Abstract: An ink cartridge includes ink chambers storing ink, a sealing member sealing the ink chambers provided with ink injection openings injecting ink into the ink chambers and air inflow openings through which the ink chambers communicate with an outside of the ink chambers, a cover member forming air inflow passageways between the air inflow openings and the outside of the ink chambers in cooperation with the sealing member and sealing the ink injection openings, an ink blocking part first blocking the ink from being discharged through the air inflow passageways in cooperation with the air inflow openings, and an ink storage part storing the ink passing through the air inflow openings and the ink blocking part to prevent the ink from being discharged through the air inflow passageways.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus and method thereof to bond the bonding portions of an FPC cable to pads of a print head die in order to electrically connect the print head die of an ink jet print head assembly include a stage and a bonding tool. The print head die includes resistive heaters, signal lines connected to the resistive heaters, and electrical pads to connect the signal lines to an outside of the print head die to the FPC cable having conductors having bonding portions facing the pads. The print head die is supported on the stage with the pads facing upward. The bonding tool includes a tip that press bonding portions of the FPC cable against corresponding pads of the print head die placed on the stage, and heats the bonding portions in contact with the pads to bond the bonding portion to the pads.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead and a manufacturing method thereof. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate, a substantially cylindrical ink chamber storing ink and formed in an upper portion of the substrate, and a manifold supplying ink to the ink chamber in a bottom portion of the substrate, a channel-forming layer disposed between the ink chamber and the manifold and having an ink channel communicating between the ink chamber and the manifold, a nozzle plate stacked on the substrate and having a nozzle at a location corresponding to the central part of the ink chamber, a heater formed to surround the nozzle of the nozzle plate, and electrodes electrically connected to the heater to supply current to the heater. Therefore, the quantity of ink stored in an ink chamber can be increased. Also, when bubbles grow, the cylindrical ink chamber confines an ink flow area to ink ejectors, thereby reducing a back flow of the ink.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead and a manufacturing method thereof. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate, a substantially cylindrical ink chamber storing ink and formed in an upper portion of the substrate, and a manifold supplying ink to the ink chamber in a bottom portion of the substrate, a channel-forming layer disposed between the ink chamber and the manifold and having an ink channel communicating between the ink chamber and the manifold, a nozzle plate stacked on the substrate and having a nozzle at a location corresponding to the central part of the ink chamber, a heater formed to surround the nozzle of the nozzle plate, and electrodes electrically connected to the heater to supply current to the heater. Therefore, the quantity of ink stored in an ink chamber can be increased. Also, when bubbles grow, the cylindrical ink chamber confines an ink flow area to ink ejectors, thereby reducing a back flow of the ink.

Abstract: A head of an inkjet printer is formed by bonding of a heater substrate and a nozzle plate. In order to bond the heater substrate where a heater thin film and a protecting film are vapor-deposited, and the nozzle plate where a nozzle is formed, an intermediate layer is formed by forming a thin film of glass on the heater substrate by vapor-depositing, and the nozzle plate is installed on the heater substrate. SiO2 is formed at an interface between the nozzle plate and the heater thin film due to heating and application of an electric field, and thus the nozzle plate and the heater substrate are bonded with an electrostatic force of SiO2. The nozzle plate and the heater substrate are bonded by using the intermediate layer made of the thin film of glass instead of a general polymer as the bonding layer, thereby preventing swelling of the polymer and isolation of layers of the head occurring due to ink penetration into interfaces of the layers.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer includes an ink cartridge and a carriage. The ink cartridge includes an ink reservoir storing ink, a housing to cover the ink reservoir, a panel-shaped spring disposed between the ink reservoir and the housing, and a strip connected to the panel-shaped spring having sides exposed to an outside of the housing movable when the panel-shaped spring is deformed. Indicator patterns are formed at ends of the sides of the strip to indicate an amount of ink remaining. The ink cartridge also includes strip covers to detect the amount of ink remaining in the ink reservoir; and a carriage on which the ink cartridge is mounted. The carriage includes a detecting unit optically detecting a movement of the strip through an indicator window formed on the strip cover.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead and a manufacturing method thereof include a substrate on which a space portion is formed, a passage plate installed on the substrate in which an ink chamber is formed to store ink, a nozzle plate installed at a top surface of the passage plate in which a nozzle is formed to eject the ink, and a vibration plate disposed between the substrate and the passage plate to generate a pressure for ejecting the ink by changing a volume of the ink chamber.

Abstract: An ink cartridge used with an ink jet printer. The ink cartridge has an ink reservoir and a housing to cover the ink reservoir with a negative pressure maintenance unit therebetween to maintain the inner pressure of the ink reservoir under a negative pressure. Since the negative pressure maintenance unit does not contact ink in the ink reservoir, the negative pressure maintenance unit does not corrode. In addition, the negative pressure maintenance unit is installed between the housing and the ink reservoir while occupying a small space, and thus improving the filling efficiency of ink in the ink reservoir.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead and a manufacturing method thereof. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate, a substantially cylindrical ink chamber storing ink and formed in an upper portion of the substrate, and a manifold supplying ink to the ink chamber in a bottom portion of the substrate, a channel-forming layer disposed between the ink chamber and the manifold and having an ink channel communicating between the ink chamber and the manifold, a nozzle plate stacked on the substrate and having a nozzle at a location corresponding to the central part of the ink chamber, a heater formed to surround the nozzle of the nozzle plate, and electrodes electrically connected to the heater to supply current to the heater. Therefore, the quantity of ink stored in an ink chamber can be increased. Also, when bubbles grow, the cylindrical ink chamber confines an ink flow area to ink ejectors, thereby reducing a back flow of the ink.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a monolithic ink-jet printhead includes a heating element which generates bubbles by heating ink is formed on a surface of the substrate, and a negative photoresist which is coated to a predetermined thickness on the substrate on which the heating element is formed. Next, a portion, which forms a sidewall of an ink passage forming wall surrounding an ink chamber and a restrictor, of the negative photoresist is flush exposed to light and cured using a first photomask in which patterns of the ink chamber and the restrictor of the ink passage are formed. Subsequently, a second portion which forms an upper wall of the ink passage forming wall of the negative photoresist is exposed to the light using a second photomask in which the pattern of a nozzle is formed, and the second portion is exposed to the light by only a predetermined thickness. Last, an uncured portion of the negative photoresist is dissolved and removed using solvent.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead has a structure in which a base plate, a barrier wall, and a nozzle plate are stacked. The base plate includes a substrate on which a recess is formed to a predetermined depth, an adiabatic layer formed on the substrate, a heater which is formed on the adiabatic layer and generates a thermal energy, and a passivation layer which is formed on the heater and passivates the heater. The barrier wall is stacked on the base plate, defines an ink chamber, which is disposed on the recess and has a recessed bottom surface, and defines an ink passage which communicates with the ink chamber. The nozzle plate is stacked on the barrier wall, has nozzles through which ink is ejected, and is formed at a location corresponding to a center of the ink chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for optimizing a driving input signal in an ink jet head using shape memory alloy.

Abstract: The present invention relates a manufacturing method of a microactuator for an ink jet printer head using a shape memory alloy, the method comprising steps of: providing a silicon substrate; forming an insulating film on the surface of the silicon substrate; forming a shape memory alloy layer by independent repetitive molding of each layer of respective component element constituting the shape memory alloy on the insulation film; bestowing a shape memory property by thermally treating the shape memory alloy layer; and forming a lower space part by etching the silicon substrate, and a microactuator manufactured by the method, whereby it is easy to control the composition constituting the shape memory alloy layer so that shape memory property of shape memory alloy layer is enhanced; and also it makes effect that it is eminent in repetition uniformity of ingredient composition ratios compared to traditional methods in which simultaneous vapor deposition or sputtering of all formation components is carried out be