Heating element suitable for preconditioning print media
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ink-jet heater assembly for heating a printing media for an ink-jet printer comprising:
- a. an electrical resistance heating member for generating resistance heating when electrically activated;
b. a fibrous support layer disposed over said electrical resistance heating member; and
c. a polymeric layer substantially encapsulating said fibrous support layer and said electrical resistance heating member said polymeric layer being integrally formed into a polymeric media pathway component of an ink-jet printer by cross-linking, melt-bonding or adhesive bonding.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Heating elements suitable for heating a printing media of a ink-jet printer are provided. The heating element includes an electrical resistance heating member for generating resistance heating and a polymeric supporting layer for substantially encapsulating the electrical resistance heating member. The heating elements of this invention can include a fibrous support layer disposed over the electrical resistance heating member for assisting in the application of the polymeric layer. Additionally, the provided heating elements can be formed into a portion of a media pathway for an ink-jet printer.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An ink-jet heater assembly for heating a printing media for an ink-jet printer comprising:
-
a. an electrical resistance heating member for generating resistance heating when electrically activated;
b. a fibrous support layer disposed over said electrical resistance heating member; and
c. a polymeric layer substantially encapsulating said fibrous support layer and said electrical resistance heating member said polymeric layer being integrally formed into a polymeric media pathway component of an ink-jet printer by cross-linking, melt-bonding or adhesive bonding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An ink-jet heater assembly for preconditioning a printing medium in a media pathway of an ink-jet printer, comprising:
-
a. an electrical resistance heating wire disposed in a substantially planar circuit path;
b. a first glass mat disposed on a top surface of said electrical resistance heating wire;
c. a second glass mat disposed on a bottom surface of said electrical resistance heating wire; and
d. a high temperature polymeric layer substantially encapsulating said circuit path and said first and second glass mats;
whereby said electrical resistance heating wire, first and second glass mats, high temperature polymeric layer and a polymeric media pathway component of said ink-jet printer are integrally joined to one another by cross-linking, melt-bonding or adhesive bonding.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. The method of preconditioning a printing medium, comprising:
-
a. providing a media pathway containing an electrical resistance heating member self supported by a polymeric layer, said polymeric layer substantially encapsulating a circuit for said electrical resistance heating member, said heating element integrally disposed within said media pathway via cross-linking, melt-bonding or adhesive bonding, and positioned so as to preheat said printing medium prior to printing;
b. printing said preconditioned printing medium with an ink, whereby cockling and ink bleeding are minimized. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. A printer heater assembly for heating a print media, comprising an electrical resistance heating member forming a circuit path;
- temperature control means disposed proximate to said circuit path for selectively regulating electrical current within said electrical resistance heating member;
a polymeric layer disposed over and substantially encapsulating said circuit path and temperature control means;
said polymeric layer substantially contacting said circuit path and supporting said circuit path to enable thermal transfer between said heating member and said print media, said heating member having a power rating of about 5-150 W, said polymeric layer joined to a polymeric media pathway component of a printer by a molding operation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- temperature control means disposed proximate to said circuit path for selectively regulating electrical current within said electrical resistance heating member;
Specification