Ambient plasma treatment of printer components

• US 8,029,105 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Sieber, Kurt D., Hawkins, Gilbert A., Grace, Jeremy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens; Juanita D
• Application Number:
  US11/873,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 347/44, 347/45, 347/47, 347 54- 59
• US Class Current: 347/56
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1606 Coating the nozzle area or the ink chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1637 molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/33 Thermal printer with pre-coating or post-coating ribbon system
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/34 Thermal printer with pre-coating or post-processing

Abstract

A method of treating a printer component, a printhead, and a printer are provided. The method includes providing an electrode proximate to the printer component to be treated; introducing a plasma treatment gas in an area proximate to the printer component to be treated; and treating the printer component by applying power to the electrode thereby producing a micro-scale plasma at near atmospheric pressure, the micro-scale plasma acting on the printer component.

Claims

1. A method of treating a printer component comprising:

providing an electrode integrated with a printer component to be treated;

introducing a plasma treatment gas in an area proximate to the printer component to be treated; and

treating the printer component by applying power to the electrode thereby producing a micro-scale plasma at near atmospheric pressure, the micro-scale plasma acting on the printer component.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

translating at least one of the printer component and the electrode to treat additional regions of the printer component or another printer component.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling atmospheric conditions in the area proximate to the printer component to be treated.

4. The method of claim 1, the printer component comprising electrical circuitry, the method further comprising:

electrically shielding the electrical circuitry from the power applied during the treatment of the printer component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the printer component is at least one of a liquid chamber, a nozzle plate, a gutter, and a nozzle bore.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a counter electrode proximate to the printer component to be treated, wherein applying power to the electrode includes applying power between the electrode and the counter electrode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the counter electrode is part of the printer component to be treated.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing additional electrodes integrated with the printer component to be treated; and

providing additional counter electrodes positioned proximate to the printer component to be treated.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing additional electrodes integrated with the printer component to be treated.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode includes one of a microwave waveguide and a radiofrequency antenna.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

managing a flow of the plasma treatment gas using the printer component to be treated or another printer component.

12. An inkjet printer comprising:

a printer component; and

at least one electrode integrated with the printer component, the at least one electrode being configured to produce a micro-scale plasma at near atmospheric pressure proximate to the printer component.

13. The printer of claim 12, wherein the printer component includes a printhead.

14. The printer of claim 13, wherein the printhead comprises:

a nozzle bore;

a liquid chamber in liquid communication with the nozzle bore;

a drop forming mechanism associated with one of the nozzle bore and the liquid chamber;

electrical circuitry being in electrical communication with the drop forming mechanism; and

an electrical shield integrated with the printhead positioned to shield at least one of the drop forming mechanism and the electrical circuitry from an external source of power.

15. The printer of claim 14, wherein the electrical shield is grounded.

16. The printer of claim 12, wherein the printer component includes a gutter.

17. The printer of claim 12, further comprising:

a power supply in electrical communication with the electrode and a counter electrode.

18. The printer of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one counter electrode integrated with the printer component.

19. The printer of claim 12, wherein the electrode includes one of a microwave waveguide and a radiofrequency antenna.