Inkjet printhead assembly

• US 9,168,755 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• 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:
  US14/536,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20150062261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

An inkjet printhead assembly includes: an elongate ink supply structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply channels corresponding to a plurality of different colored inks and a plurality of outlet openings; and a plurality of individual printhead modules arranged along a length of the ink supply structure. Each printhead module includes: a carrier having a plurality of inlets for receiving ink from a respective set of the outlet openings, a mounting surface having a plurality of ink supply slots defined therein and a plurality of converging walls extending from the inlets towards the ink supply slots, the converging walls defining a plurality of converging ink galleries for supplying the plurality of different colored inks. A printhead segment is bonded to each mounting surface, the printhead segment receiving the different colored inks from the plurality of ink supply slots.

Claims

1. An inkjet printhead assembly comprising:

an elongate ink supply structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply channels corresponding to a plurality of different colored inks and a plurality of outlet openings; and

a plurality of individual printhead modules arranged along a length of the ink supply structure,

wherein each printhead module comprises;

a carrier having a plurality of inlets for receiving ink from a respective set of said outlet openings, a mounting surface having a plurality of ink supply slots defined therein and a plurality of converging walls extending from the inlets towards the ink supply slots, the converging walls defining a plurality of converging ink galleries for supplying the plurality of different colored inks; and

a printhead segment bonded to the mounting surface, the printhead segment receiving the different colored inks from the plurality of ink supply slots.

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

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

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

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

6. The 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 inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein each carrier is comprised of molded plastics.

8. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the inlets of each carrier are spaced further apart than the ink supply slots.

9. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the inlets of each carrier have larger dimensions than the ink supply slots.

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

11. A method of printing ink from a plurality of printhead segments, said method comprising the steps of:

supplying the ink to an inkjet printhead assembly having a plurality of printhead segments; and

printing the ink from the plurality of printhead segments,

wherein the inkjet printhead assembly comprises;

an elongate ink supply structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply channels and a plurality of outlet openings; and

a plurality of individual printhead modules arranged along a length of the ink supply structure, wherein each printhead module comprises;

a carrier having a plurality of inlets in fluid communication with said outlet openings, a mounting surface having a plurality of ink supply slots defined therein and a plurality of converging walls extending from the inlets towards the ink supply slots, the converging walls defining a plurality of converging ink galleries; and

a printhead segment bonded to the mounting surface, the printhead segment receiving the ink from one of the ink supply slots.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each printhead module is adhesively bonded to the ink supply structure.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein each printhead module further comprises a tape automated bonding (TAB) film connected to the printhead segment, the TAB film carrying power and data to the printhead segment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the printhead segments are arranged in two parallel rows.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the printhead segments are positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein each carrier is elongate and each of the converging walls extends a length of the carrier.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein each carrier is comprised of molded plastics.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the inlets of each carrier are spaced further apart than the ink supply slots.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the inlets of each carrier have larger dimensions than the ink supply slots.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the inkjet printhead assembly further comprises a slotted shield plate covering the elongate ink supply structure, and wherein each printhead segment is exposed through the slotted shield plate.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

providing the ink, wherein the ink is suitable for printing by the printhead segments.