METHOD OF STERILIZING LIQUID EJECTION HEAD, AND LIQUID EJECTION HEAD ASSEMBLY

To provide a technique which allows proper sterilization of a liquid ejection head with vapor while allowing inhibition of the occurrence of ejection failure of the liquid ejection head.SOLUTION: A liquid ejection head 1 to be sterilized comprises: an ejection element substrate 2 having an ejection port surface 2a in which an ejection port for ejecting liquid is formed; and a liquid storage portion storing liquid to be supplied to the ejection port. A method of sterilizing the liquid ejection head includes: a first step of covering at least the ejection port surface of the liquid ejection head using a protection member in a non-contact manner; a second step of making a liquid ejection head assembly 11A by housing the protection member and the liquid ejection head or covering opening of the protection member so that intrusion of bacteria into the liquid ejection head is blocked using a sheet member that is vapor permeable at least at one portion in such a way as to block entry of bacteria into the liquid ejection head; and a third step of performing vapor sterilization on the assembly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4 【課題】液体吐出ヘッドの吐出不良の発生を抑制しつつ、液体吐出ヘッドを蒸気により適正に滅菌することが可能な技術を提供する。【解決手段】滅菌対象となる液体吐出ヘッド１は、液体を吐出する吐出口が形成された吐出口面２ａを有する吐出素子基板２と吐出口に供給する液体を収容する液体収容部とを備える。液体吐出ヘッドの滅菌方法は、液体吐出ヘッドのうち少なくとも前記吐出口面を保護部材によって非接触な状態で覆う第１工程と、少なくとも一部に蒸気透過性を有するシート部材によって液体吐出ヘッドへの菌の侵入を遮断するように保護部材及び前記液体吐出ヘッドを収容する、または、前記保護部材の開口部を覆うことにより液体吐出ヘッドの組立体１１Ａを構成する第２工程と、組立体を蒸気滅菌する第３工程と、を備える。【選択図】図４