US4786303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of fabricating a glass nozzle array for an inkjet printer
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1987-04-13
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Granted: 1988-11-22
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Expires: 2007-04-13
Abstract
Abstract The method of this invention comprises first forming an assembly of a number N of cored glass fibers, separated by a number M of solid glass fibers. After a row of such alternated cored and solid glass fibers is assembled, a uniform pressure is applied to all sides of the assembly. All of the rectangular glass fibers are selected to have the same thermal properties, characterized especially by having the same softening temperature and the same coefficient of expansion. The entire assembly is inserted in an oven subject to a temperature sufficient to soften the glass and thus fuse the parts together. The assembly is cooled and the glass block is removed from the oven. The block can then be cut into thin nozzle wafers and finished to produce the desired jet nozzles. The method may use glass fibers made of two types of glass. The central portion of the fiber comprises a high-temperature glass, this portion surrounding the core. The remainder of the fiber comprises a low-temperature glass, said glass having the same thermal properties as the adjacent fibers and the plates. Multiple rows of the multi-nozzle arrays may be formed. The array may be comprised of a plurality of nozzles aligned in vertical columns at an angle of 90° to the direction of the rows, to provide especially for multi-color printing. Alternatively, the nozzles may be aligned so that the descending columns are at an angle less than 90° with the direction of the row. In this way, high density printing can be achieved.
Inventors
- 👤 Marco Padalino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:20
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/16; B41J2/1621; B41J2/1632; B41J2/162; C; C03; C03B; C03B23/00; C03B23/20; C03B23/207; C03B37/00; C03B37/10; C03B37/14; C03B37/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of fabricating a multiple glass nozzle array wafer for use in an inkjet printing apparatus comprising the steps of forming an assembly comprising a plurality of cored glass fibers along a row for use as nozzles in said nozzle array, and a plurality of solid glass fibers for defining the distance along said row between centers of said nozzles in said nozzle array, all of said fibers having the same softening temperature and coefficient of expansion, applying uniform pressure to all sides of said assembly, heating the assembly to a temperature sufficient to soften the glass and fuse the fibers together, gradually cool the assembly, cutting the assembly into thin nozzle wafers, and mounting said thin nozzle wafer in a housing for said inkjet printer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of fabricating a multiple glass nozzle array wafer for use in an inkjet printing apparatus comprising the steps of forming an assembly comprising a plurality of cored glass fibers along a row for use as nozzles in said nozzle array, and a plurality of solid glass fibers for defining the distance along said row between centers of said nozzles in said nozzle array, all of said fibers having the same softening temperature and coefficient of expansion, applying uniform pressure to all sides of said assembly, heating the assembly to a temperature sufficient to soften the glass and fuse the fibers together, gradually cool the assembly, cutting the assembly into thin nozzle wafers, and mounting said thin nozzle wafer in a housing for said inkjet printer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said cored glass fibers are etchable core glass fibers, and including the further step of etching out said cores after mounting said wafer in said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1 including the further step of placing a glass plate above and below the assembly, said glass plates having the same softening temperature and coefficient of expansion as said glass fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein each of said cored fibers comprises a circumferential low-temperature portion surrounding a layer of high-temperature glass which in turn surrounds said core, said heating step comprising subjecting the assembly to a temperature sufficient to soften said low-temperature glass but below the melting point of said high-temperature glass, softening of said low-temperature glass allowing fusing of said fibers under said pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein said distance determining fibers comprise first and second radially distinct portions of low-temperature glass and high-temperature glass, said heating step comprising heating said distance determining fibers to a temperature sufficient to soften said low-temperature glass but below the softening temperature of said high-temperature glass, whereby fusing of said fibers under said pressure is achieved.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 5 including the further step of placing a glass plate above and below the assembly, said glass plates having the same softening temperature and coefficient of expansion as said glass fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein said distance determining fibers comprises low-temperature glass, said heating step comprising heating said low-temperature glass to a temperature sufficient to soften said glass, whereby said pressure is sufficient to form said assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said step of forming an assembly comprising forming a plurality of said rows, each row comprising cored glass fibers separated by said solid glass fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein said cored glass rows are assembled to form vertical columns in said array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein each of said cored fibers comprises a circumferential surface surrounding a layer of high-temperature glass which in turn surrounds said core, said heating step comprising subjecting the assembly to a temperature sufficient to soften said low-temperature glass but below the melting point of said high-temperature glass, softening of said low-temperature glass allowing fusing of said fibers under said pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein said distance determining fibers comprise first and second radially separate portions of low-temperature glass and high-temperature glass, said heating step comprising heating said distance determining fibers to a temperature sufficient to soften said low-temperature glass but below the softening temperature of said high-temperature glass, whereby fusing of said fibers under said pressure is achieved.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 11 including the further step of placing a glass plate above and below the assembly, said glass plates having the same softening temperature and coefficient of expansion as said glass fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein said cored glass rows are so assembled that they define columns inclined from a vertical axis of said array.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein each of said cored fibers comprises a circumferential surface surrounding a layer of high-temperature glass which in turn surrounds said core, said heating step comprising subjecting the assembly to a temperature sufficient to soften said low-temperature glass but below the melting point of said high-temperature glass, softening of said low-temperature glass allowing fusing of said fibers under said pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as in claim 14 wherein said distance determining fibers comprise first and second radially separate portions of low-temperature glass and high-temperature glass, said heating step comprising heating said distance determining fibers to a temperature sufficient to soften said low-temperature glass but below the softening temperature of said high-temperature glass, whereby fusing of said fibers under said pressure is achieved.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 11 including the further step of placing a glass plate above and below the assembly, said glass plates having the same softening temperature and coefficient of expansion as said glass fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method as in claim 12 wherein said fibers are rectangular.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein said fibers are rectangular.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said fibers are rectangular.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-22 | 1992-05-23 | 1992-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-22 | 1996-05-23 | 1996-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-22 | 2000-05-23 | 2000-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |