Fluid ejection device and manufacturing method

• US 20050200669A1
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Tran, Hai Quang, Schnebly, Larry E., Fischer, Jim, Timm, Dale D., Schweitzer, Paul, Scheffelin, Joseph E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14024 Assembling head parts
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1603 of the front shooter type
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/20 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing

Abstract

An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer includes a substratum and a cover attached to the substratum and having an aperture provided therein. A printhead is attached to the substratum and provided at least partially within the aperture. At least one connector extends from the printhead into the aperture, and an adhesive material covers at least a portion of the at least one connector. At least one barrier is provided for preventing the adhesive material from flowing to locations away from the at least one connector.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer comprising:

a substratum;

a cover attached to the substratum and having an aperture provided therein;

a printhead attached to the substratum and provided at least partially within the aperture;

at least one connector extending from the printhead into the aperture;

an adhesive material covering at least a portion of the at least one connector; and

at least one barrier that prevents the adhesive material from flowing to locations away from the at least one connector.

2. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the substratum has a plurality of electrical contacts provided thereon.

3. The ink cartridge of claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts provided on the substratum are provided within the aperture.

4. The ink cartridge of claim 3, wherein the printhead includes a nozzle surface and a plurality of contacts provided on the nozzle surface and wherein the at least one connector comprises a plurality of wires that extend between the plurality of contacts provided on the nozzle surface and the plurality of contacts provided on the substratum.

5. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the printhead has a perimeter and is provided in the aperture such that a gap is provided between the printhead and the cover about the perimeter of the printhead and wherein the printhead has a plurality of sides and the at least one barrier prevents the adhesive material from flowing along the length of at least one of the sides of the printhead.

6. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cover includes at least one cutout extending from the aperture and at least a portion of the at least one barrier is provided in the at least one cutout.

7. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier comprises an adhesive material.

8. The ink cartridge of claim 7, wherein the at least one barrier comprises an epoxy.

9. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier comprises a dam provided adjacent at least a portion of the printhead and comprising an adhesive material.

10. The ink cartridge of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the dam is provided in a cutout extending from the aperture.

11. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material covering at least a portion of the at least one connector comprises an epoxy.

12. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier comprises an epoxy having a higher viscosity than the adhesive material covering at least a portion of the at least one connector.

13. The ink cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive for attaching the cover to the substratum.

14. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cover has a top surface and the at least one barrier protrudes from the top surface for preventing the flow of adhesive over the cover beyond the at least one barrier.

15. The ink cartridge of claim 14, wherein the aperture provided in the cover has a side adjacent an end of the printhead and the at least one barrier acts to prevent the flow of the adhesive material over the cover beyond the at least one barrier.

16. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one barrier has a relatively rounded cross-sectional shape.

17. A fluid ejection cartridge for an ink jet printer comprising:

a substratum having a plurality of printheads attached thereto;

a cover attached to the substratum and having a plurality of apertures formed therein, each of the apertures configured to receive at least one of the plurality of printheads therein;

at least one connector extending from each of the plurality of printheads to contacts provided on the substratum;

an adhesive material covering at least a portion of the at least one connector and filling at least a portion of each of the plurality of apertures; and

means for preventing the adhesive material from flowing to locations away from areas near the at least one connector.

18. The fluid ejection cartridge of claim 17, wherein the substratum has a plurality of electrical contacts provided thereon, wherein each of the plurality of apertures has at least one electrical contact provided within the aperture, wherein each of the printheads includes a nozzle surface and a plurality of contacts provided on the nozzle surface, and wherein the at least one connector comprises a plurality of wires and each of the plurality of wires extend between at least one of the plurality of contacts provided on the nozzle surface and at least one of the plurality of contacts provided on the substratum.

19. The fluid ejection cartridge of claim 17, wherein the cover is attached to the substratum such that a gap exists between each of the plurality of printheads and the cover.

20. The fluid ejection cartridge of claim 19, wherein each of the printheads has a plurality of sides and the means for preventing the adhesive material from flowing to locations away from the at least one connector includes means for preventing the adhesive material from flowing along at least one of the sides of the printheads.

21. The fluid ejection cartridge of claim 20, wherein the cover includes a plurality of cutouts extending from each of the apertures.

22. The fluid ejection cartridge of claim 17, wherein the adhesive material covering at least a portion of the at least one connector comprises an epoxy.

23. The fluid ejection cartridge of claim 17, wherein the cover has a top surface and the means for preventing the adhesive material from flowing prevents the flow of adhesive over the cover beyond the means for preventing the adhesive material from flowing.

24. A cover for a fluid ejection device for an ink jet printer comprising:

at least one aperture configured to receive at least a portion of a printhead therein when the cover is coupled to the fluid ejection device; and

a barrier protruding from a surface of the cover adjacent at least a portion of the aperture; and

wherein the barrier is configured to restrict the flow of an adhesive utilized to encapsulate at least one connector used to electrically connect the printhead to the fluid ejection device.

25. The cover of claim 24, wherein the barrier is integrally formed with the cover.

26. The cover of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the barrier has a relatively rounded cross-sectional shape.

27. The cover of claim 24, wherein the aperture has at least one side and the barrier extends along the entire side of the aperture.

28. The cover of claim 24, wherein the cover has a size and shape such that a gap is provided between the cover and the printhead when the cover is coupled to the fluid ejection device.

29. The cover of claim 24, wherein the cover further comprises at least one cutout formed in the cover extending outward from the aperture for receiving therein at least a portion of a barrier material.

30. A cover for a fluid ejection device for an ink jet printer comprising:

at least one aperture configured to receive at least a portion of a printhead therein when the cover is coupled to the fluid ejection device; and

at least one cutout formed in the cover extending outward from the aperture for receiving therein at least a portion of a barrier material;

wherein the barrier material is configured to restrict the flow of an adhesive utilized to encapsulate at least one connector used to electrically connect the printhead to the fluid ejection device.

31. The cover of claim 30, wherein at least a portion of the at least one cutout has a relatively rounded shape.

32. The cover of claim 30, wherein the cover comprises at least two cutouts formed in the cover extending outward from the aperture.

33. The cover of claim 32, wherein each of the cutouts are configured to received at least a portion of a barrier that is configured to prevent the flow of the adhesive along the length of the printhead when the cover and printhead are coupled to the fluid ejection device.

34. The cover of claim 30, wherein the cover has a size and shape such the a gap is provided between the cover and the printhead when the cover is coupled to the fluid ejection device.

35. The cover of claim 30, wherein the cover further comprises a barrier protruding from a surface of the cover adjacent at least a portion of the aperture.

36. A method for manufacturing an ink jet printer cartridge comprising:

attaching a printhead to a substratum;

attaching a cover to the substratum such that the printhead is provided at least partially in an aperture formed in the cover and a gap exists between the printhead and the cover; and

coupling the printhead to the substratum using a plurality of wires; and

providing at least one barrier in the gap between the printhead and the cover.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising filling at least a portion of the gap between the printhead and the cover with an adhesive material, wherein the at least one barrier restricts the flow of the adhesive material.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of filling at least a portion of the gap between the printhead and the cover with an adhesive comprises encapsulating at least a portion of the wires.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of filling at least a portion of the gap between the printhead and the cover with an adhesive comprises encapsulating a first portion of the wires and further comprising encapsulating a second portion of the wires with an adhesive different from the adhesive used to encapsulate the first portion of the wires.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the aperture includes at least one recess extending outward from the printhead and at least a portion of the at least one barrier is provided in the recess.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein barrier comprises an adhesive material.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the barrier comprises an epoxy.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of providing at least one barrier in the gap between the printhead and the cover comprises providing at least two barriers in the gap between the printhead and the cover adjacent an end of the printhead.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the wires are provided adjacent the end of the printhead and further comprising encapsulating at least a portion of the wires with an adhesive material.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the at least two barriers retain the adhesive material adjacent the end of the printhead.

46. The method of claim 36, wherein the cover has a top surface and further comprising providing a barrier that protrudes from the top surface.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising providing an adhesive material in at least a portion of the gap between the cover and the printhead, wherein the barrier protruding from the top surface acts to prevent the flow of adhesive material onto the cover beyond the barrier.