Nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead

Details Nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead Nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead

2000-05-23

2002-05-21

Vo, Anh T. N. (Department: 2861)

Incremental printing of symbolic information

Ink jet

Ejector mechanism

Reexamination Certificate

active

06390591

ABSTRACT:

CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention simultaneously with the present application:
NPA
001
US, NPA
002
US, NPA
004
US, NPA
005
US, NPA
006
US, NPA
007
US, NPA
008
US, NPA
009
US, NPAO
10
US, NPA
012
US, NPA
016
US, NPA
017
US, NPA
018
US, NPA
019
US, NPA
020
US, NPA
021
US, NPA
030
US, NPA
035
US, NPA
048
US, NPA
075
US, NPB
001
US, NPB
002
US, NPK
002
US, NPK
003
US, NPK
004
US, NPK
005
US, NPM
001
US, NPM
002
US, NPM
003
US, NPM
004
US, NPN
001
US, NPP
001
US, NPP
003
US, NPP
005
US, NPP
006
US, NPP
007
US, NPP
008
US, NPP
016
US, NPP
017
US, NPP
018
US, NPS
001
US, NPS
003
US, NPS
020
US, NPT
001
US, NPT
002
US, NPT
003
US, NPT
004
US, NPX
001
US, NPX
003
US, NPX
008
US, NPX
011
US, NPX
014
US, NPX
016
US, IJ
52
US, IJM
52
US, MJ
10
US, MJ
11
US, MJ
12
US, MJ
13
US, MJ
14
US, MJ
15
US, MJ
34
US, MJ
47
US, MJ
58
US, MJ
62
US, MJ
63
US, MJ
64
US, MJ
65
US, MJ
66
US, PAK
04
US, PAK
05
US, PAK
06
US, PAK
07
US, PAK
08
US, PEC
01
US, PEC
02
US, PP
01
US, PP
02
US, PP
03
US, PP
04
US, PP
07
US, PP
08
US, PP
09
US, PP
10
US, PP
11
US, PP
12
US, PP
13
US, PP
15
US, PP
16
US, PP
17
US.
The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by cross-reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an ink jet printhead. More particularly, the invention relates to a nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Our co-pending patent application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. to be advised when known (identified temporarily by our Docket No. IJ52) discloses a nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead. The array of nozzles is formed using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, and has mechanical structures with sub-micron thicknesses. Such structures are very fragile, and can be damaged by contact with paper, fingers, and other objects. The present invention discloses a nozzle guard to protect the fragile nozzles and keep them clear of paper dust.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead, the nozzle guard including a body member mountable on a substrate which carries a nozzle array, the body member defining a plurality of passages through it such that, in use, each passage is in register with a nozzle opening of one of the nozzles of the array and the body member further defining fluid inlet openings for directing fluid through the passages, from an inlet end of said passages, for inhibiting the build up of foreign particles on the nozzle array.
In this specification the term “nozzle ” is to be understood as an element defining an opening and not the opening itself.
The nozzle guard may include a support means for supporting the body member on the substrate. The support means may be formed integrally with the body member, the support means comprising a pair of spaced support elements one being ranged at each end of the body member.
Then, the fluid inlet openings may be arranged in one of the support elements.
It will be appreciated that, when air is directed through the openings, over the nozzle array and out through the passages, a low pressure region is created above the nozzle array which, it is envisaged, will inhibit the build up of foreign particles on the nozzle array.
The fluid inlet openings may be arranged in the support element remote from a bond pad of the nozzle array.
The invention extends also to an ink jet printhead which includes a nozzle array carried on a substrate; and
a nozzle guard, as described above, mounted on the substrate.
The invention extends still further to a method of operating an ink jet printhead, as described above, the method including directing fluid through the fluid inlet openings of the nozzle guard and through the passages to an outlet end of said passages for inhibiting the build up of foreign particles on the nozzle array.
Then, the method may include directing air through the passages irrespective of whether or not ink droplets are being ejected through the passages.
The method may include directing fluid through the passages at a rate different from that at which the ink droplets are ejected through the passages. Preferably, the method includes directing the fluid through the passages at a rate lower than that at which the ink droplets are ejected through the passages. In this regard, the air may be charged through the passages at approximately
1
mi/s. In use, ink is ejected from the nozzle opening of a nozzle of the array at approximately
3
m/s and travels through the passage at approximately that velocity.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4417259 (1983-11-01), Maeda
patent: 4736212 (1988-04-01), Oda et al.
patent: 5665249 (1997-09-01), Burke et al.
patent: 5877788 (1999-03-01), Haan et al.
patent: 5929877 (1999-07-01), Hetzer et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2826103