Lexmark International, Inc.

Dell T Rosa

Paul Timothy Spivey

Karina Anne Krawczyk

Craig Michael Bertelsen

Louann Behymer Samuels

Melissa Marie Waldeck

Bart Mansdorf

Jerry Earl Stokesbary

Philip Michael Cullen

Paige Anne Reardon Bensing

Richard Michael Moore

Jeffery L Sangalli

There is disclosed a removable radiation cured member suitable for use in protecting a micro-fluid ejection head. Further, a reactant mixture suitable for sealing a micro-fluid ejection head comprising a vinyl-containing oligomer, a filler, and optionally a reactive diluent and/or a photoinitiator is disclosed.

Removable radiation cured composition and process for protecting a micro-fluid ejection head

The present invention relates to chromogenic material that may respond and shift in color due to environmental conditions such as heat, light or humidity. The light may include both visible and non-visible light, such as ultraviolet light. The chromogenic material may therefore provide a method to independently develop a latent image on a given substrate, and in particular, to a substrate that includes conventional thermosensitive image forming media.

Chromogenic media responsive to environmental conditions

A liquid is applied by a bounded-region applicator such as a needle applicator over nozzle holes and over at least a continuous region close to the nozzle holes. The liquid is then cured to a solid before significant flow of the liquid into the nozzle holes. The liquid is chosen to cure to a solid which is sufficiently compliant that it deforms and leaves the nozzle holes under moderate pressure from a human hand or finger without breaking. Depending upon the material in which the nozzles are formed and the size of the nozzle holes, the liquid may be uniquely designed to incorporate resilient moieties or segments to satisfy these factors.

Liquid applied seal for inkjet orifices

An orifice plate sealing tape for an orifice plate of a micro-fluid ejection device and methods for sealing an orifice plate with the sealing tape. The sealing tape includes a flexible polymeric backing film and a radiation cured adhesive applied to a surface of the orifice plate. The adhesive is cured in a pattern sufficient to seal adjacent to nozzle holes in the orifice plate and to enhance removal of the backing film and adhesive from the orifice plate prior to use of the micro-fluid ejection device. Upon removal of the sealing tape, a minimum of residue is left on the nozzle plate surface adjacent to and/or in the nozzle holes.

Orifice plate protection device

An absorbent material is employed as a seal over the printhead nozzles. The absorbent is uni-axial to prevent ink migration laterally, implemented by a lattice of absorbent matter surrounded by ink barriers. Such an absorbent can be sufficiently effective to limit ink migration that a simple tape may be used to bind the absorbent over the orifices of an inkjet cartridge in the manner of a common bandage. The barriers at a minimum a located to surround and keep separate inks of different colors.

Seal for inkjet orifices

An inkjet ink cartridge () having nozzle holes () to eject ink is sealed against escape of the ink from the orifices by tape () is hard at any temperature the container might reach during shipment and handling. This hardness resists any creep of the tape material into the orifices. The tape is applied after the surface that contacts the region of the orifices is softened by application of solvent for the material of the tape. The solvent softens the surface, causing it to conform closely to the surface having the nozzle plates in the manner of conventional pressure sensitive adhesive. The solvent is then removed. The tape can have high temperature resistance and the solvent need not be one that acts on the nozzles.

Sealing for inkjet orifices

Active enzymes are incorporated into inks to prevent clogging. These may be just cellulase or cellulase and protease, to attack the most prevalent materials. The enzymes decompose the materials they are specific to, which degrades or solubilizes them to prevent clogging at nozzles and other flow features of a printhead.

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Winchester, KY, United States of America

Dell T Rosa