Pulsating heat pipe spreader for ink jet printer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inkjet printhead, comprising:
- multiple inkjets arranged in a jetstack of the inkjet printhead, each inkjet including an inkjet nozzle and an actuator, the inkjets and actuator configured to controllably dispense drops of a heat activated phase change ink according to a predetermined pattern;
one or more heaters arranged along the jetstack and configured to heat the phase change ink to a temperature above the melting point of the ink; and
at least one pulsating heat pipe thermally coupled to the jetstack.
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Abstract
An inkjet printhead includes multiple inkjets arranged in a jetstack of the printhead. Each inkjet includes an inkjet nozzle and an actuator that controllably dispenses drops of a heat activated phase change ink according to a predetermined pattern. One or more heaters are arranged along the jetstack to heat the phase change ink to a temperature above the melting point of the ink. The printhead includes at least one pulsating heat pipe thermally coupled to the jetstack.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An inkjet printhead, comprising:
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multiple inkjets arranged in a jetstack of the inkjet printhead, each inkjet including an inkjet nozzle and an actuator, the inkjets and actuator configured to controllably dispense drops of a heat activated phase change ink according to a predetermined pattern; one or more heaters arranged along the jetstack and configured to heat the phase change ink to a temperature above the melting point of the ink; and at least one pulsating heat pipe thermally coupled to the jetstack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of fabricating a printhead for an inkjet printer, comprising:
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forming a pulsating heat pipe, comprising; enclosing at least one continuous channel formed in a flow plate with at least one cover plate to form a heat pipe flow channel with a filling port; filling the heat pipe flow channel with a heat carrying fluid though the filling port; and sealing the filling port; disposing a heater along an inkjet printer jetstack, the jetstack including inkjet nozzles and at least one electrically controllable piezoelectric actuator for each inkjet nozzle; and arranging the pulsating heat pipe to be thermally coupled to the jetstack. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method, comprising:
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heating phase change ink in a printhead of an inkjet printer above a melting temperature of the ink using a heater arranged along the printhead; selectively activating actuators in the printhead to cause drops of the ink to be ejected through inkjet nozzles; and spreading heat generated by the heater from warmer regions of the jetstack to cooler regions of the jet stack by successive vaporization and condensation of a heat carrying fluid disposed in a pulsating heat pipe. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification