Inkjet printhead assembly comprising printhead modules having converging ink galleries

• US 8,905,519 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LAMSON D
• Application Number:
  US14/104,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 347/42, 347/47, 347/49, 347/40, 347/43
• US Class Current: 347/42
• 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 is provided having an elongate support having a plurality of internal webs protruding from a base section to define a plurality of parallel fluid supply channels, a shim supported by the support and defining a plurality of rows of openings through which fluid from respective supply channels is supplied, and a plurality of elongate printhead modules supported serially on the shim. Each module defines a plurality of fluid supply passages through which fluid passes to fluid ejection nozzles from respective rows of the openings. Either end of each module defines complementary formations such that adjacent modules nest together.

Claims

1. A pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly comprising:

an elongate ink supply structure; and

a plurality of individual printhead modules arranged along a length of the ink supply structure for receiving ink therefrom, each printhead module comprising;

a carrier including a back surface having a plurality of inlets defined therein, a chip mounting surface having a plurality of outlets defined therein and a plurality of converging walls extending from the back surface towards the mounting surface, the converging walls defining a plurality of converging ink galleries for supplying a plurality of different colored inks; and

a printhead chip bonded to the mounting surface, the printhead chip receiving the different colored inks from the plurality of outlets.

2. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein each printhead module is adhesively bonded to the ink supply structure.

3. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein each printhead module further comprises a tape automated bonding (TAB) film connected to the printhead chip, the TAB film carrying power and data to the printhead chip.

4. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the printhead chips are arranged in two parallel rows.

5. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 4, wherein the printhead chips are positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement.

6. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein each carrier is elongate and each of the converging walls extends a length of the carrier.

7. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the inlets of the carrier are spaced further apart than the outlets of the carrier.

8. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the inlets of the carrier have larger dimensions than the outlets of the carrier.

9. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, further comprising a slotted shield plate covering the elongate ink supply structure, wherein each printhead chip is exposed through the slotted shield plate.