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US 11,376,857 B2Granted
Input/output (I/O) design of a printhead allowing for daisy-chaining
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorHiroshi Nishimura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Printheads for a jetting apparatus. In one embodiment, a printhead comprises a plurality of jetting channels having nozzles on a bottom surface configured to jet a print fluid, and longitudinal sides disposed between the bottom surface and a top surface. The printhead also comprises Input/Output (I/O) ports disposed on one or more of the longitudinal sides, and configured to convey the print fluid into or out of the printhead. The printhead further includes one or more chain manifolds disposed between the I/O ports.
Claims20
A printhead comprising:
- an elongated head member that forms a plurality of jetting channels;
- wherein the head member includes:
- a housing comprising a rigid member having a first surface that defines a top surface of the head member, and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- and
- a plate stack attached to the second surface of the housing that forms a diaphragm, a restrictor, a pressure chamber, and a nozzle for each of the jetting channels;
- wherein a nozzle plate of the plate stack defines a bottom surface of the head member, and includes nozzles of the jetting channels arranged in one or more rows;
- wherein the head member further includes:
- a plurality of Input/Output (I/O) ports comprising a first I/O port and a second I/O port, wherein an I/O port comprises an opening in the head member that acts as an entry point or an exit point for a print fluid;
- and
- a supply manifold comprising a duct disposed longitudinally in the head member that fluidly couples the first I/O port and the second I/O port, and that is fluidly coupled to at least a subset of the jetting channels;
- wherein the head member has longitudinal sides disposed transverse to the nozzle plate along a length of the head member between the top surface and the bottom surface, and opposite one another across a width of the head member;
- wherein the I/O ports are disposed on at least one of the longitudinal sides of the head member.
9 more elements
A jetting apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of printheads;
- wherein each printhead of the plurality comprises an elongated head member that forms a plurality of jetting channels;
- wherein the head member includes:
- a housing comprising a rigid member having a first surface that defines a top surface of the head member, and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- and
- a plate stack attached to the second surface of the housing that forms a diaphragm, a restrictor, a pressure chamber, and a nozzle for each of the jetting channels;
- wherein a nozzle plate of the plate stack defines a bottom surface of the head member, and includes nozzles of the jetting channels arranged in one or more rows;
- wherein the head member further includes:
- a plurality of Input/Output (I/O) ports comprising a first I/O port and a second I/O port;
- and
- a supply manifold comprising a duct disposed longitudinally in the head member that fluidly couples the first I/O port and the second I/O port, and that is fluidly coupled to at least a subset of the jetting channels;
- wherein the head member has longitudinal sides disposed transverse to the nozzle plate along a length of the head member between the top surface and the bottom surface, and opposite one another across a width of the head member;
- wherein the I/O ports are disposed on at least one of the longitudinal sides of the head member.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.