Ink channel structure for inkjet printhead

• US 5,594,481 A
• Filed: 10/06/1994
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ho, May F., Tappon, Ellen R., Childers, Winthrop D., Steinfield, Steven W., Trueba, Kenneth E., Courian, Kenneth J., Knight, William R., Keefe, Brian J., Moritz, Jules G. III, Chapman, Terri I.
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, THU A
• Application Number:
  US08/319,893
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 347/62, 347/63, 347/84-87, 347/47, 347/65
• US Class Current: 347/65
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04543 Block driving
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04546 Multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0458 controlling heads based on heating elements forming bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14024 Assembling head parts
• 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 2/14129 Layer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14145 Structure of the manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14201 Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1603 of the front shooter type
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1634 laser machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 : Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 : Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 : Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17526 : Electrical contacts to the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1753 : Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 : Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 : Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14387 : Front shooter
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/13 : Heads having an integrated circuit

Abstract

Disclosed is an inkjet print cartridge including an ink reservoir; a substrate having a plurality of individual ink firing chambers with an ink firing element in each chamber along a top surface of said substrate and having a first outer edge along a periphery of substrate; the first outer edge being in close proximity to the ink firing chambers. The ink firing chambers are arranged in a first chamber array and a second chamber array and with the firing chambers spaced so as to provide 600 dots per inch printing. An ink channel connects the reservoir with the ink firing chambers, the channel including a primary channel connected at a first end with the reservoir and at a second end to a secondary channel; the primary channel allowing ink to flow from the ink reservoir, around the first outer edge of the substrate to the secondary channel along the top surface of the substrate so as to be proximate to the ink firing chambers. A separate inlet passage defined by a barrier layer for each firing chamber connecting the secondary channel with the firing chamber for allowing high frequency refill of the firing chamber. The separate inlet passage for each firing chamber having peninsulas and pinch points formed in the barrier layer to prevent cross-talk and overshoot during high frequency operation. A group of the firing chambers in adjacent relationship forming a primitive in which only one firing chamber in said primitive is activated at a time. A first circuit on said substrate connect to the firing elements and a second circuit on the cartridge connect to the first circuit, for transmitting firing signals to the ink firing elements at a frequency greater than 9 kHz. The preferred configuration of the nozzle member, ink channels, and vaporization chambers allows a printing resolution of 600 dpi and a firing rate of greater than 9 kHz.

Claims

1. An inkjet printing system comprising:

an ink reservoir;

a substrate having a plurality of individual ink firing chambers with an ink firing element in each of said ink firing chambers along a top surface of said substrate and having a first outer edge along a periphery of said substrate;

said first outer edge being in close proximity to said ink firing chambers;

an ink channel connecting said ink reservoir with said ink firing chambers, said ink channel including a primary channel connected at a first end with said ink reservoir and at a second end to a secondary channel;

said primary channel allowing ink to flow from said ink reservoir, around said first outer edge of said substrate to said secondary channel along said top surface of said substrate; and

a separate inlet passage connecting said secondary channel with each ink firing chamber, said inlet passage defined by a barrier layer to form a peninsula and a pinch point along said inlet passage for allowing high frequency refill of said ink firing chamber.

2. The inkjet printing system of claim 1 wherein said substrate includes a second outer edge with said primary channel allowing ink to flow from said ink reservoir, around said second outer edge of said substrate to a secondary channel along said top surface of said substrate.

3. The inkjet printing system of claim 1 wherein said barrier forms a plurality of peninsulas including:

a first peninsula terminating in close proximity to said outer edge of said substrate at a termination point located a first displacement distance from said outer edge; and

a second truncated peninsula terminating in proximity to said outer edge of said substrate at another termination point located a second displacement distance from said outer edge, said second displacement distance being greater than said first displacement distance.

4. The inkjet printing system of claim 3 wherein said first peninsula is immediately adjacent to said second truncated peninsula.

5. The inkjet printing system of claim 3 wherein said first peninsula is immediately adjacent to two second truncated peninsulas such that said first peninsula is between said second truncated peninsulas.

6. The inkjet printing system of claim 3 wherein said second truncated peninsula is immediately adjacent to two first peninsulas such that said second truncated peninsula is between said first peninsulas.

7. The inkjet printing system of claim 1 wherein said barrier layer forms a separation wall between adjacent firing chambers such that said separation wall has a width greater than said peninsulas.

8. The inkjet printing system of claim 7 wherein said peninsula is integral with and an extension of said separation wall.

9. The inkjet printing system of claim 1 wherein said peninsula has a width between approximately 10 and 40 microns.

10. The inkjet printing system of claim 1 wherein said barrier layer forms a separation wall between adjacent firing chambers and integrally includes said pinch point.

11. The inkjet printing system of claim 10 wherein said pinch point defines a constricted portion of said inlet passage proximate to an entrance of said ink firing chambers.

12. The printing system of claim 11 wherein said constricted portion has a width between approximately 15 and 55 microns.

13. The printing system of claim 1 wherein said pinch point has a length between approximately 20 and 50 microns.

14. The printhead of claim 1 wherein said peninsula provides an increased support in proximity of said outer edge of said substrate for a nozzle member when said nozzle member is positioned on the top surface of said substrate.

15. The inkier printing system of claim 1 wherein said ink reservoir and said substrate are incorporated into a print cartridge.

16. An inkjet printer comprising:

a scanning carriage;

an ink reservoir;

a substrate mounted in said carriage having a plurality of individual ink firing chambers with an ink firing element in each of said ink firing chambers along a top surface of said substrate and having a first outer edge along a periphery of said substrate;

said first outer edge being in close proximity to said ink firing chambers;

an ink channel connecting said ink reservoir with said ink firing chambers, said ink channel including a primary channel connected at a first end with said ink reservoir and at a second end to a secondary channel;

said primary channel allowing ink to flow from said ink reservoir, around said first outer edge of said substrate to said secondary channel along said top surface of said substrate; and

a separate inlet passage connecting said secondary channel with each ink firing chamber, said inlet passage defined by a barrier layer to form a peninsula and a pinch point along said inlet passage for allowing high frequency refill of said ink firing chamber.

17. The inkjet printer of claim 16 wherein said substrate includes a second outer edge with said primary channel allowing ink to flow from said ink reservoir, around said second outer edge of said substrate to a secondary channel along said top surface of said substrate.

18. The inkier printer of claim 16 wherein said barrier forms a plurality of peninsulas including:

a first peninsula terminating in close proximity to said outer edge of said substrate at a termination point located a first displacement distance from said outer edge; and

a second truncated peninsula terminating in proximity to said outer edge of said substrate at another termination point located a second displacement distance from said outer edge, said second displacement distance being greater than said first displacement distance.

19. The inkjet printing system of claim 16 wherein said ink reservoir and said substrate are incorporated into a print cartridge.