Abstract: Thermal heater chip (1) is located within an opening of TAB circuit tape (5) and the TAB leads (3) are welded to the chip. This assembly is turned so that the underside of the leads face upward, and a curable, electrically insulative liquid is applied and cured to form a solid (11). The bottom of the chip is then attached to a heat radiating support (7) using heat conductive adhesive. The cured solid on the leads prevents any adhesive reaching the leads from causing an electrical shunt. The resulting printhead dissipates excess heat from the chip well from the support.

Abstract: A paper or transparency receiving toner to be fixed by heat has an ionomeric resin on its outer surface. For universal application, the outer layer is a blend of non-ionomeric resin, such as styrene acrylate copolymer, and an ionomer, which permits the material of the toner to molecularly intermingle with the blend during heat fixing. Irradiation raises the melting point of the ionomeric resin to prevent delamination. The resulting printing is strongly bonded to the substrate and is of excellent quality.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming a barrier layer over one or more extending sections of a flexible circuit and one or more bond pads of a print cartridge printhead using an encapsulant material and subsequently inspecting the print cartridge to determine if the encapsulant material has been properly placed on the print cartridge. The process involves providing an inspection mark on an orifice plate of the printhead before the barrier layer is formed. After the barrier layer has been formed, an inspection is made to determine if the barrier layer extends beyond the inspection mark and contacts a second portion of the print cartridge. If it does, then the print cartridge is unacceptable. If not, then the print cartridge is acceptable. Alternatively, the location of the barrier layer may be considered unacceptable if it contacts any portion of the inspection mark even though it may not contact the second portion of the print cartridge.

Abstract: A paper or transparency receiving toner to be fixed by heat has an ionomeric resin on its outer surface. For universal application, the outer layer is a blend of non-ionomeric resin, such as styrene acrylate copolymer, and an ionomer, which permits the material of the toner to molecularly intermingle with the blend during heat fixing. Irradiation raises the melting point of the ionomeric resin to prevent delamination. The resulting printing is strongly bonded to the substrate and is of excellent quality.