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US 11,975,468 B2Granted
Coplanar modular printbars
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsChien-Hua Chen, Si-lam J. Choy, Michael W. Cumbie
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Abstract
In various examples, a printbar is formed from multiple modular fluid ejection subassemblies joined together through a molding process that provides for a continuous planar substrate surface. A mold may secure the modular fluid ejection subassemblies during a molding process in which a runner conveys a molding material to seams between the joined modular fluid ejection subassemblies.
Claims15
A molding system, comprising:
- a lower mold cavity to receive modular fluid ejection subassemblies aligned such that an upper surface of a substrate of each modular fluid ejection subassembly is coplanar with an upper surface of a substrate of an adjacent modular fluid ejection subassembly;
- an upper mold cavity planarly aligned with the coplanar upper surfaces of the substrates of the modular fluid ejection subassemblies;
- a runner to convey a mold material between the lower mold cavity and the upper mold cavity proximate a seam between two adjacent modular fluid ejection subassemblies, the runner aligned with the seam;
- and
- a delivery device to deliver the mold material into the runner to fill the seam between the adjacent modular fluid ejection subassemblies,
- wherein the upper mold cavity constrains the delivered mold material coplanar with the upper substrate surfaces of the modular fluid ejection subassemblies.
3 more elements
A method of manufacturing a printbar, comprising:
- aligning a first modular fluid ejection subassembly with a second modular fluid ejection subassembly such that an upper surface of a substrate of the first modular fluid ejection subassembly is coplanar with an upper surface of a substrate of the second modular fluid ejection subassembly;
- positioning the aligned first and second modular fluid ejection subassemblies within a lower mold cavity of a mold;
- aligning an upper mold cavity of the mold with the upper surfaces of the substrates of the first and second modular fluid ejection subassemblies;
- and
- directing a mold material into a runner between the lower mold cavity and the upper mold cavity to fill a seam between the aligned first and second modular fluid ejection subassemblies to form a multi-module printbar with a seamless, continuous planar surface between the first and second modular fluid ejection subassemblies, wherein the runner aligns with the seam.
2 more elements
A manufacturing mold, comprising:
- a lower mold cavity to receive
- a first modular fluid ejection subassembly aligned with a second modular fluid ejection subassembly, and
- a third modular fluid ejection subassembly aligned with the second modular fluid ejection subassembly,
- wherein the first, second, and third modular fluid ejection subassemblies are aligned with the lower mold cavity such that substrates of each of the first, second, and third modular fluid ejection subassemblies are coplanar with respect to one another;
- a first leg of a runner to convey mold material into a first seam between the first modular fluid ejection subassembly and the second modular fluid ejection subassembly, the first leg aligned with the first seam;
- a second leg of a runner to convey mold material into a second seam between the second modular fluid ejection subassembly and the third modular fluid ejection subassembly, the second leg aligned with the second seam;
- and
- an upper mold cavity to maintain the conveyed mold material coplanar with the substrates of the first, second, and third modular fluid ejection subassemblies.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.