Printhead assembly with support permitting fastening of PCB external thereto

• US 7,703,884 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thinh H
• Application Number:
  US12/264,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 347/14, 347/40, 347/42, 347/49, 347/85
• US Class Current: 347/40
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/145 Arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/21 for multi-colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14459 Matrix arrangement of the pressure chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/19 Assembling head units
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/20 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49401 Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet

Abstract

A printhead assembly comprises an elongate support structure; a series of side wall sections extending a length of the support structure and defining ink supply channels, edges of the walls delineating a gap; a plurality of carriers positioned end-to-end in the gap and supported by said edges of the walls, the carriers defining a recess and ink supply passages in fluid communication with the recess and the ink supply channels; and a printhead integrated circuit mounted in each recess to receive ink from the ink supply channels. The elongate support structure is configured to permit a printed circuit board (PCB) to be fastened to an outside of the support structure so that the PCB can be connected to the printhead integrated circuits.

Claims

1. A printhead assembly comprising:

an elongate support structure;

a series of side wall sections extending a length of the support structure and defining ink supply channels, edges of the walls delineating a gap;

a plurality of carriers positioned end-to-end in the gap and supported by said edges of the walls, the carriers defining a recess and ink supply passages in fluid communication with the recess and the ink supply channels; and

a printhead integrated circuit mounted in each recess to receive ink from the ink supply channels, wherein

the elongate support structure is configured to permit a printed circuit board (PCB) to be fastened to an outside of the support structure so that the PCB can be connected to the printhead integrated circuits.

2. The printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing shim is interposed between each carrier and the side wall sections, the sealing shim defining openings to permit the passage of ink from the ink supply channels to the ink supply passages of the carriers.

3. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carriers have respective complementary ends which allow mating of adjacent carriers.

4. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shield plate for covering the carriers, the shield plate having a plurality of slots in register with respective printhead integrated circuits.