US5305015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser ablated nozzle member for inkjet printhead
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1992-04-02
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Granted: 1994-04-19
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Expires: 2012-04-02
Abstract
Abstract In one of the preferred embodiments, an inkjet printhead includes a nozzle member formed of a polymer material that has been laser-ablated to form tapered inkjet orifices. The nozzle member is then mounted to a substrate containing heating elements, each heating element being associated with a single orifice. In a preferred method, the orifices are formed by Excimer laser ablation. In other aspects of the invention, vaporization chambers as well as ink channels, providing fluid communication between an ink reservoir and the orifices, are also formed by Excimer laser ablation.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher A. Schantz
- 👤 Eric G. Hanson
- 👤 Si-Ty Lam
- 👤 Paul H. McClelland
- 👤 William J. Lloyd
- 👤 Laurie S. Mittelstadt
- 👤 Alfred I. Tsong Pan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:28
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/16; B41J2/1621; B41J2/1623; B41J2/14; B41J2/14016; B41J2/14024; B41J2/14072; B41J2/145; B41J2/155; B41J2/162; B41J2/1626; B41J2/1628; B41J2/1631; B41J2/1632; B41J2/1634; B41J2/164; B41J2/1643; B41J2002/14387; B41J2202/00; B41J2202/01; B41J2202/19; B41J2202/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for use in an inkjet printer, comprising: a strip of flexible tape having a nozzle section and a conductor section; said nozzle section having a top surface for facing a recording medium for printing, said nozzle section having a plurality of ink orifices formed in said strip of flexible tape by a step-and-repeat laser ablation process prior to said nozzle section being affixed to a printhead, said conductor section including a plurality of separate conductors formed on said strip of flexible tape and having first ends leading to said nozzle section for conducting electrical signals for selectively energizing ink ejection elements proximate to each of said ink orifices, said conductors having remote second ends for receiving electrical signals from an inkjet printer, wherein said strip of flexible tape is separated from a length of flexible tape having identical repeated patterns of said ink orifices and said conductors.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for use in an inkjet printer, comprising: a strip of flexible tape having a nozzle section and a conductor section; said nozzle section having a top surface for facing a recording medium for printing, said nozzle section having a plurality of ink orifices formed in said strip of flexible tape by a step-and-repeat laser ablation process prior to said nozzle section being affixed to a printhead, said conductor section including a plurality of separate conductors formed on said strip of flexible tape and having first ends leading to said nozzle section for conducting electrical signals for selectively energizing ink ejection elements proximate to each of said ink orifices, said conductors having remote second ends for receiving electrical signals from an inkjet printer, wherein said strip of flexible tape is separated from a length of flexible tape having identical repeated patterns of said ink orifices and said conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including a barrier layer located adjacent to a bottom surface of said nozzle section, said barrier layer including a plurality of vaporization chambers, said vaporization chambers being in fluid communication with said ink orifices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said barrier layer is formed on a substrate containing heating elements, each of said heating elements being associated with one of said ink orifices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said barrier layer is formed in a bottom surface of said nozzle section using a laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a substrate having heating elements formed thereon, each of said heating elements being located within an associated vaporization chamber in said barrier layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a substrate attached to said nozzle section, said substrate including a plurality of heater resistors operatively connected to said ink orifices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of heater resistors located on a bottom surface of said nozzle section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ink orifices each have a length (L) and a diameter (D) and wherein a ratio of length to diameter (L/D) is more than approximately one.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fluid communication means for providing fluid communication between said ink orifices and an ink reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: an ink reservoir; heating elements associated with each of said ink orifices; and a body containing said nozzle section, said fluid communication means, said ink reservoir, and said heating elements adapted for use as a print cartridge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
218 words
A process for forming an inkjet printhead, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of conductor sections on a length of flexible tape, each of said conductor sections including an identical pattern of electrical conductors formed on said tape; forming a plurality of nozzle sections on said length of flexible tape, each of said nozzle sections having formed in it an identical pattern of ink orifices, wherein each of said nozzle sections are adjacent to an associated one of said conductor sections such that first ends of said conductors in said associated one of said conductor sections lead to an associated nozzle section for conducting electrical signals for selectively energizing ink ejection elements proximate to each of said ink orifices in said associated nozzle section, remote second ends at said conductors in said associated one of said conductor sections for receiving electrical signals from an inkjet printer; mounting a plurality of substrates to a surface of said flexible tape, each of said substrates being aligned with respect to one of said nozzle sections; and separating a portion of said length of flexible tape containing only a single nozzle section, an associated one of said conductor sections, and an associated substrate from said length of flexible tape, said portion for use as a single printhead in an inkjet printer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
218 words
A process for forming an inkjet printhead, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of conductor sections on a length of flexible tape, each of said conductor sections including an identical pattern of electrical conductors formed on said tape; forming a plurality of nozzle sections on said length of flexible tape, each of said nozzle sections having formed in it an identical pattern of ink orifices, wherein each of said nozzle sections are adjacent to an associated one of said conductor sections such that first ends of said conductors in said associated one of said conductor sections lead to an associated nozzle section for conducting electrical signals for selectively energizing ink ejection elements proximate to each of said ink orifices in said associated nozzle section, remote second ends at said conductors in said associated one of said conductor sections for receiving electrical signals from an inkjet printer; mounting a plurality of substrates to a surface of said flexible tape, each of said substrates being aligned with respect to one of said nozzle sections; and separating a portion of said length of flexible tape containing only a single nozzle section, an associated one of said conductor sections, and an associated substrate from said length of flexible tape, said portion for use as a single printhead in an inkjet printer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said step of forming said plurality of nozzle sections comprises the steps of: providing a masking means between a laser and said tape and separated from said tape, said masking means including a pattern corresponding to said pattern of said ink orifices; and exposing said tape to laser radiation through said masking means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said pattern of ink orifices is formed in said flexible tape using a step-and-repeat process.
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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) | 1997-04-18 | 1997-10-18 | 1998-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-18 | 2001-10-18 | 2002-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-18 | 2005-10-18 | 2006-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |