US5136310A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal ink jet nozzle treatment
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1990-09-28
•
Granted: 1992-08-04
•
Expires: 2010-09-28
Abstract
Abstract An ink-repellant coating is provided on the nozzle face of a thermal ink jet printhead. The nozzle face has areas made from different materials. Alkyl polysiloxanes are used to treat the nozzle face in order to control wetting characteristics so as to improve jet directionality and to prevent accumulation of debris on the face. An intermediate layer of silica formed between the nozzle face and the ink-repellant layer is provided so that the ink-repellant layer is isotropically hydrophobic.
Inventors
- 👤 Reinhold E. Drews
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:06
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/16; B41J2/1606
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An ink jet printhead, comprising: an upper substrate defining a channel plate including one side, said channel plate comprised of a silicon wafer; a lower substrate defining a heater plate including one side, said heater plate comprised of a silicon wafer; an insulative layer between the upper and lower substrates, said insulative layer including one side and being comprised of polyimide, the one sides of the upper substrate, lower substrate and insulative layer defining a front face; an ink-repellent layer comprising an alkyl polysiloxane over said front face; and an intermediate coating between the ink-repellent layer and the front face, said intermediate coating comprising a silicon rich material which is capable of chemically bonding with the ink repellant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An ink jet printhead, comprising: an upper substrate defining a channel plate including one side, said channel plate comprised of a silicon wafer; a lower substrate defining a heater plate including one side, said heater plate comprised of a silicon wafer; an insulative layer between the upper and lower substrates, said insulative layer including one side and being comprised of polyimide, the one sides of the upper substrate, lower substrate and insulative layer defining a front face; an ink-repellent layer comprising an alkyl polysiloxane over said front face; and an intermediate coating between the ink-repellent layer and the front face, said intermediate coating comprising a silicon rich material which is capable of chemically bonding with the ink repellant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The printhead of claim 1, wherein said ink-repellent layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polydimethylsiloxanes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The printhead of claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of silica, silicon carbide, and glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The printhead of claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer is deposited by one of electron beam evaporation, sputtering, and chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The printhead of claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer has a thickness of about 500 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
(Twice Amended) An ink jet printhead comprising: a front face containing nozzles and areas made from differing materials; an ink-repellant layer over said front face, said ink repellent layer comprising alkyl polysiloxane; and an intermediate layer between said ink-repellent layer and said front face, said intermediate layer being comprised of a silicon rich material which is capable of chemically bonding with the ink repellent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
(Twice Amended) An ink jet printhead comprising: a front face containing nozzles and areas made from differing materials; an ink-repellant layer over said front face, said ink repellent layer comprising alkyl polysiloxane; and an intermediate layer between said ink-repellent layer and said front face, said intermediate layer being comprised of a silicon rich material which is capable of chemically bonding with the ink repellent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The printhead of claim 6, wherein said intermediate layer is comprised of a material selected form the group consisting of silica, silicon carbide and glass.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The printhead of claim 6, wherein said nozzle-containing front face is formed form at least silicon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An ink jet printhead, comprising: a front face having nozzles and areas made from differing materials; an ink-repellant layer comprising alkyl polysiloxanes over said front face; and an intermediate layer between said ink-repellent layer and said front face whereby said ink-repellent layer is isotropically hydrophobic, said intermediate layer comprised of a silicon rich material capable of chemically bonding with the ink-repellent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
An ink jet printhead, comprising: a front face having nozzles and areas made from differing materials; an ink-repellant layer comprising alkyl polysiloxanes over said front face; and an intermediate layer between said ink-repellent layer and said front face whereby said ink-repellent layer is isotropically hydrophobic, said intermediate layer comprised of a silicon rich material capable of chemically bonding with the ink-repellent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The printhead of claim 9, wherein said intermediate layer is comprised of a mater a selected from the group consisting of silica, silicon carbide and glass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The printhead of claim 9, wherein said ink-repellent layer comprises polydimethylsiloxane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The printhead of claim 9, wherein one of said differing materials is silicon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The printhead of claim 12, wherein another of said differing materials is polyimide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3579540B1
Cited
US3579540A
Cited
US3959563A
Cited
US4368476A
Cited
US4616408A
Cited
JPS59194864A
Cited
JPS60178065A
Cited
US4728392A
Cited
US4643948A
Cited
USRE32572E
Cited
US4612554A
Cited
US4623906A
Cited
US4734706A
Cited
US4751532A
Cited
US4774530A
Cited
US4829324A
Cited
US5017946A
Cited
US5010356A
Cited
US4851371A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-04 | 1996-02-03 | 1996-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-04 | 2000-02-03 | 2000-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-04 | 2004-02-03 | 2004-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |