Abstract: Ink delivery systems achieve balanced ink flow by positioning two or more ink chambers around ink ejection mechanisms in a printhead. A plurality of pie-shaped ink chambers may be arranged in a circle above an ink ejection mechanism, which provides short ink paths from each ink chamber, and ink paths having approximately the same length. This fosters even ink flow rates and equal pressure drop/loss of ink supplies, thereby improving ink feeds to a printhead and providing improved jetting efficiency and printhead performance.

Abstract: An ink tank includes a reservoir body for containing an ink supply. The reservoir body has a top opening. A top cover is attached to the reservoir body to close the top opening. The top cover has an outer surface. The top cover is formed from a molded material. An RFID tag is integrated into the top cover by one of insert molding the RFID tag in the top cover when the top cover is molded or securing the RFID tag in a recessed region of the top cover.

Abstract: An ink tank includes a reservoir body for containing an ink supply. The reservoir body has a top opening. A top cover is attached to the reservoir body to close the top opening. The top cover has an outer surface. The top cover is formed from a molded material. An RFID tag is integrated into the top cover by one of insert molding the RFID tag in the top cover when the top cover is molded or securing the RFID tag in a recessed region of the top cover.

Abstract: An ink jetting assembly includes a body, and an ink jet chip attached to the body. The ink jet chip has a mounting surface, a face surface, an ink channel extending to the face surface, and at least one actuator associated with the ink channel. The actuator includes a plurality of electrical contact pads formed on the face surface. A plurality of passageways extends through the ink jet chip from the mounting surface to the face surface. The ink jetting assembly also includes a plurality of electrodes. Each of the plurality of electrodes passes through a respective passageway of the plurality of passageways and is electrically connected to a respective contact pad of the plurality of electrical contact pads at the face surface.

Abstract: In a system for laser welding work pieces along a collapsing weld interface, methods and apparatus include providing welding pads and/or stop projections on either or both of the work pieces to control the manner or amount of collapse. Preferably, the stop projections exist a separation distance from the weld interface while the welding pads exist at and form a portion of the weld interface. Buffers are taught between the weld interface and stop projection. The work pieces may comprise inkjet printhead lids and bodies. In another aspect, the invention teaches methods of laser welding inkjet printhead lids and bodies according to whether the inkjet printhead body embodies a mono or color ink body type and especially includes selective control of one or more laser light sources to illuminate the inkjet printhead lid in a specific pattern of light.

Abstract: A removable ink tank includes a floor including an ink output port. A free ink chamber is located over the floor. A suspended ink chamber is located over the floor and around the ink output port. The suspended ink chamber is separated from the free ink chamber by a divider wall. The divider wall has an ink communication port located near the floor to facilitate fluid communication between the free ink chamber and the suspended ink chamber. A frame is formed around the ink communication port. The frame protrudes outwardly into the suspended ink chamber to ensure a good seal with the ink suspension member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a component that exhibits a designed thermal response which may be used in an image forming apparatus. The component may include a roller that contacts a heating device such as a fuser.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a inkjet printhead having an internal ink reservoir, an ink via in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, a filter tower extending into the ink reservoir, and one or more walls at the base of the filter tower. In order to promote the movement of bubbles toward and into the ink via, the wall(s) at the base of the filter tower can converge and be inclined toward the ink via, and can have one or more protrusions thereon and/or recesses therein.

Abstract: A multi-fluid body and an ejection head substrate connected in fluid flow communication with the multi-fluid body for ejecting multiple fluids therefrom. The multi-fluid body includes at least two segregated fluid chambers. Independent fluid supply paths lead from each of the fluid chambers providing fluid to multiple fluid flow paths in the ejection head substrate. The ejection head substrate is attached adjacent an ejection head area of the body. The fluid flow paths in the ejection head substrate have a flow path density of greater than about one flow paths per millimeter.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead lid has a light opacity component and a laser light transparent component molded together in two shots in an injection molding chamber. The laser light transparency component has a periphery that extends beyond a periphery of the light opacity component on substantially all sides thereof. An inkjet printhead body laser welds to the laser light transparency component in an area between the peripheries of the two lid components. Inkjet printers for containing the printhead are also disclosed. In the molding chamber, two sources of injection molding materials inject a first and then a second mold to mold the two lid components together. One of the two sources of injection molding materials has laser light transparency characteristics while the other has light opacity characteristics. Mechanical interlocking features may also exist in both of the two lid components.

Abstract: In a system for laser welding upper and lower work pieces along a weld interface, the upper work piece being transparent to laser light and having a non-uniformly thick dimension, compensation plates and compliant members are taught that mate or otherwise contact the upper work piece such that a combined thickness of the upper work piece and the compensation plate or compliant member is substantially uniform in a region at least above the weld interface. In this manner, substantially consistent amounts of laser light reach the weld interface. The upper work piece may include positive projections, negative voids, contoured profiles, surface imperfections or other that cause the non-uniformity. In one embodiment, the compensation plate is fashioned together with a compliant member. In another embodiment, the upper and lower work pieces comprise inkjet printhead lids and bodies, respectively.

Abstract: Multi-compartmentalized ink cartridges for ink jet printers and improved methods for making the ink cartridges. The multi-compartmentalized ink cartridge includes a molded, open-topped body having an interior cavity and a printhead surface area opposite the interior cavity. A divider wall is integrally molded with the molded body structure and disposed in the interior cavity to provide at least three segregated ink chambers. The divider wall includes a first wall section and a second wall section attached substantially perpendicular to the first wall section. At least first, second, third molded ink flow paths connect each of the at least three segregated ink chambers with the printhead surface area. The second and third ink flow paths are oriented relative to their corresponding ink chambers for molding with a mold insert tool so that the cartridge body does not require a separately attached member to close mold insert tool insertion areas in the body.

Abstract: In a system for laser welding work pieces along a collapsing weld interface, methods and apparatus include providing welding pads and/or stop projections on either or both of the work pieces to control the manner or amount of collapse. Preferably, the stop projections exist a separation distance from the weld interface while the welding pads exist at and form a portion of the weld interface. Buffers are taught between the weld interface and stop projection. The work pieces may comprise inkjet printhead lids and bodies. In another aspect, the invention teaches methods of laser welding inkjet printhead lids and bodies according to whether the inkjet printhead body embodies a mono or color ink body type and especially includes selective control of one or more laser light sources to illuminate the inkjet printhead lid in a specific pattern of light.

Abstract: Multi-compartmentalized ink cartridges for ink jet printers and improved methods for making the ink cartridges. The multi-compartmentalized ink cartridge includes a molded, open-topped body having an interior cavity and a printhead surface area opposite the interior cavity. A divider wall is integrally molded with the molded body structure and disposed in the interior cavity to provide at least three segregated ink chambers. The divider wall includes a first wall section and a second wall section attached substantially perpendicular to the first wall section. At least first, second, third molded ink flow paths connect each of the at least three segregated ink chambers with the printhead surface area. The second and third ink flow paths are oriented relative to their corresponding ink chambers for molding with a mold insert tool so that the cartridge body does not require a separately attached member to close mold insert tool insertion areas in the body.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead having a unitary body with an ink conduit between an ink outlet port of an ink compartment and an ink feed slot compatible with a heater chip has an ink conduit plug laser welded thereto to prevent ink from leaking from the ink conduit as the ink flows from the ink outlet port to the ink feed slot during use. In one embodiment, the ink conduit plug has a lid and an insertion portion. The lid has a laser transparent periphery that becomes illuminated with a laser light to weld an undersurface thereof over an opening of the ink conduit. Techniques for laser welding include an advancing laser beam or a simultaneous welding structure. In another embodiment, the ink conduit plug has two plug sections banded together with either a flexible material or angularly disposed links. The banded plug sections may or may not be laser welded.

Abstract: In a system for laser welding upper and lower work pieces along a weld interface, the upper work piece being transparent to laser light and having a non-uniformly thick dimension, compensation plates and compliant members are taught that mate or otherwise contact the upper work piece such that a combined thickness of the upper work piece and the compensation plate or compliant member is substantially uniform in a region at least above the weld interface. In this manner, substantially consistent amounts of laser light reach the weld interface. The upper work piece may include positive projections, negative voids, contoured profiles, surface imperfections or other that cause the non-uniformity. In one embodiment, the compensation plate is fashioned together with a compliant member. In another embodiment, the upper and lower work pieces comprise inkjet printhead lids and bodies, respectively.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead lid has a light opacity component and a laser light transparent component molded together in two shots in an injection molding chamber. The laser light transparency component has a periphery that extends beyond a periphery of the light opacity component on substantially all sides thereof. An inkjet printhead body laser welds to the laser light transparency component in an area between the peripheries of the two lid components. Inkjet printers for containing the printhead are also disclosed. In the molding chamber, two sources of injection molding materials inject a first and then a second mold to mold the two lid components together. One of the two sources of injection molding materials has laser light transparency characteristics while the other has light opacity characteristics. Mechanical interlocking features may also exist in both of the two lid components.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead lid has a light opacity component and a laser light transparent component molded together in two shots in an injection molding chamber. The laser light transparency component has a periphery that extends beyond a periphery of the light opacity component on substantially all sides thereof. An inkjet printhead body laser welds to the laser light transparency component in an area between the peripheries of the two lid components. Inkjet printers for containing the printhead are also disclosed. In the molding chamber, two sources of injection molding materials inject a first and then a second mold to mold the two lid components together. One of the two sources of injection molding materials has laser light transparency characteristics while the other has light opacity characteristics. Mechanical interlocking features may also exist in both of the two lid components.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure In a system for laser welding work pieces along a collapsing weld interface, methods and apparatus include providing welding pads and/or stop projections on either or both of the work pieces to control the manner or amount of collapse. Preferably, the stop projections exist a separation distance from the weld interface while the welding pads exist at and form a portion of the weld interface. Buffers are taught between the weld interface and stop projection. The work pieces may comprise inkjet printhead lids and bodies. In another aspect, the invention teaches methods of laser welding inkjet printhead lids and bodies according to whether the inkjet printhead body embodies a mono or color ink body type and especially includes selective control of one or more laser light sources to illuminate the inkjet printhead lid in a specific pattern of light.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead having a unitary body with an ink conduit between an ink outlet port of an ink compartment and an ink feed slot compatible with a heater chip has an ink conduit plug laser welded thereto to prevent ink from leaking from the ink conduit as the ink flows from the ink outlet port to the ink feed slot during use. In one embodiment, the ink conduit plug has a lid and an insertion portion. The lid has a laser transparent periphery that becomes illuminated with a laser light to weld an undersurface thereof over an opening of the ink conduit. Techniques for laser welding include an advancing laser beam or a simultaneous welding structure. In another embodiment, the ink conduit plug has two plug sections banded together with either a flexible material or angularly disposed links. The banded plug sections may or may not be laser welded.