Abstract: A method for fabricating an orifice plate with high density arrays of nozzles entails disposing a photoresist layer on a glass with a metalized layer forming a photomask blank and patterning the photomask blank with one or more openings. Second openings are formed by etching through the initial openings into the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is removed and a second photoresist layer is added to the formed patterned structure forming a mandrel. One or more rings are patterned onto the mandrel. Each ring has an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the second openings and an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the second openings. The mandrel with formed rings is plated with a metal forming an orifice plate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an orifice plate with high density arrays of nozzles entails disposing a photoresist layer on a glass with a metalized layer forming a photomask blank and patterning the photomask blank with one or more openings. Second openings are formed by etching through the initial openings into the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is removed and a second photoresist layer is added to the formed patterned structure forming a mandrel. One or more rings are patterned onto the mandrel. Each ring has an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the second openings and an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the second openings. The mandrel with formed rings is plated with a metal forming an orifice plate. The orifice plate is separated from the patterned mandrel, forming an orifice plate with a high density array of nozzles.

Abstract: An improved print head construction for continuous ink jet printing of the kind which directs a plurality of ink streams through a drop charge region toward a print zone. The print head includes: (i) charge electrodes located adjacent the drop charge region for selectively applying an information voltage to droplets; (ii) a deflection electrode(s) closely spaced to, and downstream from, the charge electrodes, for applying a deflection field to the droplets; and (iii) a dielectric matrix for integrally embedding the charge and deflection electrodes in closely spaced relation. Methods for fabricating such print heads are also disclosed.

Abstract: A planar-faced charge plate having individual charge electrodes uniformly spaced along one end face thereof is provided by wrapping a length of wire around a nonconductive charge plate support structure so that individual wire segments are positioned in parallel spaced relationship across the end face. Notches may also be formed along the opposite end faces of the charge plate support structure to facilitate the positioning of the wire segments. The wire is then adhered to the structure and the wire along one face of the structure is severed to form individual charge electrodes having leads traversing at least the top face of the structure. The end face having the charge electrodes is lapped to form a parallel face. This at times requires the removal of adhesive and/or insulation as well as a portion of the outwardly facing surfaces of the charge electrodes to form the planar-faced structure.