초록 ▼

We describe an integrated thermal ink jet printhead and manufacturing process therefor which includes the successive build-up of an orifice plate, a first barrier layer, heater resistors, a second barrier layer, and an ink reservoir-defining layer on top of a reusable or “dummy”substrate. Lead-in co

We describe an integrated thermal ink jet printhead and manufacturing process therefor which includes the successive build-up of an orifice plate, a first barrier layer, heater resistors, a second barrier layer, and an ink reservoir-defining layer on top of a reusable or “dummy”substrate. Lead-in conductors are formed integral with the heater resistors by controlling the cross-sectional areas of these components, and openings (passageways) are formed between ink reservoirs and the orifice plate to provide for ink flow under control of the heater resistors. The dummy substrate is stripped away from the adjacent orifice plate, and the ink reservoir defining layer may be secured to an ink supply tank which supplies ink to the individual ink reservoirs. Thus, the orifice plate, heater resistors and ink flow paths of the printhead are self aligned, and the heater resistors are removed from direct cavitational forces from ink ejected from the orifice plate.

대표청구항 ▼

A self-aligning process for manufacturing a thermal ink jet printhead including the steps of: a. providing a reusable substrate; b. forming an orifice plate on said substrate; c. forming a first barrier layer on said orifice plate; d. forming heater resistors on said first barrier layer in a predefi

A self-aligning process for manufacturing a thermal ink jet printhead including the steps of: a. providing a reusable substrate; b. forming an orifice plate on said substrate; c. forming a first barrier layer on said orifice plate; d. forming heater resistors on said first barrier layer in a predefined configuration and spacing relative to openings in said orifice plate; e. forming a second barrier layer on said first barrier layer and extending over said heater resistors to protect said heater resistors from ink corrosion and cavitation wear; f. forming an ink reservoir-defining layer on said second barrier layer and having a plurality of ink reservoir openings aligned with openings in said orifice plate; g. providing passages through said first and second barrier layers and extending from said reservoirs and to openings in said orifice plate, whereby said ink reservoir layer may be secured to an ink supply chamber for supplying ink to said plurality of ink reservoirs; and h. removing said reusable substrate from said orifice plate. An integrated thermal ink jet printhead comprising: a. an orifice plate having plurality of openings therein; b. a first barrier layer disposed on said orifice plate; c. a plurality of heater resistors arranged in a predefined configuration on said first barrier layer and positioned adjacent said openings in said orifice plate; d. a second barrier layer disposed on said first barrier layer and covering said heater resistors and protecting same from ink corrosion and cavitation wear; e. an ink reservoir-defining layer disposed on said second barrier layer and having a plurality of ink reservoirs therein aligned with said openings in said orifice plate; and f. said first and second barrier layers having a passageway extending therethrough at each opening in said orifice plate for providing an ink flow path from said reservoirs in said reservoir-defining layer and through openings in said orifice plate, whereby said ink reservoir defining layer may be secured to an ink supply chamber or housing for supplying ink to said reservoirs and through said openings in said orifice plate during an ink jet printing operation.