Orifice plate with break tabs and method of manufacturing
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsRio T. Rivas, Garrard Hume, Angela W. Bakkom, Gerald G. Trunk, Niranjan Thirukkovalur
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plate has a rectangular plate body with a plurality of nozzle arrays. The plate also has first and second end zones in between the plurality of nozzle arrays and opposing ends of the plate body, respectively. There is a break tab in at least one of the first and second end zones. In between the first and second end zones is a middle zone. A plating material encapsulates the plate body in the middle zone.
Claims34
A plate comprising:
- a rectangular plate body having a plurality of nozzle arrays;
- first and second end zones in between the plurality of nozzle arrays and opposing ends of the plate body, respectively;
- a middle zone defined in between the first and second end zones;
- a break tab in at least one of the first and second end zones;
- and
- a plating material encapsulating the plate body in the middle zone.
An orifice plate comprising:
- a rectangular plate body defining an array of orifices;
- first and second opposing edges of the body;
- a break tab along one of the first and second opposing edges;
- third and fourth opposing edges of the body coupling the first and second edges;
- and
- a material plated over the third and fourth edges.
A print head comprising:
- a plurality of heating elements;
- and
- a rectangular orifice plate defining an array of orifices through which heated fluid is ejected, each orifice associated with one of the heating elements,
- wherein the plate has first and second opposing edges, a break tab along one of the first and second opposing edges, third and fourth opposing edges coupling the first and second edges, and a plating material covering the third and fourth edges.
A sheet comprising a plurality of intercoupled plates, wherein each plate has:
- a rectangular plate body having a plurality of orifice arrays;
- first and second end zones in between the plurality of orifice arrays and ends of the plate body, respectively;
- a break tab in at least one of the first and second end zones;
- a middle zone defined in between the first and second end zones;
- and
- a plating material encapsulating the plate body in the middle zone.
A sheet comprising a plurality of intercoupled plates, wherein the plurality of plates includes a first plate and a plurality of second plates adjacent the first plate, where the first plate has:
- a rectangular plate body having edges and a plurality of orifice arrays;
- and
- a plurality of break tabs along the edges of the plate body, wherein each break tab of the first plate is coupled with a different one of the plurality of second plates.
A method of manufacturing an ink jet cartridge comprising:
- attaching a print head to a cartridge body, wherein the print head has an elongated orifice plate with a plurality of orifice arrays, and first and second end zones in between the plurality of nozzle arrays and opposing end edges of the plate, respectively, wherein the plate further has a middle zone defined in between the first and second end zones, and a break tab in at least one of the first and second end zones;
- encapsulating the middle zone of the plate body with a plating material;
- and
- applying an encapsulant to at least a part of the first and second end zones.
A method of manufacturing orifice plates comprising:
- forming a sheet with a plurality of plates, wherein the plurality of plates includes a first plate, wherein the first plate has a rectangular plate body having a plurality of orifice arrays, first and second end zones in between the plurality of orifice arrays and ends of the plate body, respectively, and a middle zone defined in between the first and second end zones;
- forming a plurality of break tabs in between adjacent plates, wherein the plurality of break tabs includes a first break tab associated with the first plate, wherein the first break tab is in at least one of the first and second end zones;
- and
- encapsulating the middle zone of the plate body with a plating material.
An ink jet print cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body defining a fluid chamber;
- a plurality of heating elements in fluid communication with the fluid chamber;
- and
- a rectangular orifice plate defining an array of orifices through which heated fluid is ejected, each orifice associated with one of the heating elements,
- wherein the plate has first and second opposing edges, a break tab along one of the first and second opposing edges, third and fourth opposing edges coupling the first and second edges, and a plating material covering the third and fourth edges.
A break tab of an orifice plate comprising:
- a base coupled with an edge of the plate;
- a top opposite the base;
- side walls coupling the base and the top;
- and
- concave portions at junctions of the side walls and the top.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.