Abstract: The invention provides an adhesive formulation for tacking and holding a nozzle plate in alignment on a semiconductor chip for an ink jet pen of an ink jet printer. The adhesive formulation includes a multifunctional epoxy material, a difunctional epoxy material, a fumed silica viscosity control agent, an imidazole-based thermal initiator and a mixed aryl sulfonium salt photoinitiator. Use of the adhesive formulation enables a nozzle plate to be assembled to a semiconductor chip with while substantially maintaining critical alignment between the nozzle plate and semiconductor chip.

Abstract: The invention provides a printhead cartridge body contained within an inkjet printer which contains a tape automated bonding (TAB) circuit, having a unique architecture, electrically connected to a printhead heater chip and a printed circuit board (PCB). Moreover, the TAB circuit architecture is readily sealable by a variety of methods. The TAB circuit includes elongate apertures which have a length axis aligned perpendicular to electrical traces which run through the apertures. Each trace has a first end running through the apertures and being connected to a PCB by means of a hot bar soldering technique and the second end of the traces being connected to a printhead heater chip. An encapsulant layer substantially encloses the rectangular apertures and electrical connections preventing ink mist from contacting the connections. The TAB circuit design provides improvement in the manufacturing process and enables rework of connections without destroying the TAB circuit.

Abstract: The invention described in the specification relates to an apparatus for supplying electrical information to a printer controller in order to identify the one or more cartridges installed in a printer. The apparatus comprises a carriage which is laterally translatable relative to the movement of print media through the printer, carriage translation means, and a replaceable cartridge attached to the carriage. The apparatus further comprises an indicia device which is attached to the replaceable cartridge and which has optically readable indicia thereon containing encoded information which contains information identifying the type of cartridge installed in the printer. The apparatus also includes an optical code reader which reads and transmits the encoded information to a printer controller as the cartridge moves in a lateral direction relative to the code reader.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink level sensing apparatus including an ink cartridge having an ink chamber containing ink and having at least one substantially transparent side panel adjacent the ink chamber. A fluorescent material is disposed in the ink chamber, the fluorescent material being substantially insoluble in the ink and having a specific gravity which is sufficiently lower than the ink to provide an interface between the ink and the fluorescent material. A relatively narrow band light source for emitting light at a first wavelength along a light path through the substantially transparent side panel of the ink cartridge is provided for exciting the fluorescent material. A photosensor for receiving light emitted from a fluorescent material at a second wavelength when the excited fluorescent material crosses the light path is provided, wherein the first and second wavelengths are substantially different.

Abstract: A composite structure containing a nozzle layer and an adhesive layer is provided and the adhesive layer is coated with a polymeric sacrificial layer. The coated composite structure is laser ablated to form one or more nozzles in the structure and the sacrificial layer is removed. The sacrificial layer is preferably a water soluble polymer, such as polyvinyl alcohol or polyethylene oxide, which is removed by directing jets of water at the sacrificial layer until it is substantially removed from the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A nozzle plate for an inkjet printer including a first nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles, each of which is positioned to correspond to a desired print location, with the print location of each of the nozzles of the first array being different from one another; and a second nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles, each of which is positioned to correspond to a desired print location, with the print location of each of the nozzles of the second array corresponding to one of the print locations of the first array such that the first and second arrays each have one nozzle corresponding to each desired print location.

Abstract: A cartridge lockout system and method for an image forming apparatus, which includes a cartridge and a wheel rotatably mounted on the cartridge. The wheel has a plurality of digital indicators, each digital indicator being in a first condition or a second condition. A sensor is secured to the image forming apparatus adjacent the digital indicators for sensing the digital indicators and the first and second conditions of the digital indicators and producing a sensor signal during rotation of the wheel. Further included is an engine that has a machine class code and a cartridge support registry data table stored therein. The engine is in electrical communication with the sensor, receives the sensor signal, generates a cartridge class code based on the sensor signal, compares the cartridge class code to the machine class code, and disables operation of the engine if the cartridge class code does not match the machine class code in the cartridge support registry data table.

Abstract: Methods for making strongly bonded metal-ceramic materials. The methods include irradiating a portion of the surface of the ceramic material with a pulsed ultraviolet laser having an energy density sufficient to effect activation of the irradiated surface of the ceramic material so that adhesion of metals subsequently deposited onto the irradiated surface is substantially increased. Advantages of the invention include (i) the need for only a small number of laser pulses at relatively low focused energy density, (ii) a smoother substrate surface, (iii) activation of the laser-treated surface which provides a chemical bond between the surface and a metal deposited thereon, (iv) only low temperature annealing is required to produce the strong metal-ceramic bond; (v) the ability to obtain strong adhesion between ceramic materials and oxidation resistant metals; (vi) ability to store the laser treated ceramic materials for later deposition of metals thereon.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved corrosion-resistant iron-aluminide intermetallic alloys. The alloys of this invention comprise, in atomic percent, from about 30% to about 40% aluminum alloyed with from about 0.1% to about 0.5% carbon, no more than about 0.04% boron such that the atomic weight ratio of boron to carbon in the alloy is in the range of from about 0.01:1 to about 0.08:1, from about 0.01 to about 3.5% of one or more transition metals selected from Group IVB, VB, and VIB elements and the balance iron wherein the alloy exhibits improved resistance to hot cracking during welding.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for preparing a product predominant in decabromodiphenylethane, the process comprising heat treating the product in a product treating and storage system for a period of time and at a temperature which are sufficient to reduce the amount of unreacted bromine in the product wherein the product treating and storage system comprises an insulated storage vessel, and a heated stream of carrier gas for carrying and suspending the product particles in the storage vessel during the heat treatment step.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process for preparing a product predominant in decabromodiphenylethane. In the improved process the diphenylethane is reacted with bromine in the presence of bromination catalyst in a reaction vessel by feeding diphenylethane to the reaction vessel below the liquid level of bromine in the reaction vessel. The improvement comprises contacting diphenylethane, bromine, and catalyst at a rate sufficient to obtain a diphenylethane predominant product having enhanced color and particle size.

Abstract: A product formed by reacting at least one acyclic hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acylating agent such as polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride with at least one N-(alkoxy-alkyl) alkanediamine such as N-(isodecyloxypropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane is effective as a detergent-dispersant for liquid fuels and oleaginous liquids.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing a white or at least near white product which is predominant in decabromodiphenylalkane, and which contains a minor amount of dodecabromodiphenylalkane.

Abstract: Improved method by control of excess bromine in reaction between bromine and cyclododecatriene to form hexabromocyclododecane provides increased product yield. A novel reaction mass is obtained and maintained.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process for preparing tetrabromophthalic anhydride whereby there is a substantial recovery of reactants such as halogen and SO.sub.3 from a vent stream exiting the reaction vessel. The improvement comprises contacting the vent stream with a fluid having a first oleum concentration and recovering a halogen stream and a second stream, having a second oleum concentration wherein the second oleum concentration is greater than the first oleum concentration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing a flame retardant product predominant in tetrabromobisphenol-A. The process comprises: (a) dissolving bisphenol-A in a methanol solvent containing up to about 5 weight percent water, wherein the ratio of methanol to bisphenol-A ranges from about 25 to about 43 moles of methanol per mole of bisphenol-A based on the total amount of methanol used and the total amount of bisphenol-A to be brominated; (b) adding to the solution in (a) from about 3.9 to about 4.2 moles of bromine per mole of bisphenol-A to be brominated while maintaining a reaction temperature in the range of from about 0.degree. to about 40.degree. C.; (c) after the bromination is substantially complete, adding water to precipitate the tetrabromobisphenol-A thus formed; and (d) purifying the precipitated tetrabromobisphenol-A so as to obtain a product predominant in tetrabromobisphenol-A containing less than about 20 ppm total ionic impurity.

Abstract: The impact strength of articles made from a flame-retarded formulated ABS resin containing an impact modifier is increased by forming a concentrate or masterbatch containing the flame retardant and impact modifier, blending the concentrate with ABS resin and extruding the resultant blend.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for increasing the ultraviolet light stability of articles made from macromolecular materials comprising: forming a flame-retarded formulation containing macromolecular material and a mixture of (i) a first alkylenebis(tetrabromophthalimide) flame retardant having a yellowness index (YI) value ranging from about 20 to about 40 as determined by ASTM D-1925; and (ii) a second alkylenebis-(tetrabromophthalimide) flame retardant having a yellowness index (YI) value (ASTM D-1925) ranging from about 2 to about 15 whereby the uv stability of a test plaque made from the flame-retarded formulation is greater than the arithmetic average of the uv stabilities of a test plaque made from a flame-retarded formulation containing (i) but not (ii) and of a test plaque made from a flame-retarded formulation containing (ii) but not (i).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for enhancing a fuel additive package so as to improve the shelf-life of the package comprising forming a fuel additive package containing (i) a major amount of detergent/dispersant and (ii) a minor amount of demulsifier; and admixing a solvent stabilizer composition with said additive package in an amount sufficient to improve the shelf-life of the fuel additive package.

Abstract: A bench-test method which correlates well with other more costly engine test methods, and which can be used to screen oleaginous formulation prior to performing expensive engine tests. The method comprises a) contacting ball bearing(s) having a smooth surface area with an oleaginous fluid to be screened; b) treating the oleaginous fluid during contacting with corrosive vapor for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to form a metal oxide coating on the ball bearing(s) surface; and c) visually rating the metal oxide coating on the ball bearings.