The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 31, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 19, 1998
Colin Geoffrey Maher, Lexington, KY (US);
Ashok Murthy, Lexington, KY (US);
Darrin Wayne Oliver, Lexington, KY (US);
Robert Allen Samples, Lexington, KY (US);
Jeanne Marie Saldanha Singh, Lexington, KY (US);
Carl Edmond Sullivan, Versailles, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
A heater chip module is provided comprising a carrier adapted to be secured directly to an ink-filled container, at least one heater chip having a base coupled to the carrier, and at least one nozzle plate coupled to the heater chip. The carrier includes inner side walls and a support section which together define an inner cavity. An edge feed heater chip is coupled to the carrier support section. The heater chip includes side walls. The support section includes first and second passages which define first and second paths for ink to travel from the container to the inner cavity. The inner cavity and the heater chip are sized such that a first side wall of the heater chip is spaced from a first inner side wall of the carrier and a second side wall of the heater chip is spaced from a second inner side wall of the carrier. A nozzle plate is coupled to the heater chip and the carrier. The nozzle plate has a width such that the nozzle plate extends over an outer surface of the carrier. Sealant material is provided in the inner cavity such that at least a portion of the first inner side wall of the carrier, at least a portion of the first side wall of the heater chip, a first section of the nozzle plate and the sealant material define a first sealed ink cavity for receiving ink passing through the first passage. Additional sealant material is provided in the inner cavity such that at least a portion of the second inner side wall of the carrier, at least a portion of the second side wall of the heater chip, a second section of the nozzle plate and the additional sealant material define a second sealed ink cavity for receiving ink passing through the second passage.