Lexmark International, Inc.

Blackbalm, LLC

Jeffrey Louis Sangalli

David Amos Ward

Matthew Joe Russell

Ganesh Vinayak Phatak

John Richard Fowler

Alexander I Shulgin

Jan Richard DeMeerleer

Joseph Andrew Schaefer

Brian Lee Cobb

A method of production and composition of a humic substances-based topical gel that contains a high concentration of polymerized humic substances in the form of polyelectrolyte-enhanced biopolymers, allowing for targeted application of gel to skin. A method of production consists of selection of humic substances containing material, extraction of humic substances from the material, polymerization of humic substances, and further processing for product preservation. Such humic substances based material may be derived from brown coal, such as leonardite or lignite, or peat. An extraction technique for extraction of the humic substances is an alkali extraction method. Such a resulting composition may contain sodium silicate as a gelling agent for ease of application, and in some embodiments a preservative or combination of preservatives for shelf life. Such a humic substances-based topic gel is water soluble, allowing for in-home application and ability to discard through washing down a household drain.

Process for preparation of a humic substance based gel for targeted external application

An ink jetting assembly includes a body, and an ink jet chip attached to the body. The ink jet chip has a mounting surface, a face surface, an ink channel extending to the face surface, and at least one actuator associated with the ink channel. The actuator includes a plurality of electrical contact pads formed on the face surface. A plurality of passageways extends through the ink jet chip from the mounting surface to the face surface. The ink jetting assembly also includes a plurality of electrodes. Each of the plurality of electrodes passes through a respective passageway of the plurality of passageways and is electrically connected to a respective contact pad of the plurality of electrical contact pads at the face surface.

Ink jetting assembly

An improved TAB circuit is provided for use with ink jet printer cartridges, which carries electrical signals to an array of nozzles on a heater chip. The TAB circuit eliminates bent or broken electrical circuit traces before being bonded to the heater chip by creating a chip window that partially overlaps the edges of the heater chip, and by bringing the electrical circuit traces to the chip window and terminating these circuit traces at a PI (polyimide) edge, which defines the inner perimeter of the chip window. The circuit traces thus are not unsupported at their ends before being assembled to the heater chip, and are automatically correctly positioned to make contact with bond pads of the heater chip when the overall TAB circuit is in correct registration therewith. The TAB circuit also provides an improved tolerance for a covercoat placement that will tend to prevent corrosive ink from coming into contact with these metal traces. The chip window of the TAB circuit also allows for a separate nozzle plate to be assembled to the heater chip.

Tab circuit for ink jet printer cartridges

A flexible circuit on an ink jet print head cartridge provides electrical connection between a control circuit in an ink jet printer and electrical contacts on a print head integrated circuit. During operation of printer, the contacts and the flexible circuit are exposed to a corrosive ink contained in the cartridge. The flexible circuit includes a first conductor for electrically connecting to a contact on the print head integrated circuit. The first conductor carries a first voltage when the flexible circuit is connected to the control circuit. A second conductor is disposed adjacent the first conductor for electrically connecting to another contact on the print head integrated circuit. When the flexible circuit is connected to the control circuit the second conductor carries a second voltage which is different from the first voltage. Thus, a voltage difference exists between the first conductor and the second conductor. The first conductor includes a first conductive lead and a second conductive lead which is separated from the first conductive lead by a separation distance. The second conductive lead is physically closer to the second conductor than is first conductive lead. The voltage difference between the first and second conductors, and presence of corrosive ink between the first and second conductors, causes an electrical current to flow between them. The electrical current flow causes corrosion of the first conductor. However, the second conductive lead corrodes at a faster rate than does the first conductive lead. Thus, the second conductive lead acts as a sacrificial lead, and reduces the corrosion rate of the first conductive lead. In this manner, the present invention prolongs the useful lifetime of the first conductor and the print head cartridge.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, KY, United States of America

Jeffrey Louis Sangalli