Abstract: An electronic assembly includes a substrate having a die and PCB mounted thereon. Wirebonds interconnect bond pads of the die with contact pads of the PCB, each wirebond having a first end portion bonded to a respective bond pad, an opposite second end portion bonded to a respective contact pad and an intermediate section extending between the first and second end portions. A dam encapsulant encapsulates each of the first and second end portions, a first fill encapsulant contacts the substrate and the dam encapsulant; and a second fill encapsulant overlies the first fill encapsulant. The first fill encapsulant has a lower modulus of elasticity than the second fill encapsulant and the dam encapsulant.

Abstract: A print module including: a cradle having a longitudinal cavity; an elongate printhead carrier positioned in the longitudinal cavity, the printhead carrier having a first end and a second end, the printhead carrier being pivotable relative to the cradle about a pivot axis the second end; a supply assembly slidably movable relative to the cradle along an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the printhead carrier, the supply assembly having ink couplings for fluidic connection to a printhead received in the printhead carrier; and a mechanical linkage interconnecting the first end of the printhead carrier and the supply assembly. Reciprocal movement of the supply assembly moves the printhead carrier between a tilted position and a non-tilted position.

Abstract: A process for forming inkjet nozzle devices on a frontside surface of a wafer substrate. The process includes the steps of: (i) providing the wafer substrate having a plurality of etched holes defined in the frontside surface, each etched hole being filled with first and second polymers such that the second polymer is coplanar with the frontside surface; (ii) forming the inkjet nozzle devices on the frontside surface using MEMS fabrication steps; and (iii) removing the first and second polymers via oxidative ashing, wherein first and second polymers are different.

Abstract: A print module includes a printhead cartridge releasably engaged with a supply module. The supply module has an ink inlet module and an ink outlet module positioned on opposite external sidewalls of the body and flanking the body, each of the ink inlet and ink outlet modules having a respective ink coupling engaged with complementary inlet and outlet couplings of the printhead cartridge. The ink inlet and outlet modules each include a respective lever mechanism for slidably moving the ink inlet and outlet modules relative to the opposite external sidewalls of the body between a coupled position in which the supply module is fluidically coupled to the printhead cartridge and a decoupled position in which the supply module is fluidically decoupled from the printhead cartridge.

Abstract: A print module configured for interconnection between a positive ink line and a negative ink line via respective inlet and outlet lines. The print module includes: an inlet port; an outlet port; a printhead interconnected between the inlet port and the outlet port; a control valve positioned at the inlet port for controlling an ink pressure in the printhead; an ink pressure sensor for sensing an ink pressure in the print module; and a controller for receiving feedback from the pressure sensor and controlling the control valve. During printing, the ink pressure sensor, the controller and the control valve cooperate to control a backpressure in the printhead within a predetermined backpressure range.

Abstract: A printing system includes: an ink supply; a feed line coupled to the ink supply; a return line coupled to the ink supply; and a plurality of printhead modules each having an inlet port fluidically coupled to the feed line and an outlet port fluidically coupled to the return line. Each print module has a bypass line fluidically coupling the feed line to the return line. The bypass line is open for both priming and printing operations.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting evaporation of water from inkjet nozzles of a printhead. The method includes the steps of: providing a wiping material infused with a liquid composition comprising an evaporation inhibitor; and wiping the wiping material over a nozzle plate of the printhead. The evaporation inhibitor is transferred to the nozzle plate during wiping and thereby inhibits evaporation of water from the inkjet nozzles.

Abstract: A compliance for use in an inkjet printer. The compliance includes flexible bellows configured for dampening pressure fluctuations in a fluid, wherein the bellows comprise a plurality of concentric portions joined via concertinaed sidewalls.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a manifold having first, second, third and fourth ink supply channels extending along the manifold and corresponding first, second, third and fourth rows of outlets defined in the manifold, wherein a first ink delivery group contains the first and second rows of outlets and a second ink delivery group contains the third and fourth rows of outlets. A first row of printhead chips is mounted to a lower surface of the manifold and a second row of printhead chips is mounted to the lower surface of the manifold. Each row of printhead chips prints two ink colors to provide a four-color printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet ink includes: (i) a disazo dye of formula (I): (ii) 1,3-propanediol; (iii) a glycol compound selected from the group consisting of: triethylene glycol and tetraethylene glycol; and (iv) water. The ink has low toxicity and is preferably absent ethylene glycol and sulfolane.

Abstract: A printer includes: a first fixed printhead; a second fixed printhead positioned downstream of the first printhead relative to a media feed direction; a platen for supporting print media; an input media transport mechanism positioned upstream of the first printhead, the input media transport mechanism exerting a gripping force N1 on print media; an output media transport mechanism positioned downstream of the second printhead, the output media transport mechanism exerting a gripping force N2 on print media; and an intermediary media transport mechanism positioned between the first and second printheads, the intermediary media transport mechanism exerting a gripping force N3 on print media. The gripping forces satisfy the relationship N1>N2>N3 for optimal printing results.

Abstract: A printer includes: an inkjet printhead having a row of printhead chips; a platen having a spittoon slot, the spittoon slot having a length corresponding to a length of the printhead and a width extending between an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall of the platen; a roller positioned in the spittoon slot between the upstream and downstream sidewalls for receiving ink spitted from the printhead, a rotation mechanism for rotating the roller; and a scraper positioned for scraping received ink from the roller. A diameter of the roller is less than the width of the spittoon slot, and an upper roller surface is relatively closer to the printhead than an upper surface of the upstream sidewall and/or the downstream sidewall.

Abstract: A print engine includes: a media support chassis having a plurality of guide rollers mounted between opposite sidewalls thereof, the plurality of guide rollers defining a curved media feed path; a plurality of spittoons, each spittoon being positioned between a neighboring pair of guide rollers and each spittoon having an upper guide portion; and a plurality of printheads, each printhead opposing a respective spittoon. The upper guide portion at least partially intersects a common tangential plane defined between a neighboring pair of rollers, such that print media fed along the curved media path contact the rollers and upper guide portions of the spittoons.

Abstract: An inkjet module includes: first and second opposite end brackets; a print module slidably mounted between the end brackets for raising and lowering the print module relative to the end brackets, the print module having a front face, a rear face and an elongate printhead positioned at a lower surface of the print module; and a cable array including a plurality of laterally arranged cables connected to the print module. The cables of the cable array extend in a common plane parallel to the rear face of the print module and follow a curved path such that an outer cable is longer than an inner cable.

Abstract: An integrated inkjet module includes: first and second opposite end brackets; a single print module asymmetrically positioned between the end brackets, the print module having an elongate printhead; a wiper carriage positioned between a first end of the print module and the first end bracket, the wiper carriage being configured for longitudinally wiping the printhead; and a print module carrier mounted between the first and second end brackets. The print module includes a mounting arm bridging over the wiper carriage and the print module carrier is slidably liftable relative to the first and second end brackets.

Abstract: A print engine includes: a media support chassis defining a curved media feed path; a maintenance chassis mounted on the media support chassis; a plurality of maintenance modules fixedly mounted between sidewalls of the maintenance chassis; a plurality of guide rails extending radially upwards from the maintenance chassis; a plurality of print module carriers, each print module carrier being slidingly received on respective parallel guide rails; a plurality of print modules releasably engaged with a respective one of the print module carriers; and a lift mechanism for radially raising and lowering the plurality of print module carriers relative to the maintenance chassis between a maintenance position a printing position.

Abstract: An integrated inkjet module for a scalable inkjet printer includes: first and second opposite end brackets; a print module asymmetrically positioned between the end brackets; and a maintenance module for maintaining an inkjet printhead of the print module. The maintenance module includes a frame fixedly mounted between the end brackets having a longer leg extending along one side of the print module and a shorter leg positioned between a first end of the print module and the first end bracket. The print module is slidably liftable relative to the end brackets, the longer leg includes a laterally extendible capper for capping the printhead and the shorter leg includes a longitudinally movable wiper carriage for wiping the printhead.

Abstract: An ink tank for an ink delivery system includes: a first ink chamber having an ink inlet port and an ink outlet port; a second ink chamber positioned above the first ink chamber and having a roof defining a tortuous vent pathway open to atmosphere via a gas port; and a diffusion tube interconnecting the first and second ink chambers. The first ink chamber has a smaller volume than the second ink chamber and the diffusion tube minimizes diffusion of air from the second chamber to the first chamber.

Abstract: A method of printing an image using a printing system having first and second overlapping printhead segments. The method includes the steps of: (i) identifying a strip of the image to be printed in an overlap region of the first and second printhead segments; (ii) determining a stitching technique for the first and second printhead segments; and (iii) printing the image using the first and second printhead segments, the printing including stitching the first and second printhead segments in the overlap region using the determined stitching technique. The stitching technique may be a butt stitch or a feathered stitch, dependent on image content in the strip.

Abstract: A process for filling one or more etched holes defined in a frontside surface of a wafer substrate. The process includes the steps of: depositing a layer of a thermoplastic first polymer onto the frontside surface and into each hole until the holes are overfilled with the first polymer; depositing a layer of a photoimageable second polymer different than the first polymer; selectively removing the second polymer from regions outside a periphery of the holes; exposing the wafer substrate to a controlled oxidative plasma so as to reveal the frontside surface of the wafer substrate; and planarizing the frontside surface to provide holes filled with a plug of the first polymer only, each plug having a respective upper surface coplanar with the frontside surface.