Abstract: A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead includes: a body having a first channel and a second channel, the second channel being relatively longer than the first channel; a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of the first channel; and a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of the second channel. The first and second channels are configured for proportionally modulating a flow resistance of fluids flowing therethrough.

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 printhead includes: a rigid elongate manifold having ink supply channels extending along its length and a plurality of ink outlets defined therein; a shim attached to the manifold, the shim having a plurality of shim apertures for receiving ink from the ink outlets; and a plurality of printhead chips adhesively bonded directly to the shim, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more of the ink outlets. The shim is formed of a metal alloy having a CTE of 5 ppm/° C. or less and includes an adhesion-promoting surface film layer.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a manifold having a plurality of ink outlets defined in a manifold surface; a shim adhesively bonded to the manifold surface, the shim having apertures aligned with the ink outlets; a first row of printhead chips adhesively bonded to the shim; and a second row of printhead chips adhesively bonded to the shim. The shim is a one-part common shim for mounting all printhead chips of the first and second row.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge includes: an elongate manifold; a plurality of printhead chips mounted to a lower part of the manifold; and a casing mounted to an upper part of the manifold. The casing includes a first casing part and a second casing part, the first and second parts being longitudinally biased towards each such that the casing is expandable along a longitudinal axis of the manifold.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a rigid elongate manifold having one or more ink supply channels extending along its length, each ink supply channel having a base defining a plurality of ink outlets and a roof comprising an elongate flexible film; and a plurality of printhead chips mounted to the manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more of the ink outlets The flexible film includes a plurality of operatively independent bellows positioned along a length of one or more ink supply channels.

Abstract: A method of minimizing condensation on a lower surface of an inkjet printhead. The inkjet printhead has a plurality of printhead chips mounted on a manifold and a shield plate defining the lower surface. The method includes the steps of: disposing a heating layer between the manifold and the shield plate; heating the heating layer; and printing using the printhead chips, wherein heating of the heating layer minimizes condensation on the lower surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a rigid elongate carrier having an ink supply channel and a lower surface having a plurality of printhead chips mounted thereon; a rigid PCB attached to the lower surface of the carrier, the PCB extending a length of the carrier and projecting laterally beyond a sidewall of the carrier; a lead retainer attached to the sidewall of the carrier; and a plurality of leads extending upwardly from contact pads positioned along a longitudinal edge portion of the PCB, each lead being secured to the sidewall of the carrier via the lead retainer. The PCB supplies power and data to the printhead chips via electrical connections between the PCB and the printhead chips.

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 array of printhead chips is mounted to a lower surface of the manifold so as receive ink from the first and second rows of outlets and a second array of printhead chips is mounted to the lower surface of the manifold so as to receive receive ink from the third and fourth rows of outlets. A distance between the first and second ink delivery groups is greater than a distance between the first and second rows of outlets or the third and fourth rows of outlets.

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: An ink delivery system for an inkjet printer includes: a positive ink line; a negative ink line; and one or more print modules interconnected between the positive ink line and the negative ink line. Each 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: An inkjet printhead includes: a manifold having a plurality of ink outlets defined in a manifold surface; a plurality of printhead chips mounted to the manifold surface and aligned with the ink outlets; a PCB mounted to the manifold surface and offset from the ink outlets, the PCB being electrically connected to the printhead chips; and a shield plate covering the PCB. The shield plate has one face in thermal contact with the PCB and an exposed opposite face defining a lower surface of the printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a rigid elongate manifold having ink supply channels extending along its length and a plurality of ink outlets defined therein; a shim attached to the manifold, the shim having a plurality of shim apertures for receiving ink from the ink outlets; and a plurality of printhead chips adhesively bonded directly to the shim, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more of the ink outlets. The shim is formed of a metal alloy having a CTE of 5 ppm/° C. or less and includes an adhesion-promoting surface film layer.

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 array of printhead chips is mounted to a lower surface of the manifold so as receive ink from the first and second rows of outlets and a second array of printhead chips is mounted to the lower surface of the manifold so as to receive receive ink from the third and fourth rows of outlets. A distance between the first and second ink delivery groups is greater than a distance between the first and second rows of outlets or the third and fourth rows of outlets.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a rigid elongate manifold having ink supply channels extending along its length and a plurality of ink outlets defined therein; a shim attached to the manifold, the shim having a plurality of shim apertures for receiving ink from the ink outlets; and a plurality of printhead chips adhesively bonded directly to the shim, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more of the ink outlets. The the shim is formed of a metal alloy having a CTE of 5 ppm/° C. or less.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a manifold having a plurality of ink outlets defined in a manifold surface; a plurality of printhead chips mounted to the manifold surface, each printhead chip having an odd number of color channels and each color channel having one or more respective rows of inkjet nozzle devices. A central color channel of each printhead chip is a dummy color channel that does not receive ink from the manifold.

Abstract: A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead includes: a body having a first channel and a second channel, the second channel being relatively longer than the first channel; a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of the first channel; and a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of the second channel. The first and second channels are configured for proportionally modulating a flow resistance of fluids flowing therethrough.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a manifold having a plurality of ink outlets defined in a manifold surface; a plurality of printhead chips mounted to the manifold surface and aligned with the ink outlets; a PCB mounted to the manifold surface and offset from the ink outlets, the PCB being electrically connected to the printhead chips; and a shield plate covering the PCB. The shield plate has one face in thermal contact with the PCB and an exposed opposite face defining a lower surface of the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge includes: an elongate manifold; a plurality of printhead chips mounted to a lower part of the manifold; and a casing mounted to an upper part of the manifold. The casing includes a first casing part and a second casing part, the first and second parts being longitudinally biased towards each such that the casing is expandable along a longitudinal axis of the manifold.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a rigid elongate carrier having an ink supply channel and a lower surface having a plurality of printhead chips mounted thereon; a rigid PCB attached to the lower surface of the carrier, the PCB extending a length of the carrier and projecting laterally beyond a sidewall of the carrier; a lead retainer attached to the sidewall of the carrier; and a plurality of leads extending upwardly from contact pads positioned along a longitudinal edge portion of the PCB, each lead being secured to the sidewall of the carrier via the lead retainer. The PCB supplies power and data to the printhead chips via electrical connections between the PCB and the printhead chips.