Abstract: The present invention overcomes the problem of filter blockage created by bubble accumulation underneath the filter of previous printheads with a filter carrier and filter that reduces air bubble blockage of the filter. Namely, air bubble blockage of the filter is avoided by trapping more bubbles in a designated area with a horizontal ink flow, relative to the substrate. In addition to the filter carrier and filter, the printing device further includes an outer housing, a substrate and an ink conduit. The substrate has a back surface and a front surface with ink ejection chambers formed thereon. The ink conduit has a distal end proximate to the back surface of the substrate. The ink conduit, the outer housing and the substrate define an ink flow path to the ink ejection chambers and a bubble accumulation chamber in communication with the ink flow path such that buoyancy will tend to move bubbles that accumulate in the ink flow path into the bubble accumulation chamber.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the problem of filter blockage created by bubble accumulation underneath the filter of previous printheads with a filter carrier and filter that reduces air bubble blockage of the filter. Namely, air bubble blockage of the filter is avoided by trapping more bubbles in a designated area with a horizontal ink flow, relative to the substrate. In addition to the filter carrier and filter, the printing device further includes an outer housing, a substrate and an ink conduit. The substrate has a back surface and a front surface with ink ejection chambers formed thereon. The ink conduit has a distal end proximate to the back surface of the substrate. The ink conduit, the outer housing and the substrate define an ink flow path to the ink ejection chambers and a bubble accumulation chamber in communication with the ink flow path such that buoyancy will tend to move bubbles that accumulate in the ink flow path into the bubble accumulation chamber.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier. Each of the printhead dies has a nozzle region including a nominal nozzle region and an alignment nozzle region disposed laterally of the nominal nozzle region such that the nozzle region and, more specifically, the nominal and alignment nozzle regions facilitate alignment between the printhead dies.

Abstract: A wide-array inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier having a first side and a second side contiguous with the first side, and a plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the first side of the carrier. An electrical circuit is disposed on the first side and the second side of the carrier. As such, a plurality of electrical connectors are each electrically coupled to the electrical circuit and one of the printhead dies.

Abstract: A wide-array inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier. The carrier includes a substructure and a substrate mounted on the substructure. The substrate includes a plurality of layers and has a plurality of conductive paths extending therethrough. As such, each of the printhead dies are mounted on the substrate and electrically coupled to at least one of the conductive paths of the substrate.

Abstract: A carrier adapted to support at least one printhead die includes a substrate having at least one surface and at least one datum attached to the at least one surface of the substrate. The substrate includes a first material and the at least one datum is formed from a blank including a second material. As such, the at least one datum is adapted to position the carrier in at least one dimension.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a substrate having a non-planar surface and a plurality of adhesive quantities each disposed on the non-planar surface of the substrate. As such, a plurality of printhead dies are each adhered to the non-planar surface of the substrate by one of the adhesive quantities. A thickness of at least one of the adhesive quantities varies from the thickness of another of the adhesive quantities such that the thickness of the adhesive quantities compensates for the non-planar surface of the substrate. Thus, the adhesive quantities support the printhead dies and establish a substantially coplanar relationship among the printhead dies.

Abstract: A wide-array inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier including a substructure and a substrate mounted on the substructure, a plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the substrate, and an electrical interconnect adapted to communicate electrical signals between an electronic controller and the inkjet printhead assembly. The substrate has an electrical circuit formed therein such that the printhead dies are electrically coupled to the electrical circuit and the electrical interconnect is electrically coupled to the electrical circuit. As such, the substructure accommodates the electrical interconnect.

Abstract: A wide-array inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and a printhead die. The carrier includes a substrate and an electrical circuit. The substrate has a first side and a second side such that the electrical circuit is disposed on the second side of the substrate. The printhead die is mounted on the first side of the substrate and electrically coupled to the electrical circuit. Thus, electrical connection is established between the first side of the substrate and second side of the substrate.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a mounting assembly and an inkjet printhead assembly. The mounting assembly includes a plurality of datums and the inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier. The inkjet printhead assembly is mounted in the mounting assembly such that the carrier contacts at least one of the datums. Thus, positioning of the carrier relative to the mounting assembly is established.

Abstract: A closed ink replenishment system for replenishing the supply of ink in negative pressure spring-bag reservoirs in a printer/plotter. A tube runs between each cartridge reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir mounted to the printer/plotter frame to form the closed ink system. As ink is depleted from the spring-bag reservoir during printing operation, the negative pressure in the cartridge increases, drawing ink through the tube from the auxiliary reservoir into the cartridge until the negative pressure decreases to an equilibrium point. As a result, the volume of ink within the spring-bag reservoir remains substantially constant so long as there is ink remaining within the auxiliary reservoir. This maintains the print quality. The auxiliary reservoir is a flat bag mounted on a spring-biased platform, which acts as a height regulating system. As ink is depleted from the auxiliary bag, the height of the platform and bag increases to maintain a constant pressure and elevation head at the spring-bag reservoir.

Abstract: A wide-array inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and a printhead die. The carrier includes a substrate and an electrical circuit. The substrate has a first side and a second side such that the electrical circuit is disposed on the second side of the substrate. The printhead die is mounted on the first side of the substrate and electrically coupled to the electrical circuit. Thus, electrical connection is established between the first side of the substrate and second side of the substrate.

Abstract: This present invention is embodied in a printing system and method for inducing shrinkage-tensioning of a flexible nozzle member of a printhead portion of an inkjet printer with an adhesive and novel arrangement. The printing system of the present invention includes a nozzle member securely coupled to a printhead body with an adhesive arrangement that allows shrinkage-induce tensioning of the nozzle member. The adhesive arrangement includes having an adhesive located between a top portion of the printhead body and the flexible nozzle member. The top portion has a mechanical structure such that it induces tensioning of the flexible nozzle member during thermal expansion of the adhesive. Namely, the adhesive arrangement of the printing system of the present invention is capable of efficiently tensioning, and thus, flattening the flexible nozzle member during the adhesion process of the nozzle member. As a result, trajectory errors of ejected ink droplets from the nozzles are reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible circuit that has a nozzle member formed therein with the nozzle member including a plurality of ink orifices and the flexible circuit having electrical leads. A substrate containing a plurality of heating elements and associated ink ejection chambers and having electrodes to which the electrical leads are bonded is mounted on a back surface of the nozzle member. Each heating element is located proximate to an associated ink orifice with the back surface of the nozzle member extending over two or more outer edges of the substrate. A print cartridge body having a headland portion is located proximate to the back surface of the nozzle member and includes an inner raised wall circumscribing the substrate with an adhesive support surface formed thereon and having wall openings therein. The wall openings have an adhesive support surface and an elevated substrate support surface raised above the adhesive support surface for supporting the substrate.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is described which incorporates an ink recharge port and recharge valve as part of the handle for the print cartridge. The handle is located to be easily accessible when the print cartridge is installed in a carriage within a printer. The handle provides protection for the recharge valve structure, and the valve structure does not interfere with the insertion of the print cartridge into existing carriages.

Abstract: A modified syringe for recharging an ink supply in a print cartridge is described. In the preferred embodiment, the end of a syringe valve is inserted into the end of a print cartridge valve to create both a mechanical coupling and a fluid tight coupling between the two valves. A further insertion causes both valves to become open, thus creating an airtight fluid path between the syringe chamber and the depleted print cartridge reservoir. A negative pressure within the print cartridge ink bag draws the ink from the syringe chamber into the ink bag until the ink bag is substantially full and the pressure in the ink bag is at or near atmospheric pressure. An air intake port is provided on the syringe to fill the void left by the ink in the syringe chamber. Once the print cartridge has been recharged, a plunger in the syringe is manually pulled back a predetermined distance to draw an amount of ink out of the print cartridge to create the desired negative pressure in the print cartridge.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is described which has a first fill port, for initially filling the print cartridge with ink, and a refill port for recharging the print cartridge. The refill port includes a slideable valve which is engageable with a valve on an external ink reservoir to create an airtight fluid communication path between the print cartridge reservoir and the external ink reservoir.

Abstract: A print cartridge is described which has an ink recharge port and valve structure to enable the print cartridge reservoir to be recharged with ink. A slideable, generally cylindrical ink valve extends through the print cartridge body and into the ink bag. The valve has a male connector portion at its end external to the print cartridge body. The valve is open when pushed into the print cartridge body and closed when pulled away from the print cartridge body. An ink refill system containing a supply of ink has a slideable valve with a female connector portion which is engageable with the male connector portion of the print cartridge valve. To recharge the print cartridge ink reservoir, the end of the print cartridge valve is inserted into the end of the ink refill system valve to create both a mechanical coupling and a fluid tight coupling between the two valves. A further force pushing the print cartridge against the ink refill system causes both valves to be pushed inside their respective ink reservoirs.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system provides an on/off valve adapted for periodic engagement with an inlet port on a print cartridge mounted in a carriage. The valve is connected to an ink supply which is located off the carriage. As the ink reservoir in the print cartridge is slowly depleted during operation of the printing system, a mechanism periodically moves the valve from a first passive position separated from the print cartridge to a second active position engaged with the inlet port of the print cartridge in order to allow replenishment of the ink reservoir in the print cartridge without removing the print cartridge from the carriage.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the ink reservoir in a print cartridge consists of a spring-loaded collapsible ink bag, where the spring urges the sides of the ink bag apart and thus maintains a negative pressure within the ink bag relative to ambient pressure. An ink refill system containing a supply of ink has a valve with a connector portion which is engageable with the connector portion of the print cartridge refill valve. When the valves are connected, the negative pressure within the print cartridge ink bag draws the ink from the ink refill system reservoir into the ink bag until the ink bag is substantially full. The print cartridge is then removed from the ink refill system. The mechanical coupling initially created between the two valves acts to pull the two valves closed as the print cartridge is pulled from the ink refill system. Once the two valves are closed, further pulling of the print cartridge releases the mechanical coupling, and the print cartridge may now be reused.