Eastman-kodak Company

Scitex Digital Printing, Inc.

Brian George Morris

James Alan Katerberg

Michael Frank Baumer

James E Harrison, Jr

Robert J Simon

Richard W Sexton

Bruce A Bowling

Donald Clarke Grant

Charles D Rike

Wendell L Wood

Gary L Strain

Dianne J Aleshire

Thomas Alan Gajus

A method of fabricating a charging device for an inkjet printing system includes providing a charging device body having at least one conductive trace passing through the interior of the charging device body connecting between a charging face of the charging device body and an interconnection region remote from the charging face. A portion of the at least one conductive trace is exposed on the charging face. A vapor deposition process is used to deposit a conductive base layer through a shadow mask onto the charging face, wherein the deposited conductive base layer contacts the exposed portion of at least one conductive trace. One or more conductive metallic layers are plated onto the deposited conductive base layer to form a charging electrode.

Method for fabricating a charging device

A charge plate and a method for fabricating a charge plate for an ink jet printhead includes the steps of removing portions of conductive material from a dimensionally stable substrate with a coating of conductive material to form at least a first and second electrode on a first face with a first space between the first and second electrodes, removing portions of conductive material from the dimensionally stable substrate with a coating of conductive material to form a first electrode extension which engages the first electrode on the conductive charging face, and a second electrode extension which engages the second electrode on the conductive charging face, whereby the first and second electrode extensions are electrically isolated from each other, additionally forming a first space between the electrode extensions, which connects with the first space between the electrode extensions.

Charge plate fabrication technique

The turbulence of the air moved through an inkjet print head enclosure is reduced before reaching the printing region between the print head and a print medium by positioning a HEPA filtration system between an air inlet opening in the enclosure and the print head. Turbulence is removed from air moved through the air path by HEPA filtration of the air being drawn into the print head enclosure before reaching the printing region.

Reduction of turbulence within printing region of inkjet printer heads

An ink jet printhead includes a drop generator having an attached orifice structure forming a jet array adapted to use ink jet fluids with a charge device disposed opposite the jet array forming a gap. The charge device includes a dimensionally stable, non-porous substrate layer having a high load to deflection ratio, one or more electrically conducting leads bonded to the substrate layer, an insulating protective layer disposed over the electrically conducting lead, and a non-wetting polymer coating compatible with the ink jet fluids disposed on the insulating protective layer. The coating reduces the capillary forces that hold liquid in the gap between the orifice structure and the charge device

Ink repellent coating on charge device to improve printer runability and printhead life

An air flow restriction device relates to an ink jet printhead enclosure with body, a load supportable moveable lid with an opening disposed on the body, and a chamber within the body. Continuous web media is disposed in the chamber with at least one ink jet printhead located above the continuous web media within the chamber. A high efficiency air filter with a fan is located within the opening of the moveable lid and the filter with fan flows continuous clean filtered air into the enclosure, bathing the ink jet printhead and the continuous web media in clean filtered air. An air flow restriction device is placed in the side of the chamber below the continuous web media creating positive pressure in the chamber when the fan and filter floods the chamber with the clean filtered air, thereby reducing particle contamination in the chamber by a factor of at least ten.

HEPA filter printhead protection

A method for fabricating a charge plate for an ink jet printhead entails removing portions of conductive material from a dimensionally stable dielectric substrate with a coating of conductive material to form at least a first and second electrode on a first face with a first space between the first and second electrodes, removing portions of conductive material from the dimensionally stable dielectric substrate with a coating of conductive material to form a first electrode extension that engages the first electrode on the conductive charging face, and a second electrode extension that engages the second electrode on the conductive charging face, whereby the first and second electrode extensions are electrically isolated from each other, additionally forming a first space between the electrode extensions, which connects with the first space between the electrode extensions.

Method for fabricating a charge plate for an inkjet printhead

An ink jet printhead includes a drop generator having an attached orifice structure forming a jet array adapted to use ink jet fluids with a charge device disposed opposite the jet array forming a gap. The charge device includes a dimensionally stable, non-porous substrate layer having a high load to deflection ratio, one or more electrically conducting leads bonded to the substrate layer, an insulating protective layer disposed over the electrically conducting lead, and a non-wetting polymer coating compatible with the ink jet fluids disposed on the insulating protective layer. The coating reduces the capillary forces that hold liquid in the gap between the orifice structure and the charge device.

A charge plate fabrication process provides a charge plate assembly having minimal distortion caused by shifts in temperature and humidity. The fabrication process includes the steps of forming a charge plate coupon having a plurality of charging electrodes and electrical connections on an etchable substrate and providing a ceramic charge plate substrate. An adhesive layer is then applied between the charge plate coupon and the charge plate substrate before assembling the charge plate coupon and the charge plate substrate in a fixture. Finally, the assembly is cured in the fixture.

Charge plate fabrication process

A charge plate fabrication process provides a catcher/charge plate assembly having improved manufacturability. The fabrication process includes the steps of providing a catcher, including a catch pan, and providing a ceramic charge plate, the charge plate having an electrode face. The charge plate electrode face is prelapped to a uniform negative angle before assembling the charge plate and the catcher in a fixture. The assembled catcher and charge plate are then bonded in the fixture.

Method of fabricating a catcher/charge plate assembly

Connections to a charge plate in an ink jet print head are made using anisotropic conductive material. Reliable, high yield connections approaching 200 connections per inch are achieved.

Charge plate connectors and method of making

A drop ejection device for continuous ink jet printing includes a rectangular solid divided by parallel, elongated through-slots between its major surfaces, into a plurality of approximately identical dilatational regions. Each such region has a longitudinal mechanical resonance mode approximately the same as the desired drop ejection frequency. The body has an ink supply manifold adjacent a drop ejection face, which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the through-slots. An orifice plate having a linear orifice array, substantially longer than the through-slots, is attached to the ejection face. A plurality of elongated piezoelectric strips pairs are attached in opposing positions on major surfaces of each dilatational region. Upon actuation, said strips expand and contract to effect synchronous stimulation at the desired drop frequency.

Synchronous stimulation for long array continuous ink jet printer

A process and apparatus for drop-on-demand ink jet printing utilize the steps of: selectively ejecting ink drops from drop ejection regions through related orifices; feeding ink through capillary feed passages to the drop ejection regions to replace ejected ink drops; and supplying ink to said capillary passages from an innately reticulate foam structure comprising a network of fine, mutually-connected, three-dimensionally branched filaments.

Growing community of inventors

Dayton, OH, United States of America

Brian George Morris