Abstract: The present invention relates to a carriage for use in a printing device, the carriage including a carriage body with a bearing structure configured to support such carriage body for movement along a reference track. The carriage also includes a printhead anchored to the carriage body, and aligned directly relative to the carriage bearing structure.

Abstract: A mold configured to be coupled to a fluid ejection head die to allow a protective material to be molded around a plurality of contact pads on the die is disclosed. The mold includes a molding surface configured to cover the contact pads, wherein the molding surface is configured to support and shape the protective material during molding, and at least one side extending away from the molding surface, wherein the side is configured to contain the protective material during molding.

Abstract: A capping shroud for a fluid ejection device is disclosed as one embodiment of the invention. A fluid ejection assembly may include the fluid ejection die and the capping shroud. The capping shroud has an aperture therethrough and surrounds the fluid ejection die. A top surface of the capping shroud is substantially flush with a top surface of the fluid ejection die.

Abstract: A mold configured to be coupled to a fluid ejection head die to allow a protective material to be molded around a plurality of contact pads on the die is disclosed. The mold includes a molding surface configured to cover the contact pads, wherein the molding surface is configured to support and shape the protective material during molding, and at least one side extending away from the molding surface, wherein the side is configured to contain the protective material during molding.

Abstract: A capping shroud for a fluid ejection device is disclosed as one embodiment of the invention. A fluid ejection assembly may include the fluid ejection die and the capping shroud. The capping shroud has an aperture therethrough and surrounds the fluid ejection die. A top surface of the capping shroud is substantially flush with a top surface of the fluid ejection die.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a carriage for use in a printing device, the carriage including a carriage body with a bearing structure configured to support such carriage body for movement along a reference track. The carriage also includes a printhead anchored to the carriage body, and aligned directly relative to the carriage bearing structure.

Abstract: An evacuated structure removes air accumulated within a container that contains material held at a first pressure. The evacuated structure has a shell that includes a slowly defusing air-permeable material. The air permeable material interfaces to a volume of space evacuated to a second pressure less than the first pressure within the container. Unwanted air that accumulates within the container is drawn into the volume of space of the evacuated structure due to the difference in pressure between the interior of the container and the interior of the shell.

Abstract: An evacuated structure removes air accumulated within a container that contains material held at a first pressure. The evacuated structure has a shell that includes a slowly defusing air-permeable material. The air permeable material interfaces to a volume of space evacuated to a second pressure less than the first pressure within the container. Unwanted air that accumulates within the container is drawn into the volume of space of the evacuated structure due to the difference in pressure between the interior of the container and the interior of the shell.

Abstract: An inkjet storage container sealing mechanism includes a cover, a receptacle, a gasket compressed normal to its insertion and a support member to maintain a seal that is resistant to ink and air penetration. The receptacle has sidewalls that form an opening. A gasket is stretched over a portion the cover, then the gasket and the portion of the cover is inserted into the opening of the receptacle. The gasket forms a seal between the cover and the receptacle. The compressive forces acting on the gasket to form the seal do not contribute additional forces to a mechanical joining mechanism, which attaches the cover to the receptacle. The support member prevents the sidewalls of the receptacle from deflecting to help maintain the seal.

Abstract: An inkjet storage container sealing mechanism is comprised of a cover, a receptacle, a gasket compressed normal to its insertion and a support member to maintain a seal that is resistant to ink and air penetration. The receptacle has sidewalls that form an opening. A gasket is stretched over a portion the cover, then the gasket and the portion of the cover is inserted into the opening of the receptacle. The gasket forms a seal between the cover and the receptacle. The compressive forces acting on the gasket to form the seal do not contribute additional forces to a mechanical joining mechanism, which attaches the cover to the receptacle. The support member prevents the sidewalls of the receptacle from deflecting to help maintain the seal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel multi-chamber ink-jet print cartridge (pen) that is formed of a main body member divided into three sections, a center section, and two side sections. Cover members are attached to this main body section to define three ink chambers. Each ink chamber contains a synthetic foam member that receives a respective one of three primary colored inks. The main body member is molded to be a single unitary part, so that the only ink-to-ink sealing interface between inks of different colors occurs at the interface between the main body member and the printhead. The main body member is formed to have a center ink pipe that extends upwardly into compressive contact with the foam member in the center chamber, and two side ink pipes that extend outwardly in a direction orthogonal to the center ink pipe into compressive contact with the foam held in the side ink chambers.

Abstract: An ink-jet pen is disclosed that has a body of resilient felted polyurethane foam mounted in an ink chamber for ink retention and backpressure. A rectangular ink pipe extends from a bottom wall of the ink chamber between the walls of the ink chamber. A wire mesh filter is mounted to the ink pipe. The ink pipe and mesh filter extend into compressive contact with the foam to locally increase the capillarity of the foam. Any air that comes out of solution collects as a bubble in the rectangular ink pipe. This bubble does not block ink flow to the printhead, however, because the corners of the rectangular ink pipe provide a fluid capillary path. The bubble tends to form in a spheroid shape and does not extend into the corners of the ink pipe. In addition, rectangular filters are used, which reduces waste and expense compared to circular filters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel inkjet print cartridge (pen) in which a body of polyurethane foam is inserted into an ink chamber of the pen for ink containment and backpressure. The ink chamber has a tall narrow aspect ratio. The body of polyurethane foam is felted in the width direction of the pen to have a width less than 20% of its pre-felted width. After felting, the body of foam is cut to have a "near net size" as the interior volume of the ink chamber. Specifically, the pre-insertion volume is less than about 130% of the interior volume of the ink chamber. The substantial felting in the width direction provides sufficient stiffness to the foam that it can be inserted into the tall, narrow aspect ratio ink chamber.

Abstract: In order that ink leakage be reduced from a compressed foam storage ink container for an inkjet printer cartridge, at least one of the walls of the container is provided relief pockets having air spaces free of the compressed foam. At least one vent channel communicates between relief pockets and ambient air pressure to provide pressure equilibrium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel multi-chamber ink-jet print cartridge (pen) that is formed of a main body member divided into three sections, a center section, and two side sections. Cover members are attached to this main body section to define three ink chambers. Each ink chamber contains a synthetic foam member that receives a respective one of three primary colored inks. The main body member is molded to be a single unitary part, so that the only ink-to-ink sealing interface between inks of different colors occurs at the interface between the main body member and the printhead. The main body member is formed to have a center ink pipe that extends upwardly into compressive contact with the foam member in the center chamber, and two side ink pipes that extend outwardly in a direction orthogonal to the center ink pipe into compressive contact with the foam held in the side ink chambers.

Abstract: The back pressure of an ink pen is maintained by providing a capillary member adjacent a bubble generator. Regardless of the orientation of the pen, the capillary member maintains a quantity of ink adjacent an orifice defined by the bubble generator. The quantity of ink serves to supply a liquid seal formed in the orifice. As the back pressure within the ink pen rises to its maximum level, the liquid seal within the orifice is overcome and ambient air bubbles into the reservoir to lower the back pressure. As the back pressure returns to a desirable point, ink trapped by the capillary member enters the orifice to reseal the orifice.

Abstract: The valve is operable with a bubble generator that provides a restricted flow of air bubbles into a reservoir of an ink-jet pen to relieve excessive back pressure in the pen. The valve includes housed operating liquid that closes the valve in the event that the pen is tipped out of an upright orientation. A hydrophobic air-porous vent is provided for permitting passage of air bubbles through the valve into the reservoir while prohibiting the flow of the operating liquid through the vent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching the outer leads of a semiconductor package (preferably a Tape Automated Bonded circuit) to the traces on a printed circuit board is described. The outer leads of the package are configured in an angled orientation so that the tip of each lead extends downwardly below the lower surface of the package. As a result, placement of the package against the circuit board causes the leads to be biased downwardly against the traces. In order to accomplish this, the package is secured to the board using a rigid frame structure. The frame structure urges the edges of the package against the board. This insures that the leads make electrical contact with the traces in a fast and efficient manner, while avoiding problems associated with a lack of lead coplanarity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching the outer leads of a semiconductor package (preferably a Tape Automated Bonded circuit) to the traces on a printed circuit board is described. The outer leads of the package are configured in an angled orientation so that the tip of each lead extends downwardly below the lower surface of the package. As a result, placement of the package against the circuit board causes the leads to be biased downwardly against the traces. In order to accomplish this, the package is secured to the board using a rigid frame structure. The frame structure urges the edges of the package against the board. This insures that the leads make electrical contact with the traces in a fast and efficient manner, while avoiding problems associated with a lack of lead coplanarity.