Abstract: A spacer is incorporated into the standpipe of a foam-ink-containment type of inkjet print cartridge for retarding the growth of a diffused-air bubble in the standpipe, thereby extending the shelf life of the cartridge by ensuring the bubble will not become so large during storage of the cartridge that the bubble occludes flow of ink to the printhead.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a plurality of nozzles constituting a row of nozzles, a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink, corresponding to the plurality of nozzles, the discharge ports communicating with the nozzles, respectively, an energy generating device for generating energy for discharging the ink from the discharge ports, a common liquid compartment in communication with the plurality of nozzles constituting the row of nozzles, a first filter provided at an end of at least one nozzle of the row of nozzles, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment, and a second filter that is provided at an end of a nozzle other than the nozzle provided with the first filter and that has a flow resistance lower than that of the first filter, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a substrate having an element surface provided with energy generating elements, a ceiling plate provided with a grooved surface having grooves to become ink passages, the grooved surface and the element surface being bonded to form the ink passages, a base plate for supporting the substrate from the side opposite the element surface, and an ink supply member in contact with the base plate at a contact portion and having an ink flow path wall face to be communicated with the ink passage. The base plate and the ink supply member pinch the substrate and the ceiling plate at the contact portion as a fulcrum so as to enable the base plate to press the substrate from the side opposite the element surface, and the ink supply member to press the ceiling plate from the side opposite the grooved surface.

Abstract: The photoresist barrier layer of an inkjet printer printhead is processed to enable channels narrower than a predetermined width in the barrier layer to be created without blockage. Relatively large volumes of photoresist which form a wall of the channel are exposed to a partial exposure of electromagnetic radiation to yield a reduced concentration of photoresist barrier layer in the large volume.

Abstract: A fluid drop ejecting apparatus including a thin film stack including a plurality of heater resistors formed on a substrate having a feed edge, a patterned fluid barrier layer disposed on the thin film stack, respective fluid chambers formed in the barrier layer over respective heater resistors, fluid feed features formed in the barrier layer between the fluid feed edge and the ink chambers, and a thin film metal structure in a metal layer of the thin film stack and located between the ink feed edge and the fluid chambers.

Abstract: A filter structure having a plurality of pores through the structure each of the pores having a cross section with a length (L) and a width (W) wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W. The filter can be used with an improved ink jet printhead having an ink inlet in one of its surfaces, a plurality of nozzles, individual channels connecting the nozzles to an internal ink supplying manifold, the manifold being supplied ink through the ink inlet, and selectively addressable heating elements for expelling ink droplets, the improved ink jet printhead comprising a substantially flat filter having predetermined dimensions and being bonded to the printhead containing the ink inlet, the filter having a plurality of pores, therethrough, each of the pores having a cross section with a length=L and a width=W, wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W.

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: A filter assembly for ink for a printer is described, which includes at least one pair of supported filter elements which are in stacked arrangement, a filter housing, and means contained within the filter housing for conveying the ink through the filter elements so that the ink flow through both filter elements is either into or out of the volume between the filter elements.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording device, includes: a container having an ink supply port; at least two ink chambers partitioned in the container, one being located substantially in an upper section and the other being located substantially in a lower section; an ink suction passage connecting a bottom region of the lower section ink chamber to a bottom region of the upper section ink chamber; and a negative pressure generating mechanism provided to a flow passage connecting the upper section ink chamber to the ink supply port.

Abstract: Grooves 21 are formed in the side of an ink supply needle 17 opposite a filter 19 in order to induce the movement of ink using capillary attraction, and so that the grooves 21 ensure that ink can flow along a path to a recording head regardless of whether an air bubble is present.

Abstract: An ink jet print head has bubble collecting means in an ink liquid chamber between a filter and an ink ejection opening for ejecting ink, means for moving bubbles to the bubble collecting means, and means for discharging bubbles accumulated in the bubble collecting means to the outside. Further, an ink jet printing apparatus performs printing using an ink jet print head having bubble collecting means in an ink liquid chamber between a filter and an ink ejection opening for ejecting ink, means for moving bubbles to the bubble collecting means, and means for discharging the bubbles accumulated in the bubble collecting means to the outside.

Abstract: There is provided an ink cartridge that is capable of supplying a pigment-based ink and at the same time suppressing the mixing of a sedimentary ink into the supplied pigment-based ink, or suppressing the generation of the sedimentary ink even when left unused, or removing the sedimentary ink by initial delivery of the ink after the cartridge is left unused, thereby reducing unevenness of printing. An ink reservoir holds an ink absorbent material therein for storage of the pigment-based ink. An ink delivery block is formed at a lower portion of the ink reservoir, and has a communication passage formed therethrough such that it extends from an outside of the ink reservoir up to an inner opening of the communication passage opening into an inside of the ink reservoir, for communication between the outside and the inside of the ink reservoir. The sedimentary ink is suppressed from flowing to the inner opening.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a plurality of nozzles constituting a row of nozzles, a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink, corresponding to the plurality of nozzles, the discharge ports communicating with the nozzles, respectively, an energy generating device for generating energy for discharging the ink from the discharge ports, a common liquid compartment in communication with the plurality of nozzles constituting the row of nozzles, a first filter provided at an end of at least one nozzle of the row of nozzles, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment, and a second filter that is provided at an end of a nozzle other than the nozzle provided with the first filter and that has a flow resistance lower than that of the first filter, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment.

Abstract: A self-cleaning in ink jet printer (10) with cleaning mechanism (170) and method of cleaning the ink jet printer. The printer (10) comprises a print head (60) having a surface (95) thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices (90). The orifices (90) are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels (70) formed in the print head (60). A canopy (185) is constructed from alternating stacked layers (185a, 185b, 185c, 185d, 185e) of polyimide and stainless steel sheets with internal geometries, one on top of each other thus creating internal fluidic passageways. The solvent delivering canopy (185) is connected to a manifold body (180) and has a passageway (234) alignable with the surface (95). Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent when a wiper blade (225) loosens contaminant from the surface (95). The canopy (185) also has a passageway (236) alignable with the surface (95).

Abstract: A replaceable ink reservoir for a printing system using pigmented ink. The ink reservoir includes a containment vessel, a body of reservoir material disposed in the vessel, a fluid interconnect opening formed in the vessel, and a screen disposed in the containment vessel and across the interconnect opening. The screen has a pore size small enough to prevent air passage at operational pressures and large enough to allow colorant particles dispersed in the ink carrier fluid to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A connector cap 56 having connection openings 56A and 56B provided respectively corresponding to the other ends of ink passages 46 and 54 and a communication passage 56R for communicating the connection opening 56A with the connection opening 56B is provided detachably to the other ends of the ink passages 46 and 54.

Abstract: A cartridge body contains one or more printheads on a first surface thereof and one or more connection apertures in flow communication with the one or more printheads, each aperture having an opening on a second surface opposite the first surface, and one or more separate ink filtration devices, each having an ink outlet port connected to the second surface of the cartridge body through an opening so that each ink outlet port is in flow communication with at least one connection aperture. The separate devices enable production of a cartridge body made of a material which is effective for removing heat from the printheads.

Abstract: A filter structure having a plurality of pores through the structure each of the pores having a cross section with a length (L) and a width (W) wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W. The filter can be used with an improved ink jet printhead having an ink inlet in one of its surfaces, a plurality of nozzles, individual channels connecting the nozzles to an internal ink supplying manifold, the manifold being supplied ink through the ink inlet, and selectively addressable heating elements for expelling ink droplets, the improved ink jet printhead comprising a substantially flat filter having predetermined dimensions and being bonded to the printhead containing the ink inlet, the filter having a plurality of pores, therethrough, each of the pores having a cross section with a length=L and a width=W, wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W.

Abstract: A liquid ejection recording head which receives liquid from one or more liquid containers mounted on a carriage, the liquid container having a press-contact member of fibrous material at a liquid outlet, the liquid ejection recording head includes a tubular member for receiving ink from the liquid container, the tubular member being provided with an upstream edge with respect to a direction of flow of the liquid therethrough; a filter provided in the tubular member and having an outer surface press-contactable to the press-contact member, the outer surface being a substantially flat surface and being outward beyond the upstream edge of the tubular member.

Abstract: Described herein is a monolithic printhead formed using integrated circuit techniques. Thin film layers, including a resistive layer, are formed on a top surface of a silicon substrate. The various layers are etched to provide heater resistors and conductors. The thin film layers are also etched to expose portions of the upper surface of the substrate where ink feed holes leading into ink chambers are to be formed. A trench is etched in the bottom surface of the substrate while leaving a relatively thin membrane of the substrate underlying the thin film layers. After the trench is formed and using a backside etch, ink feed holes are formed in the substrate membrane leading from the trench to the ink chambers. Ink channels are also formed in the substrate membrane leading to sides of the ink feed holes. These channels preferably have widths smaller than the widths of the ink feed holes.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead that includes a thin film substructure having heater resistors formed therein, an ink barrier layer disposed one the thin film substructure, a plurality of ink chambers formed in said ink barrier, a plurality of ink channels respectively fluidically connected to the ink chambers and opening towards an ink feed edge, a plurality of elongated angled barrier islands extending from the feed edge into respective ink channels, and a plurality of non-elongated barrier islands alternatingly located with the non-linear elongated barrier island along the ink feed edge.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head comprises a substrate having the element surface provided with energy generating elements for generating energy to be used for discharging ink, a ceiling plate provided with the grooved surface having grooves to become ink passage corresponding to the energy generating elements, the grooved surface and the element surface being bonded to form the ink passage, a base plate for supporting the substrate from the side opposite to the element surface, and an ink supply member being in contact with the base plate at a contact portion, having the ink flow path wall face to be communicated with the ink passage. For this recording head, the base plate and the ink supply member pinch the substrate and the ceiling plate at the contact portion as a fulcrum so as to enable the base plate to press the substrate from the side opposite to the element surface, and the ink supply member to press the ceiling plate from the side opposite from the grooved surface.

Abstract: An ink jet head for ejecting ink includes an ink passage for supplying ink from an ink container for containing ink; a filter chamber in the ink passage, the filter chamber containing therein a filter; wherein the chamber has a cross-sectional area larger than that of the ink passage, and is provided with an inlet opening in fluid communication with an inlet part of the ink supply passage for supplying the ink from the ink container to the filter chamber and an outlet opening in fluid communication with an outlet part of the ink passage for supplying the ink out of the chamber; wherein the inlet opening and outlet opening are faced to a filter with a clearance, and the chamber is provided with bubble moving portion for moving bubbles away from the inlet opening.

Abstract: An ink lyophilic layer 6c is formed on the upstream face of a filter member 6, so that an air bubble B1 will form a contact angle that is larger than one that is formed at the downstream face and that is substantially a right angle, and so that the retention force of meniscuses M formed at small holes 6b in the filter member 6 is reduced, enabling an air bubble B1 to more easily pass through the filter member 6.

Abstract: Pillars are formed in a fully integrated thermal inkjet printhead to prevent particles from entering into a nozzle chamber along an ink refill channel. The pillars are formed after a step of applying a thin film structure to a substrate. At one step, pits are etched through the thin film structure. At another step, material for an orifice layer is deposited into the pits. At another step, a firing chamber is etched into the orifice layer. At another step, a trench is etched into the backside of the wafer in the vicinity of the filled pits. The material filling each pit is not removed and remains in place to define the respective pillars. Two or more pillars are formed within the trench for each inkjet nozzle chamber. Alternatively pillars are formed by depositing material into the underside trench and performing photoimaging processes.

Abstract: A device for delivering ink to a substrate including a body member, an ink distribution chamber, a plurality of ink delivery nozzles, a plurality of ink passages formed in a side body member for delivering the ink from the ink distribution chamber to the ink delivery nozzles, the ink passages being formed, at least partially, as grooves in said side of the body member, and a filter element for filtering the ink entering the ink passages, said filter element being disposed on said side of the body member covering the grooves.

Abstract: Ink flow paths are formed that corresponds in number to the ink chambers of a mounted ink cartridge, to supply ink from the ink chambers to a recording head. These ink flow paths are constituted by first communication paths (59, 60), which communicate with the ink outlets of corresponding ink chambers, second communication paths (61, 67), which communicate with the corresponding ink inlets of the recording head, and convergent flow paths (65), which connect the first and the second communication paths and converge as they approach the recording head. Filters (56) are located in the second communication paths.

Abstract: An adsorbent for ink jet use arranged in a position to be in contact with ink, having the higher capability of adsorption with respect to hydrophobic substance contained in ink than colorant therein. Then, an ink retaining container comprises an ink retaining portion for retaining ink to be supplied to an ink jet head, an ink supply opening which becomes the ink supply portion from the ink retaining portion to the head, an atmospheric communication opening for communicating the ink retaining portion with the air outside. This ink retaining container is provided with the above-mentioned adsorption member arranged in a position to be in contact with ink in it. With the adsorbent and the ink retaining container thus arranged, it is made possible to perform ink jet recording with excellent print characteristics by effectively removing the hydrophobic substance eluted form the ink absorbent in the ink retaining container.

Abstract: An integral structure within an MEMS device is used to filter out foreign bodies in a fluid supply. The system is initially constructed in a large planar form, and the effect of impurities is reduced by fabricating an integral grill structure in the path of the flow of the liquid so as to filter foreign, bodies in the liquid. Ideally used in an ink jet printing system, the grill forms one wall of a nozzle chamber for filtering ink entering the nozzle chamber to be ejected from the nozzle chamber. The filter can be constructed from nitride as is the nozzle chamber.

Abstract: A method of forming an ink jet printhead with an integral ink filter is provided. The ink jet printhead has decreased flow resistance by formation of two filter array portions. A set of parallel openings are anisotropically etched in a surface of a first substrate to form a first filter array portion. A second substrate having an insulating layer therein is patterned to expose a set of openings forming a second filter array portion. The first and second portions are between an integral ink chamber and ink nozzles so that ink can be filtered through at least one of the first and second filter array portions.

Abstract: A print head for an ink jet printer of the present invention includes a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, an ink passage fluidly communicated to the nozzles, and a filter disposed in the ink passage. The ink passage has a hydrophobic wall upstream of the filter and a hydrophilic wall downstream of the filter. The print head is capable of reducing the deposition of bubbles on a nozzle portion and thereby insuring desirable printing free from defective ink ejection.

Abstract: A printhead apparatus for filtering ink which includes an elongate open-ended trough having a bottom wall and opposing end walls and opposing side walls attached to the bottom wall, an ink exit port attached to the bottom wall between the opposing end walls and side wall, a filter member disposed in the open-ended trough between the end walls and the side walls and an elongate cover assembly attached to the end walls and the side walls covering the trough defining a filter chamber containing filter element, the cover assembly containing an ink inlet valve and a gas outlet valve. The device is disposed between an ink cartridge and an ink jet pen containing one or more printheads and is activated automatically when a new ink cartridge is installed on the pen thereby removing unwanted air and gas bubbles from the filter chamber and providing gas free ink to the pen and one or more printheads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-injecting device for supplying working fluid for heating chambers. According to an embodiment of the present invention, two main channels for supplying the working fluid for the heating chamber are formed in the micro-injecting device. Even if one of the main channels is prevented by means of dust or particle, or due to a defect of etching, it can be possible to supply the working fluid for the heating chambers as supply of the working fluid can be accomplished through the other channel communicated with one of channels. In the embodiment of the present invention, furthermore, in order to increase flow resistance of the working fluid, a feeder channel for supplying the working fluid for the heating chambers can be formed in a curved shape or a plurality of projections can be formed on the outer walls of heating chamber barrier layers defining the auxiliary channel for supplying the working fluid for the heating chambers.

Abstract: A filter is provided for filtering contaminants from a fluid passing through the filter. The filter comprises a silicon substrate having opposing first and second surfaces and a passage extending through it. A first etch resistant material layer is formed on the first substrate surface and includes at least one opening which extends through the first layer and communicates with the substrate passage. A second etch resistant material layer is formed on the second substrate surface and includes a plurality of pores which extend through the second layer and communicate with the substrate passage. The second layer defines a filter layer which filters contaminants from fluid passing through the second layer. A process for forming the filter is also provided.

Abstract: An ink jet heater chip is provided having an integral filter for filtering contaminants from a fluid passing through the filter. The heater chip comprises a silicon substrate having opposing first and second surfaces and a passage extending through it. A first etch resistant material layer is formed on the first substrate surface and includes at least one opening which extends through the first layer and communicates with the substrate passage. A second etch resistant material layer is formed on the second substrate surface and includes a portion having a plurality of pores which extend through the second layer and communicate with the substrate passage. The portion of the second layer defines the filter which filters contaminaints from ink passing through the filter. A process for forming the heater chip is also provided.

Abstract: A silicon ink filter for a heater chip of an ink jet printhead is formed by micromachining and laser drilling. The heater chip may contain a plurality of such filters for the plurality of nozzles of the printhead. The filter comprises a via constituting an ink entrance area formed by micromachining and a plurality of bores formed at the exit side of the via produced by laser drilling. Protective layers are preferably disposed over the heater chip substrate prior to micromachining and laser drilling.

Abstract: This present invention is embodied in a printing system for a printhead portion of an inkjet printer. The printing system of the present invention includes a filter, coupled between an ink supply and an inkjet printhead. A filter member having a plurality of holes can be coupled between the ink supply and the microscreen filter. Alternatively, the filter can be a thermally efficient filter comprised of a filter integrated with a heat transfer device and can be coupled to the inkjet printhead.

Abstract: An ink supply device having an ink flow passage for communicating an ink containing part for containing an ink with a discharge part for discharging the ink, the ink flow passage is characterized by a filter device including a filter and a filter box for containing the filter and provided with an ink inlet port and an ink outlet port, wherein an area at the ink inlet port side of the filter box is disposed beneath an area at the ink outlet port side of the filter box, and an inside diameter of ink flow passage at the ink inlet port side of the filter box is narrowed in a diameter to be smaller than an inside diameter of the ink flow passage immediately before expanding into a bell-bottomed shape towards the filter.

Abstract: A filter tower structure for removing air or gas bubbles from an ink jet printing structure which includes a filter tower attached to an ink reservoir for feeding ink from the reservoir to a printhead, the filter tower structure including a conduit having an interior in flow communication with the ink reservoir and the printhead and a tube having a first end in flow communication with the interior of the conduit and a second end in flow communication with a vacuum source, wherein activation of the vacuum source results in the application of a reduced pressure to the interior of the conduit such that air or gas bubbles are caused to flow into the tube and exit the conduit and ink from the reservoir is caused to flow into the conduit.

Abstract: Described is an ink delivery system is that utilizes a filter carrier to simplify the process of attaching the filter. The filter carrier is an element that has a conduit that is substantially surrounded by a filter attach surface. The filter is attached to this surface, such that substantially all fluid passing through the conduit is filtered. The filter carrier is installed into a housing upon which a printhead is mounted. The filter then divides the ink delivery portion of the housing into upstream and downstream sections such that ink flows from the upstream portion through the filter to the downstream portion and to the printhead. The separation of the filter sing from the cartridge housing provides more freedom of material selection for both the cartridge housing and a good heat staking material for the filter carrier. The separation also greatly simplifies the molding of the rigid cartridge housing.

Abstract: An improved integral ink filter for an ink jet printhead has decreased flow resistance and minimal machine cost to implement. The integral ink filter includes both a first filter array patterned in a silicon channel plate of the printhead and a second filter array patterned in an insulative layer located between the channel plate and a heater plate. As the insulative layer already requires photolithographic patterning, such as to remove portions over heating elements and between an ink manifold and nozzle channels, there are no additional processing steps necessary. As such, the present invention achieves improved filtration by doubling the filtration rate, while retaining a small pore size corresponding to a channel size of the nozzles. Thus, a desired ink flow to the nozzles can be maintained even if the ink channels are made increasingly smaller.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by discharging ink comprises an ink tank for retaining ink to be discharged, an ink jet head provided with a discharge port for discharging retained ink, an ink route connecting the ink tank with the ink jet head to form the ink flow from the ink tank to the ink jet head, a deaerator arranged on the way of the ink route to remove gas contained in ink. For this ink jet recording apparatus, at least the section in which the deaerator is connected with the ink jet head in the ink route is formed by material containing polyvinylidene fluoride resin. With the structure thus arranged, the sufficiently deaerated ink is supplied to the ink jet head for the stable discharges of ink without wasting ink, hence reliably forming precise images at lower costs.

Abstract: An efficient fluid filtering device is provided for filtering unwanted contaminants from flowing fluid, such as ink flowing into an ink jet printhead. The efficient fluid filtering device includes a generally flat member having a first side and a second side, and a series of fluid flow holes formed through the flat member from the first side to the second side. Importantly, the efficient fluid filtering device also has a series of pillar members, including pillar members defining a trough portion around each fluid flow hole. The pillar members and the trough portions are arranged around each hole so as to efficiently prevent bubbles and contaminants in flowing fluid from impeding fluid flow from the first side through to the second side.

Abstract: This present invention relates to a filter element for the filtration of printing fluid within a printer cartridge of a printer. The filter element of the present invention includes a microporous filter media that removes contaminants from printing fluids such as ink, dye, wax, or the like.

Abstract: A porous material is used to fill a portion of an ink supply path extending from a needle tip to a filter. Ink is conveyed across the porous material to the filter and wets the entire top surface of the filter. The porous material reduces the substantial cross sectional area of the bubbles that pass therethrough so that the bubbles are then permitted to pass through the filter. Because the bubbles pass through the filter, the stagnation of bubbles on a filter at the end of an ink supply needle is prevented.

Abstract: An ink lyophilic layer 6c is formed on the upstream face of a filter member 6, so that an air bubble B1 will form a contact angle that is larger than one that is formed at the downstream face and that is substantially a right angle, and so that the retention force of meniscuses M formed at small holes 6b in the filter member 6 is reduced, enabling an air bubble B1 to more easily pass through the filter member 6.

Abstract: An ink jet head for ejecting ink includes an ink passage for supplying ink from an ink container for containing ink; a filter chamber in the ink passage, the filter chamber containing therein a filter; wherein the chamber has a cross-sectional area larger than that of the ink passage, and is provided with an inlet opening in fluid communication with an inlet part of the ink supply passage for supplying the ink from the ink container to the filter chamber and an outlet opening in fluid communication with an outlet part of the ink passage for supplying the ink out of the chamber; wherein the inlet opening and outlet opening are faced to a filter with a clearance, and the chamber is provided with bubble moving portion for moving bubbles away from the inlet opening.

Abstract: An ink jet device including an ink reservoir and a filter element made of a sheet-like material having a curved shape and sealingly disposed in a port of the ink reservoir, wherein the filter element is inserted in the port in an elastically deformed state and is held in engagement with the walls of this port by its elastic restoration forces.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a filter element to prevent contaminants from entering an ink supply inlet of an ink jet printhead. The filter is formed by laser ablation process in which output laser radiation is directed through a mask system or light transmitting system to create a filter hole pattern in a thin film. Slightly tapered holes are formed in the film, and the formed filter element is laminated to the ink supply inlet. The tapered holes provide improved flow/impedance and add increased structural strength.