Abstract: A method of forming an ink jet printhead with an integral ink filter is provided. The ink jet printhead has decreased flow resistance by formation of two filter array portions. A set of parallel openings are anisotropically etched in a surface of a first substrate to form a first filter array portion. A second substrate having an insulating layer therein is patterned to expose a set of openings forming a second filter array portion. The first and second portions are between an integral ink chamber and ink nozzles so that ink can be filtered through at least one of the first and second filter array portions.

Abstract: A printing device having a print carriage assembly that reduces a carriage excursion along a carriage scan axis and/or reduces a width of a printing flat zone along a media feed axis, is disclosed. The print carriage assembly has a frame that traverses across a media along a carriage scan axis. The media travels along a media feed axis that is substantially perpendicular to the carriage scan axis. A first print cartridge subassembly includes a first base secured to the frame and a plurality of first print elements secured to the first base. Each of the first print elements includes a first nozzle array for ejecting an ink composition. The plurality of first print elements are spaced apart along the carriage scan axis and are offset along the media feed axis. A second print cartridge subassembly includes a second base secured to the frame and a plurality of second print elements secured to the second base. Each of the second print elements have a second nozzle array for ejecting an ink composition.

Abstract: An improved integral ink filter for an ink jet printhead has decreased flow resistance and minimal machine cost to implement. The integral ink filter includes both a first filter array patterned in a silicon channel plate of the printhead and a second filter array patterned in an insulative layer located between the channel plate and a heater plate. As the insulative layer already requires photolithographic patterning, such as to remove portions over heating elements and between an ink manifold and nozzle channels, there are no additional processing steps necessary. As such, the present invention achieves improved filtration by doubling the filtration rate, while retaining a small pore size corresponding to a channel size of the nozzles. Thus, a desired ink flow to the nozzles can be maintained even if the ink channels are made increasingly smaller.