Xerox Corporation

Herman A Hermanson

Almon P Fisher

Donald J Drake

Gary Alan Kneezel

Roger Guy Markham

Roger G Teumer

William G Hawkins

Stephen F Pond

Cathie J Burke

Robert P Altavela

Ivan Rezanka

Dale R Ims

Narayan V Deshpande

Robert S Karz

Christian O Abreu

Daniel E Kuhman

Diane Atkinson

Peter J John

Earl V Jackson

Michael C Ferringer

Reinhold E Drews

David J Collins

John M Schneider

George O Hempel

Bobbie A Rice

Le Roy Baldwin

A multicolor liquid ink printer for printing unmottled, high quality images on sheets of plain paper. The multicolor liquid ink printer includes a flat, generally rectangular stationary platen having a first long side, a second long side, a first short end, a second short end, and a sheet supporting surface for supporting a sheet of plain paper. The multicolor liquid ink printer also includes a heating device for heating the stationary platen, and a sheet containing and feeding assembly for containing and feeding sheets of plain paper onto the sheet supporting surface of the stationary platen. Importantly, the multicolor liquid ink printer includes a bidirectionally movable sheet driving and printing assembly that is movable over and relative to the stationary platen and to a sheet being supported on the stationary platen. The sheet driving and printing assembly includes (i) a carriage; (ii) drive rollers mounted to the carriage for driving and moving a sheet on the stationary platen relative to the stationary platen, and (iii) a plurality of full width array printheads mounted to the carriage. Each full width array printhead of the plurality of full width array printheads contains a different color liquid ink for printing an unmottled, high quality liquid ink image onto a sheet of plain paper that is stationarily supported on the flat platen, thereby together forming an unmottled, high quality multicolor liquid ink image on the plain paper.

Multicolor liquid ink printer and method for printing on plain paper

An improved microelectromechanical device, such as a thermal ink jet die or printhead, is formed by the alignment of two planar substrates bonded together by an intermediate thick film layer of patterned polymeric material, such as polyimide. The improved device has a fully cured, patterned thick film layer which is planarized by chemical-mechanical polishing-to improve the bonding strength between the substrates. The planarization removes topographical formations generated during the deposition of the thick film layer and/or during the patterning of the recesses therein.

Micro-electromechanical die module with planarized thick film layer

A method of extending the useful life of a printbar for black ink in a multi-color printbar, full width array color ink jet printer by checking each nozzle in the printbar for droplet ejection; identifying any nozzle which fails to eject a droplet as a problem nozzle, and substituting at least one droplet from a nozzle in another printbar having a different color of ink. The substitute fill-in with a cyan droplet, cyan and magenta droplets, or cyan, magenta, and yellow droplets for process black prevents a missing spot and provides adequate printing quality for black printing, such as, for text, so that immediate printbar replacement is avoided, thereby extending the printbar life.

Method of extending the life of a printbar of a color ink jet printer

A priming element for priming or maintaining the nozzles or orifices of an ink jet printhead in an ink jet printer. The priming element applies a vacuum or negative pressure generated by a suction device to the nozzles. The priming element includes a first wall and a second wall spaced from the first wall to define a passageway between the first wall and the second wall. One or more support members connect the first wall to the second wall and span the passageway to prevent the walls of the priming element from collapsing from the applied vacuum or negative pressure.

Ink jet printer priming element

An apparatus and method for bonding wafer pairs. The apparatus includes a heated platen surrounded by a pressurization vessel. The heated platen includes channels connected to a hole which runs through the heated platen. Wafer pairs are placed on the top surface of the platen, a rubber mat is placed over the top of the wafer pairs, and a vacuum is drawn through the hole and the channels. The rubber mat compresses the wafer pairs. The platen is heated for the bonding process. The pressurization chamber is pressurized supplying additional bonding pressure to the wafer pair. Once sufficiently heated, the heated platen is liquid cooled completing the bonding process.

Apparatus for bonding wafer pairs

Disclosed is an apparatus for degassing a liquid, comprising: a liquid supply and an outlet communicating with the liquid supply via a flow path; a degassing tank, disposed in the flow path between the liquid supply and the outlet, the degassing tank incorporating a gas-permeable vent; a means for moving the liquid along the flow path; and a heater, disposed in the flow path between the degassing tank and the outlet, for heating the liquid and thereby removing gas therefrom. The apparatus is particularly suited to the ink supply system of a thermal ink jet printer where the removal of gases dissolved in the ink improves print quality.

Liquid deagassing apparatus

A printhead with a printhead die, an ink manifold and heat sink substrate has a continuous sealing surface surrounding the printhead die which is formed by the ink manifold, heat sink substrate and filler material disposed therebetween. The filler material acts as caulking to eliminate gaps around the printhead die, particularly between the ink manifold and heat sink substrate, and to provide a smooth surface for abutment with a capping member. A fluid-tight seal is obtained between the capping member and the continuous sealing surface on the printhead, thus preventing the drying out of ink in the nozzles through evaporation of volatile ink components. In some priming nozzle configurations, the leaktight seal also facilitates priming of the printhead.

Moisture leakage resistant capping surface for ink jet printhead

A movable priming station, for use with an ink jet printer having a printhead with a linear extended array of nozzles located on a planar surface thereof, is capable of priming a portion of the extended array of nozzles at one time by applying a vacuum to at least one nozzle located on the portion of the extended array. The movable priming station includes a support capable of moving along a length of the extended array of nozzles, a vacuum tube attached to the support for movement with the support and having a vacuum port adjacent to one end thereof. The support is controlled so that the vacuum port does not contact a nozzle-containing surface of the printhead when the support is moved laterally along the linear array of nozzles. The vacuum port can be maintained a predetermined distance, greater than zero, from the planar surface of the printhead by the support so that when the support is moved along the length of the extended array of nozzles while the support contacts the printhead, the vacuum port is located closely adjacent to without contacting the nozzle-containing portion of the printhead. Alternatively, the support can be moved away from the printhead during lateral movement thereof so as not to slide along the printhead.

Movable ink jet priming station

A maintenance station for an ink jet printer of the type having a printhead movable between an operating position and a maintenance position provides the capability of priming the printhead as well as maintaining a humid environment to prevent ink from drying out in the printhead orifices. The maintenance station is located adjacent the printhead maintenance position periodically occupied by the printhead and is positionable towards and away from the printhead. The maintenance station comprises a movable chamber having a rigid wall confronting the printhead and the chamber wall has an aperture. A seal means comprises a resilient floating bed base with a opening similar in size to the chamber wall aperture and resilient lips extending from the periphery of the base opening, the outer edge of which is larger than the base opening, so that the lips of the seal means have a predetermined slope. This seal means enable fluid-tight sealing between the chamber and the printhead, even if they are not in alignment with each other.

Maintenance station for ink jet printers

In a printhead assembly for a thermal ink jet printer there are a plurality of printheads mounted on a common heat sink, together with a heater and temperature controller for maintaining temperature of the printheads at an appropriate operating level. To prevent overheating of a printhead during periods of heavy use, the ink supply paths carrying ink to the printheads pass through, and receive heat from, the heat sink. The ink in each supply path then passes to the respective printhead via a tank, the position of which relative to the printhead establishes the ink pressure at the printhead discharge orifices. The tank is vented so that any air separating out from the ink can be removed. Capping means is provided to cap the ink discharge orifices when the printhead is idle and to prime/clean the printhead when required.

Thermal ink jet printing apparatus

Overlapping chip replaceable subunits for RIS or ROS array bars are disclosed. The subunits include a planar semiconductive substrate having at least one component and supporting circuitry on a surface thereof. The semiconductive substrate has first and second side edges, a front edge and a width equal to a distance between the first and second side edges. The planar semiconductive substrate is mounted on a planar support which can be, for example, a daughterboard/heat sink assembly having at least one electrode having a terminal at one end thereof. The planar support also has first and second side edges, a front edge and a width equal to a distance between the first and second side edges. The width of the support is less than the width of the semiconductive substrate so that the first and second side edges of the planar semiconductive substrate extend outwardly beyond the first and second side edges, respectively, of the support. The structure of the present invention enables extended arrays of subunits to be accurately placed on one surface of a substrate, while permitting individual subunits to be removed from the substrate easily and without damaging adjacent subunits or their electrical connections to the host machine.

Overlapping chip replaceable subunits, methods of making same, and

Method of making RIS or ROS array bars using replaceable subunits

A bubble jet printing device is optimized for extended operation by preventing heat buildup within the printhead and ink supply. Several configurations provides for the addition of heat sinks of appropriate dimensions either directly to the printhead or to an electrode board bonded to the printhead. Plated holes through the electrode board increase heat flow away from the printhead. According to another aspect of the invention, the ink supply cartridge has thermally conductive particles dispersed therethrough to effectively increase its capacity to radiate heat away from the printhead.

Bubble jet printing device with improved printhead heat control

A cleaning apparatus for a recording head in a magnetographic printing device of the type having a movable magnetic imaging tape in endless belt form is disclosed. The apparatus is especially effective for cleaning thermal printheads for thermoremanent magnetic imaging systems, and comprises a cleaning member adapted for reciprocal movement into and out of a nip formed by the magnetic tape and the printhead. In one embodiment, the cleaning member is a flexible substrate attached at one end to a rotatably mounted spool. The substrate is wound on the spool with the loose end resting on a guide plate and confronting the nip. The spool is periodically rotated to drive the substrate through the nip while the tape is moving and then is rotated in the opposite direction to rewind the substrate and withdraw it from the nip. In another embodiment, the cleaning member is a flexible substrate which is maintained in a planar configuration by parallel guide plates. A tractor wheel drive reciprocally moves the cleaning member into and out of the nip. The cleaning member may be a non-conductive, woven material having open spaces therein or a two layered composite having a non-conductive screen on one side to contact the tape and a carpet of short bristles on the other side to clean the printhead. Optionally, lateral movement of the cleaning member is provided after it enters the nip and the heating elements of the printhead may be momentarily energized to heat and soften the toner accumulated on the printhead to enhance the cleaning efficiency of the apparatus.

Cleaning apparatus for a magnetographic recording head

An energy efficient thermoremanent magnetic imaging method and apparatus comprising a moving magnetic recording medium which is passed through a nip formed by a thermal printhead and a pressure roller, so that the magnetizable surface of the recording medium is in pressure contact with the heating elements of the thermal printhead. The recording medium is pre-magnetized prior to entry in the nip and passed through a magnetic field of lower strength and opposite polarity at the nip. Small areas or pixels of the pre-magnetized recording medium are heated by the thermal printhead in image configuration and allowed to cool in the presence of the magnetic field at the nip. The magnetic poles of the imagewise pixels are switched, forming fringe fields between the pixels and pre-magnetized background areas. The pixels with the switched magnetic poles are spaced from each other to prevent the fringe fields from forming around the periphery of clusters of pixels and collapsing in between some or all of the pixels making up the cluster.

Growing community of inventors

Penfield, NY, United States of America

Herman A Hermanson