Method of fabricating a glass nozzle array for an inkjet printer

Abstract

The method of this invention comprises first forming an assembly of a number N of cored glass fibers, separated by a number M of solid glass fibers. After a row of such alternated cored and solid glass fibers is assembled, a uniform pressure is applied to all sides of the assembly. All of the rectangular glass fibers are selected to have the same thermal properties, characterized especially by having the same softening temperature and the same coefficient of expansion. The entire assembly is inserted in an oven subject to a temperature sufficient to soften the glass and thus fuse the parts together. The assembly is cooled and the glass block is removed from the oven. The block can then be cut into thin nozzle wafers and finished to produce the desired jet nozzles. The method may use glass fibers made of two types of glass. The central portion of the fiber comprises a high-temperature glass, this portion surrounding the core. The remainder of the fiber comprises a low-temperature glass, said glass having the same thermal properties as the adjacent fibers and the plates. Multiple rows of the multi-nozzle arrays may be formed. The array may be comprised of a plurality of nozzles aligned in vertical columns at an angle of 90.degree. to the direction of the rows, to provide especially for multi-color printing. Alternatively, the nozzles may be aligned so that the descending columns are at an angle less than 90.degree. with the direction of the row. In this way, high density printing can be achieved.