Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Compag Computer Corporation

Daniel B Granzow

Kelsey R Walker

Carol C Scalf

A page-wide, drop-on-demand type ink jet printhead and an associated method of manufacturing an orifice plate. The orifice plate is comprised of a block of material in which a first portion of the block of material has been removed to define an ink reservoir. Also formed in the orifice plate are a series of apertures, each of the apertures includes an ink jet and an ink jet nozzle. A fill channel, which extends between the ink reservoir and each ink jet, is also formed in the orifice plate to provide a supply of ink to the ink jet. An intermediate layer is mounted to the orifice plate. The intermediate layer is formed of an active piezoelectric material and a series of piezoelectric actuators, each acoustically coupled to a corresponding one of the series of apertures, are formed on the intermediate layer. By applying a voltage differential between first and second electrodes, which make up each piezoelectric actuator, the intermediate layer is deflected to effect ejection of a droplet of ink from the aperture acoustically coupled to each piezoelectric actuator.

Process of making an orifice plate for a page-wide ink jet printhead

A sidewall actuated channel array for a high density ink jet printhead includes a top wall, bottom wall and a plurality of liquid confining channels formed between columns of polarized piezoelectric material. The array is formed from a plurality of sheets of polarized piezoelectric material which are joined together. Several embodiments are provided for distributing the joints between sheets of piezoelectric material to reduce the magnitude of the electric field needed to polarize the piezoelectric material.

Elongated ink jet printhead using joined piezoelectric actuator

An ink jet printer has multiple print heads for ejecting ink in response to signals supplied in sequence to cause ejection of ink in forming an image. The ink is ejected upon an ink transfer medium, and an energy source is adapted for application of heat to the surface of the ink transfer medium. A pressure application assembly places the printing substrate in contact with the ink transfer medium in forming an image by transfer of ink. Ejection of ink may occur from multiple ink jet print heads simultaneously.

Multiple print head ink jet printer

Method of making an elongated ink jet printhead

A page wide ink jet printhead body is formed using first and second series of identically configured rectangular piezoceramic blocks having widths not greater than about one inch. The individual blocks are poled in widthwise directions and secured to one another and to an upper side surface of a nonpoled piezoceramic lower body section. Horizontally equally spaced saw cuts are then made downwardly through the first and second block series, with the block width being an even multiple of the horizontal saw cut pitch, and saw cuts extending vertically through the aligned side junctures of each block series. A top, nonpoled piezoceramic body section is then secured to the top side of the second block series, the saw cuts forming within the resulting printhead body a spaced series of parallel ink receiving channels interdigitated with a spaced series of piezoelectrically deflectable sidewall actuator sections. A suitable discharge orifice plate is then secured to the body, over the front ends of the channels, and the rear ends of the channels are appropriately sealed off.

Growing community of inventors

Spring, TX, United States of America

Daniel B Granzow