said driving element substrate is connected through a second one of said electrical connecting members on a surface of said circuit substrate where a wiring pattern is formed;

a pressure contact member for pressure contacting said circuit substrate with said recording element substrate, and said circuit substrate with said driving element substrate, respectively, through said electrical connecting members; and

means for mounting said recording element driving unit.

15. A recording element driving unit comprising:

a plurality of electrical connecting members each having a support member of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electroconductive members arranged on said support member, each said electroconductive member having one end exposed on one surface of said support member and another end exposed on another surface of said support member;

a recording element substrate having thereon a plurality of recording elements fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, wherein each said recording element is electrically connected to an exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a driving element substrate having thereon a plurality of driving elements, each said driving element having connecting portions and said plurality of driving elements being larger in number than a number of driving elements electrically connected to said plurality of recording elements and fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, said driving element connecting portions being disposed at a pitch larger than a pitch at which said plurality of electroconductive members are arranged, wherein each said driving element connecting portion is connected to the other exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a circuit substrate for transmitting a driving signal to said driving element substrate;

a base member for arranging said recording element substrate and said driving element substrate; and

a pressure contact member for pressure contacting said recording element substrate through a first of said plurality of electrical connecting members with said driving element substrate and for pressure contacting said circuit substrate through a second of said plurality of electrical connecting members with said driving element substrate.

16. A recording element driving unit according to claim 15, wherein the portion of the base member where the circuit substrate is arranged and the portion of the base member where the recording element is arranged have the same thickness, and the thickness of the portion of the base member confronting said driving element arranged on the driving element substrate is thinner than the thickness of the portion where said circuit substrate is arranged and the portion where the recording element is arranged.

17. A recording element driving unit according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising a connector for inputting of a driving signal.

18. A recording element driving unit according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the recording element substrate and the circuit substrate are arranged on the same plane of the base member.

19. A recording element driving unit according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the pressure contact member is fixed on the base member.

20. A recording element driving unit according to claim 15 wherein

said recording element substrate has a liquid pathway communicated to a discharging opening for discharging ink.

21. A recording element driving unit according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the number of recording elements on the recording element substrate is at least one more than the necessary number.

22. In an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink jet driving unit comprising:

a plurality of electrical connecting members each having a support member of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electroconductive members arranged on said support member, each said electroconductive member having one end exposed on one surface of said support member and another end exposed on another surface of said support member;

a recording element substrate having thereon a liquid pathway communicating with a discharge opening for discharging ink and a plurality of recording elements fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, wherein each said recording element is electrically connected to an exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a driving element substrate having thereon a plurality of driving elements, each said driving element having connecting portions and said plurality of driving elements being larger in number than a number of driving elements electrically connected to said plurality of recording elements and fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, said driving element connecting portions being disposed at a pitch larger than a pitch at which said plurality of electroconductive members are arranged, wherein each said driving element connecting portion is connected to the other exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a circuit substrate for transmitting a driving signal to said driving element substrate;

a base member for arranging said recording element substrate and said driving element substrate; and

a pressure contact member for pressure contacting said recording element substrate through a first of said plurality of electrical connecting members with said driving element substrate and for pressure contacting said circuit substrate through a second of said plurality of electrical connecting members with said driving element substrate; and

means for mounting said recording element driving unit.

23. A recording element driving unit comprising:

a plurality of electrical connecting members each having a support member of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electroconductive members arranged on said support member, each said electroconductive member having one end exposed on one surface of said support member and another end exposed on another surface of said support member;

a recording element substrate having thereon a plurality of recording elements connected to said electroconductive members;

a driving element substrate having thereon a plurality of driving elements, each said driving element having connecting portions and said plurality of driving elements being larger in number than a number of driving elements electrically connected to said plurality of recording elements and fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, said driving element connecting portions being disposed at a pitch larger than a pitch at which said plurality of electroconductive members are arranged, wherein each said driving element connecting portion is electrically connected to the other exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a base member for arranging said recording element substrate and said driving element substrate;

a circuit substrate to which said recording element substrate is connected through a first one of said electrical connecting members and to which said driving element substrate is connected through a second one of said electrical connecting members on a surface of said circuit substrate where a wiring pattern is formed; and

a pressure contact member for pressure contacting said circuit substrate with said recording element substrate, and said circuit substrate with said driving element substrate, respectively, through said electrical connecting members.

24. A recording element driving unit comprising:

a plurality of electrical connecting members each having a support member of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of electroconductive members arranged on said support member, each said electroconductive member having one end exposed on one surface of said support member and another end exposed on another surface of said support member;

a recording element substrate having thereon a plurality of recording elements connected to said electroconductive members;

a driving element substrate having thereon a plurality of driving elements, each said driving element having connecting portions and said plurality of driving elements being larger in number than a number of driving elements electrically connected to said plurality of recording elements and fewer in number than said plurality of electroconductive members, said driving element connecting portions being disposed at a pitch larger than a pitch at which said plurality of electroconductive members are arranged, wherein each said driving element connecting portion is electrically connected to the other exposed end of at least one said electroconductive member;

a circuit substrate for transmitting a driving signal to said driving element substrate;

a base member for arranging said recording element substrate and said driving element substrate; and

a pressure contact member for pressure contacting said recording element substrate through a first of said plurality of electrical connecting members with said driving element substrate and for pressure contacting said circuit substrate through a second of said plurality of electrical connecting members with said driving element substrate.