Abstract: An apparatus and method insures that the ink supply in a disposable on carrier secondary ink tank and the ink supply in a semi-permanent base cartridge are compatible before a refilling operation is allowed to occur for an ink jet printer cartridge. A first memory is located in the base cartridge assembly and a second memory is located in the secondary ink tank. Compatibility information concerning properties such as the type, color and formulation of the ink supplies in the base cartridge assembly and secondary ink tank is saved in the first and second memories. Before a refilling operation is commenced, the compatibility information is examined to determine if the ink supplies in the secondary ink tank and base cartridge assembly are compatible. If the ink supplies are compatible, a flow control device is activated to allow the refilling operation to begin.

Abstract: A nozzle plate for a printhead of a thermal inkjet printer having a thickness sufficient to provide a plurality of nozzle holes above a plurality of firing chambers. Ink supply channels, for feeding ink to the firing chambers, are connected to an ink supply region and the nozzle plate has a plurality of projections sufficient to filter ink entering the supply channels from the supply region.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet pen including a cartridge body having a printhead and a replaceable ink cartridge removably positionable on the cartridge body. At least one cooperating elongate recess and at least one projection are located on the mutually facing surfaces of the ink cartridge and the cartridge body. The projection and recess are engageable with one another for guidably positioning the ink cartridge to a desired position relative to the cartridge body.

Abstract: The specification describes a method and composition for treating selected areas of the surface of a polyimide material used to make a nozzle plate for an ink jet printer in order to decrease the surface energy of the polyimide material so ink repellency of the material is increased in the selected areas. The method includes applying a polydialkylsiloxane having reactive end groups to the selected areas of the polyimide material and curing the polydialkylsiloxane on the surface to provide a surface having decreased surface energy. A particularly preferred polydialkylsiloxane is an amine terminated polydialkylsiloxane having a molecular weight ranging from about 500 to about 40,000 number average molecular weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for removing air or gas bubbles from a ink jet pen. The device includes a gas accumulation chamber attached to an ink cartridge and a gas inlet port in flow communication with the chamber, the inlet port containing a septum for sealing the port. The chamber contains a gas accumulation device and an urging member for urging the gas accumulation device in order to draw gas into the chamber through the inlet port from a cartridge body upon attachment of the cartridge to the body. The gas accumulation device is activated automatically when a new ink cartridge is installed on the cartridge body thereby removing unwanted air and gas bubbles from the ink feed port of the cartridge and cartridge body.

Abstract: An ink jet print head has first nozzles of a first diameter for ejecting droplets of ink having a first mass, and second nozzles of a second diameter for ejecting droplets of ink having a second mass. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter, and the first mass is larger than the second mass. First and second heater-switch pairs are connected in parallel on a substrate of the print head. The first heater-switch pairs include first heaters adjacent corresponding first nozzles, and the second heater-switch pairs include second heaters adjacent corresponding second nozzles. The first and second heaters are composed of electrically resistive material occupying first and second heater areas on the substrate. The first heater-switch pairs also include first switching devices connected in series with the first heaters, with each first switching device developing a first switching device voltage drop as a first electrical current flows through.

Abstract: The invention described in the specification relates to an apparatus and method for cooling a printhead containing multiple semiconductor substrates. The substrates which contain a plurality of energy imparting devices for energizing ink are attached to a metal substrate carrier for providing efficient heat transfer from the substrates. A temperature sensing device is attached to the carrier for measuring a temperature of the substrate carrier during a printing operation and for generating an input signal to a controller. The controller, in turn, sends an output signal to the printhead to selectively energize one or more of the energy imparting devices on each substrate in response to the input signal and a thermal expansion value based on the temperature of the heat transfer member. Because the timing of energization of the energy imparting devices is controlled in response to the carrier temperature and its expansion characteristics, more cost effective materials for the carrier can be used.