Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-11-06
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312114
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the construction of an ink supply manifold with an interconnecting printhead and, in particular, to the packaging of the printhead with the ink supply manifold.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, for example, in PCT Application No. PCT/AU98/00550 the present applicant has proposed a pagewidth inkjet printing device which utilizes micro-electromechanical (MEMS) processing techniques in the construction of a thermal bend actuator type device for the ejection of fluid from a nozzle chamber.
Any compact but fragile page width printhead is likely to operate on the dimensions of microns and require highly accurate registration with an external world such as with an ink supply. Additionally, a pagewidth printhead less than say one millimeter in width constructed on a silicon wafer or the like is likely to be extremely fragile and any flexing of the printhead or ink supply unit may shatter the wafer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a suitable form of packaging of a print head wafer that provides for improved handling capabilities or which at least offers a useful alternative over the prior art.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of interconnecting a printhead containing an array of ink ejection nozzles to an ink distribution manifold, said method comprising:
attaching said printhead to said ink distribution manifold utilizing a resilient adhesive adapted to be elastically deformed with any deflections of the ink distribution manifold.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a printhead and ink distribution manifold assembly wherein said printhead is attached to said ink distribution manifold by means of a resilient adhesive adapted to be elastically deformed with any deflections of the ink distribution manifold.
In the preferred form the printhead is an elongate pagewidth printhead chip and the ink distribution manifold forms part of an ink supply unit. Desirably the ink supply unit comprises:
a first elongated member containing a series of chambers for the storage of separate color inks and having a first elongated cavity defined therein;
a second elongated member including a series of wall elements and a second elongated cavity defined therein, said second elongated cavity being adapted for the insertion of a page width ink jet printhead, said wall elements mating with corresponding elements of said first elongated member to complete the formation of said series of chambers for the supply of ink to a series of slots formed in the back of said printhead when inserted in said second elongated cavity,
wherein said second elongated member is interconnected to said fist elongated member utilizing a resilient adhesive adapted to be elastically deformed with any bending of said ink supply unit.
The printhead chip can be attached to the ink supply unit along the sides and along a back surface thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4554558 (1985-11-01), Beaudet et al.
patent: 4812859 (1989-03-01), Chan et al.
patent: 5665249 (1997-09-01), Burke et al.
patent: 6168265 (2001-01-01), Takata
Le N.
Nghiem Michael
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
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