HEADCHIP AND HEAD FOR ARRAY TYPE INKJET PRINTER

• US 20080278539A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S-Printing Solution Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Nam-kyun, HAN, Eun-bong
• Granted Patent: US 8,246,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/40
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1404 Geometrical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14072 Electrical connections, e.g. details on electrodes, connecting the chip to the outside...
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/11 characterised by specific geometrical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/20 Modules

Abstract

A headchip and a head of an array type inkjet printer. The headchip of the array type inkjet printer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept includes an ink supply unit which is arranged into first nozzle groups and second nozzle groups according to colors, and a power supply unit to supply power to the plurality of first and second nozzle groups in an alternate order, in which the first and second nozzle groups for one color and the first and second nozzle groups for another color closest in proximity to the one color, are connected using one power line. Accordingly, a voltage drop may be avoided when the plurality of nozzles are driven at the same time.

Claims

1. A headchip usable with an array type inkjet printer, the headchip comprising:

an ink supply unit arranged into first nozzle groups and second nozzle groups according to colors; and

a power supply unit to supply power to the plurality of first and second nozzle groups in an alternate order, in which the first and second nozzle groups for one color and the first and second nozzle groups for another color closest in proximity to the one color, are connected using one power line.

2. The headchip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is formed in a length direction of the ink supply unit.

3. The headchip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises:

first and second power pads formed at both ends of the ink supply unit in a length direction to supply power through the power line; and

a driving signal pad formed between the first and second power pads to supply a driving signal.

4. The headchip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ink supply unit comprises:

a first color, a second color, a third color and a fourth color; and

the power supply unit to connect the first nozzle group for the first color with the first nozzle group for the second color, the second nozzle group for the first color with the second nozzle group for the second color, the first nozzle group for the third color with the first nozzle group for the fourth color, and the second nozzle group for the third color with the second nozzle group for the fourth color using one power line, respectively.

5. The headchip as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the power supply unit supplies power in an alternate order to an even column nozzle group for the first color, an odd column nozzle group for the first color, the even column nozzle group for the third color, and the odd column nozzle group for the third color, and to the even column nozzle group for the second color, the odd column nozzle group for the second color, the even column nozzle group for the fourth color, and the odd column nozzle group for the fourth color.

6. A head usable with an array type inkjet printer, the head comprising:

an ink cartridge to supply ink;

a plurality of headchips spaced away from each other on the ink cartridge;

a plurality of substrates in which one end is connected with the headchip, and an other end includes a connection terminal to connect a main body of the array type inkjet printer; and

a plurality of bonding units to encapsulate a connection portion between the plurality of substrates and the headchips.

7. The head as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of substrates are formed to project the connection terminal outside of the ink cartridge.

8. The head as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of headchips comprise:

an ink supply unit arranged into first nozzle groups and second nozzle groups according to colors; and

a power supply unit to supply power to the plurality of first and second nozzle groups in an alternate order, in which the first and second nozzle groups for one color and the first and second nozzle groups for another color closet in proximity to the one color, are connected using one power line.

9. The head as claimed in claim 8, wherein the power supply unit is formed in a length direction of the ink supply unit.

10. The head as claimed in claim 9, wherein the power supply unit comprises:

first and second power pads formed at both ends of the ink supply unit in a length direction to supply power through the power line; and

a driving signal pad formed between the first and second power pads to supply a driving signal.

11. The head as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ink supply unit comprises:

a first color, a second color, a third color and a fourth color; and

the power supply unit to connect the first nozzle group for the first color with the first nozzle group for the second color, the second nozzle group for the first color with the second nozzle group for the second color, the first nozzle group for the third color with the first nozzle group for the fourth color, and the second nozzle group for the third color with the second nozzle group for the fourth color using one power line, respectively.

12. The head as claimed in claim 11, wherein the power supply unit supplies power in an alternate order to an even column nozzle group for the first color, an odd column nozzle group for the first color, the even column nozzle group for the third color, and the odd column nozzle group for the third color, and to the even column nozzle group for the second color, the odd column nozzle group for the second color, the even column nozzle group for the fourth color, and the odd column nozzle group for the fourth color.

13. The head as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of headchips further comprise:

a control circuit unit to supply power to one of the plurality of connected nozzle groups each time, using one power line.

14. A head useable with an array type inkjet printer, the head comprising:

an ink cartridge;

a plurality of headchips spaced apart from each other, arranged in a lengthwise direction of the ink cartridge, and each having a first side parallel to the lengthwise direction;

a plurality of substrates connected to the first side of the corresponding headchips; and

a plurality of bonding unit disposed on the side to encapsulate a portion of the corresponding substrates and headchips.

15. The headchip as claimed in claim 14, wherein the plurality of headchips comprise:

a first column of headchips disposed on a first column line along the lengthwise direction and a second column of the headchips disposed on a second column line along the lengthwise direction; and

the substrates are connected to the first side of the corresponding ones of the first and second columns of the headchips.

16. The headchip as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the substrates are spaced apart from each other to be connected to the first side of the corresponding headchips.

17. The headchip as claimed in claim 14, wherein the plurality of headchips comprise:

a second side perpendicular to one of the first side and the lengthwise direction; and

the substitutes are not connected to the second side of the corresponding headchips

18. The headchip as claimed in claim 14, wherein the headchips comprise:

a first column of head chips and a second column of headchips; and

the substrates comprise;

first substrates having a first length and second substrates having a second length to be connected to corresponding ones of the first and second columns of headchips.

19. An array head usable with an array-type inkjet printer, the array head comprising:

a plurality of headchips having nozzles to discharge ink;

a substrate electrically connected to the plurality of headchips through a connection portion; and

an encapsulation unit to protect the connection portion,

wherein a wiping operation is performed in a width direction along a width of the array head.

20. The array head of claim 21, wherein the plurality of headchips are detachably mounted to the substrate.