Nozzle assembly for an ink jet printer

An ink jet nozzle assembly, comprising:

• a heater substrate;
• and
• a nozzle plate, including:
• a first resist layer having a first side laminated onto said heater substrate, said first resist layer including an ink cavity and at least one heater chamber in fluid communication with said ink cavity;
• a support layer having a first side and a second side, said first side of said support layer being in contact with a second side of said first resist layer such that said support layer at least partially covers said ink cavity;
• and
• a second resist layer having a side in contact with each of said second side of said first resist layer and said second side of said support layer, said second resist layer being supported by said support layer such that said second resist layer is retained substantially outside of said ink cavity, said second resist layer including at least one nozzle hole, said nozzle hole being substantially aligned with a corresponding said heater chamber;
• wherein said support layer leaves said at least one heater chamber and said at least one nozzle hole uncovered.

An ink jet nozzle plate, comprising:

• a first resist layer having a first side and a second side, said first resist layer including an ink cavity and at least one heater chamber in fluid communication with said ink cavity;
• a support layer having a first side and a second side, said first side of said support layer being in contact with said second side of said first resist layer such that said support layer at least partially covers said ink cavity;
• and
• a second resist layer having a side in contact with each of said second side of said first resist layer and said second side of said support layer, said second resist layer being supported by said support layer such that said second resist layer is retained substantially outside of said ink cavity, said second resist layer including at least one nozzle hole, said nozzle hole being substantially aligned with a corresponding said heater chamber.

An ink jet nozzle plate, comprising:

• a first resist layer having a first side and a second side, said first resist layer including an ink cavity and at least one heater chamber in fluid communication with said ink cavity;
• a support layer having a first side and a second side, said first side of said support layer being in contact with said second side of said first resist layer such that said support layer at least partially covers said ink cavity;
• and
• a second resist layer having a side in contact with each of said second side of said first resist layer and said second side of said support layer, said second resist layer being supported by said support layer such that said second resist layer is retained substantially outside of said ink cavity, said second resist layer including at least one nozzle hole, said nozzle hole being substantially aligned with a corresponding said heater chamber;
• wherein said support layer leaves said at least one heater chamber and said at least one nozzle hole uncovered.

An ink jet nozzle plate, comprising:

• a first imageable layer having a first side and a second side, said first imageable layer including an ink cavity and at least one heater chamber in fluid communication with said ink cavity;
• a support structure having a first side and a second side, said first side of said support structure being in contact with said second side of said first imageable layer such that said support structure is at least partially covering said ink cavity;
• and
• a second imageable layer having a side in contact with each of said second side of said first imageable layer and said second side of said support structure, said second imageable layer being supported by said support structure such that said second imageable layer is retained substantially outside of said ink cavity, said second imageable layer including at least one nozzle hole, said nozzle hole being substantially aligned with a corresponding said heater chamber.

An ink jet nozzle plate, comprising:

• a first layer having a first side and a second side, said first layer including an ink cavity and at least one heater chamber, said at least one heater chamber in fluid communication with said ink cavity;
• a support structure having a first side and a second side, said first side of said support structure being in contact with said second side of said first layer such that said support structure at least partially covers said ink cavity;
• and
• a second layer supported by said support structure such that said second layer is retained substantially outside of said ink cavity, said second layer including at least one nozzle hole, said nozzle hole being substantially aligned with a corresponding said heater chamber;
• wherein said support structure leaves said at least one heater chamber and said at least one nozzle hole uncovered.

A method of manufacturing an ink jet nozzle plate, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first layer including an ink cavity and at least one heater chamber in fluid communication with said ink cavity;
• adhering a support structure to said first layer, said support structure at least partially covering said ink cavity;
• laminating a second layer to each of said first layer and said support structure such that said second layer is retained substantially outside of said ink cavity;
• and
• creating at least one nozzle hole in said second layer such that each said nozzle hole is substantially aligned with a corresponding said heater chamber.