Abstract: The present invention overcomes the problem of filter blockage created by bubble accumulation underneath the filter of previous printheads with a filter carrier and filter that reduces air bubble blockage of the filter. Namely, air bubble blockage of the filter is avoided by trapping more bubbles in a designated area with a horizontal ink flow, relative to the substrate. In addition to the filter carrier and filter, the printing device further includes an outer housing, a substrate and an ink conduit. The substrate has a back surface and a front surface with ink ejection chambers formed thereon. The ink conduit has a distal end proximate to the back surface of the substrate. The ink conduit, the outer housing and the substrate define an ink flow path to the ink ejection chambers and a bubble accumulation chamber in communication with the ink flow path such that buoyancy will tend to move bubbles that accumulate in the ink flow path into the bubble accumulation chamber.

Abstract: This present invention is embodied in a printing system and method for inducing shrinkage-tensioning of a flexible nozzle member of a printhead portion of an inkjet printer with an adhesive and novel arrangement. The printing system of the present invention includes a nozzle member securely coupled to a printhead body with an adhesive arrangement that allows shrinkage-induce tensioning of the nozzle member. The adhesive arrangement includes having an adhesive located between a top portion of the printhead body and the flexible nozzle member. The top portion has a mechanical structure such that it induces tensioning of the flexible nozzle member during thermal expansion of the adhesive. Namely, the adhesive arrangement of the printing system of the present invention is capable of efficiently tensioning, and thus, flattening the flexible nozzle member during the adhesion process of the nozzle member. As a result, trajectory errors of ejected ink droplets from the nozzles are reduced.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a compact substrate of increased stability and structural integrity to provide a high resolution 600 dot-per-inch nozzle array having a one-half inch swath. A plurality of ink vaporization chambers are respectively aligned with the nozzles in two longitudinal columns, one column extending longitudinally along one edge of the substrate and a second column extending longitudinally along an opposite edge of the substrate, with ink feed channels communicating through an ink passage from an underside of the substrate around both edges of the substrate to the vaporization chambers. The ink feed channels have thereby been eliminated from the central portion of the substrate, and replaced by the ink feed channels at the edges of the substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for fabricating flexible circuits. The inventive system includes an oven and three or more independent tensioners for moving a strip of flex tape therethrough. In total, N tensioners are provided per side. The tensioners provide a cumulative tension force T on the tape and each tensioner applies T/N of the total tension. The tension is applied tangentially in a single plane of the tape along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof In the illustrative embodiment, the tensioners are sprocket wheels. Eight sprocket wheels are disposed on a supply side of the system and eight wheels are disposed on a take-up side of the system. The sprocket wheels are adapted to engage sprocket holes in the tape. The tape has a sprocket wheel area and a die area. A silicon die is typically bonded to the die area with a suitable epoxy. Copper conductors on the tape communicate electrical signals from a printer or other mechanism to the silicon die.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible circuit that has a nozzle member formed therein with the nozzle member including a plurality of ink orifices and the flexible circuit having electrical leads. A substrate containing a plurality of heating elements and associated ink ejection chambers and having electrodes to which the electrical leads are bonded is mounted on a back surface of the nozzle member. Each heating element is located proximate to an associated ink orifice with the back surface of the nozzle member extending over two or more outer edges of the substrate. A print cartridge body having a headland portion is located proximate to the back surface of the nozzle member and includes an inner raised wall circumscribing the substrate with an adhesive support surface formed thereon and having wall openings therein. The wall openings have an adhesive support surface and an elevated substrate support surface raised above the adhesive support surface for supporting the substrate.

Abstract: Described herein is a snout insert, referred to as an exapander, which is pressed fit into the snout of a plastic inkjet print cartridge. The expander has a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a high tensile modulus relative to the print cartridge body. The expander reduces the CTE of the snout to be closer to, or less than, the CTE of the nozzle member, such as a TAB head assembly, to reduce or prevent warpage of the nozzle member due to thermal cycling of the print cartridge during the manufacturing process. The nozzle member is then fixed to the snout. The expander is designed for a precise fit into the snout and, in one embodiment, includes machinable datums to ensure a tight fit. In one embodiment, the expander is inserted through the ink reservoir area in the print cartridge body and pushed into the snout.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved ink flow path between an ink reservoir and vaporization chambers in an inkjet printhead. In the preferred embodiment, a barrier layer containing ink channels and vaporization chambers is located between a rectangular substrate and a nozzle member containing an array of orifices. The substrate contains two linear arrays of heater elements, and each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a vaporization chamber and heater element. The ink channels in the barrier layer have ink entrances generally running along two opposite edges of the substrate so that ink flowing around the edge of the substrate gain access to the ink channels and to the vaporization chambers.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a compact substrate of increased stability and structural integrity to provide a high resolution 600 dot-per-inch nozzle array having a one-half inch swath. A plurality of ink vaporization chambers are respectively aligned with the nozzles in two longitudinal columns, one column extending longitudinally along one edge of the substrate and a second column extending longitudinally along an opposite edge of the substrate, with ink feed channels communicating through an ink passage from an underside of the substrate around both edges of the substrate to the vaporization chambers. The ink feed channels have thereby been eliminated from the central portion of the substrate, and replaced by the ink feed channels at the edges of the substrate.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved ink flow path between an ink reservoir and vaporization chambers in an inkjet printhead. In the preferred embodiment, a barrier layer containing ink channels and vaporization chambers is located between a rectangular substrate and a nozzle member containing an array of orifices. The substrate contains two linear arrays of heater elements, and each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a vaporization chamber and heater element. The ink channels in the barrier layer have ink entrances generally running along two opposite edges of the substrate so that ink flowing around the edges of the substrate gain access to the ink channels and to the vaporization chambers.

Abstract: An inkjet drop ejection system comprises a combination of printhead components and ink, mutually tuned to maximize operating characteristics of the printhead and print quality and dry time of the ink. Use of a short shelf (distance from ink source to ink firing element), on the order of 55 microns, provides a very high speed refill. However, it is a characteristic of high speed refill that it has a tendency for being over-damped. To provide the requisite damping, the ink should have a viscosity greater than about 2 cp. In this way, the ink and architecture work together to provide a tuned system that enables stable operation at high frequencies. One advantage of the combination of a pigment and a dispersant in the ink is the resultant higher viscosity provided. The high speed would be of little value if the ink did not have a fast enough rate of drying. This is accomplished by the addition of alcohols or alcohol(s) and surfactant(s) to the ink.

Abstract: An inkjet drop ejection system comprises a combination of printhead components and ink, mutually tuned to maximize operating characteristics of the printhead and print quality and dry time of the ink. Use of a short shelf (distance from ink source to ink firing element), on the order of 55 microns, provides a very high speed refill. However, it is a characteristic of high speed refill that it has a tendency for being overdamped. To provide the requisite damping, the ink should have a viscosity greater than about 2 cp. In this way, the ink and architecture work together to provide a tuned system that enables stable operation at high frequencies. One advantage of the combination of a pigment and a dispersant in the ink is the resultant higher viscosity provided. The high speed would be of little value if the ink did not have a fast enough rate of drying. This is accomplished by the addition of alcohols or alcohol(s) and surfactant(s) to the ink.

Abstract: An improved ink flow path between an ink reservoir and ink ejection chambers in an inkjet printhead is disclosed along with a preferred printhead architecture. In the preferred embodiment, a barrier layer containing ink channels and firing chambers is located between a rectangular substrate and a nozzle member containing an array of orifices. The substrate contains two spaced apart arrays of ink ejection elements, and each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a firing chamber and ink ejection element. The ink channels in the barrier layer have ink entrances generally running along two opposite edges of the substrate so that ink flowing around the edges of the substrate gain access to the ink channels and to the firing chambers.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a compact substrate of increased stability and structural integrity to provide a high resolution 600 dot-per-inch nozzle array having a one-half inch swath. A plurality of ink vaporization chambers are respectively aligned with the nozzles in two longitudinal columns, one column extending longitudinally along one edge of the substrate and a second column extending longitudinally along an opposite edge of the substrate, with ink feed channels communicating through an ink passage from an underside of the substrate around both edges of the substrate to the vaporization chambers. The ink feed channels have thereby been eliminated from the central portion of the substrate, and replaced by the ink feed channels at the edges of the substrate.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a compact substrate having a pair of elongated edge portions for ink channel architecture, a central interior for substrate circuitry, and a pair of truncated end portions for mounting and for electrical interconnects. The ink channel architecture includes a plurality of ink vaporization chambers each having a firing resistor therein, as well as ink feed channels communicating through an ink passage from an underside of the substrate around both edges of the substrate to the vaporization chambers.

Abstract: Described is an inkjet print cartridge including an ink reservoir; a substrate having a plurality of individual ink firing chambers with an ink firing element in each chamber; said ink firing chambers arranged in a first chamber array and a second chamber array and said firing chambers spaced so as to provide 600 dots per inch printing; an ink channel connecting said reservoir with said ink firing chambers, said channel including a primary channel connected at a first end with said reservoir and at a second end to a secondary channel; a separate inlet passage for each firing chamber connecting said secondary channel with said firing chamber for allowing high frequency refill of the firing chamber; a group of said firing chambers in adjacent relationship forming a primitive in which only one firing chamber in said primitive is activated at a time; a first circuit on said substrate connected to said firing elements; and a second circuit on said cartridge connected to said first circuit, for transmitting firing

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and method of fabrication thereof for an inkjet printhead with an improved ink flow path between an ink reservoir and vaporization chambers in an inkjet printhead. In the preferred embodiment, a barrier layer containing ink channels and vaporization chambers is located between a rectangular substrate and a nozzle member containing an array of orifices. The substrate contains two linear arrays of heater elements, and each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a vaporization chamber and heater element. The ink channels in the barrier layer have ink entrances generally running along two opposite edges of the substrate so that ink flowing around the edges of the substrate gain access to the ink channels and to the vaporization chambers. The apparatus is fabricated without using ion implant technology.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved ink flow path between an ink reservoir and vaporization chambers in an inkjet printhead. In the preferred embodiment, a barrier layer containing ink channels and vaporization chambers is located between a rectangular substrate and a nozzle member containing an array of orifices. The substrate contains two linear arrays of heater elements, and each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a vaporization chamber and heater element. The ink channels in the barrier layer have ink entrances generally running along two opposite edges of the substrate so that ink flowing around the edges of the substrate gain access to the ink channels and to the vaporization chambers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inkjet print cartridge having an ink reservoir; a substrate having a plurality of individual ink firing chambers with an ink firing element in each chamber along a top surface of the substrate and having a first outer edge along a periphery of substrate; the first outer edge being in close proximity to the ink firing chambers. The ink firing chambers are arranged in a first chamber array and a second chamber array and with the firing chambers spaced so as to provide 600 dots per inch printing. An ink channel connects the reservoir with the ink firing chambers, the channel including a primary channel connected at a first end with the reservoir and at a second end to a secondary channel; the primary channel allowing ink to flow from the ink reservoir, around the first outer edge of the substrate to the secondary channel along the top surface of the substrate so as to be proximate to the ink firing chambers.

Abstract: Described is an ink delivery system for an array of nozzle orifices in a print cartridge comprising an ink reservoir; a substrate having a plurality of individual ink firing chambers with an ink firing element in each chamber; an ink channel connecting said reservoir with said ink firing chambers, said channel including a primary channel connected at a first end with said reservoir and at a second end to a secondary channel; a separate inlet passage for each firing chamber connecting said secondary channel with said firing chamber for allowing high frequency refill of the firing chamber; a group of said firing chambers in adjacent relationship forming a primitive in which only one firing chamber in said primitive is activated at a time; first circuit means on said substrate connected to said firing elements; and second circuit means on said cartridge connected to said first circuit means, for transmitting firing signals to said ink firing elements at a frequency greater than 9 kHz.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inkjet print cartridge including an ink reservoir; a substrate having a plurality of individual ink firing chambers with an ink firing element in each chamber along a top surface of said substrate and having a first outer edge along a periphery of substrate; the first outer edge being in close proximity to the ink firing chambers. The ink firing chambers are arranged in a first chamber array and a second chamber array and with the firing chambers spaced so as to provide 600 dots per inch printing. An ink channel connects the reservoir with the ink firing chambers, the channel including a primary channel connected at a first end with the reservoir and at a second end to a secondary channel; the primary channel allowing ink to flow from the ink reservoir, around the first outer edge of the substrate to the secondary channel along the top surface of the substrate so as to be proximate to the ink firing chambers.