Methods and apparatus for curing a thermal sealing material using a heater trace
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMark R. Natterer, Jeffrey D. Langford, Leo Clarke, Jr.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a seal between two or more components using a thermally cured sealing material. One exemplary method includes selectively applying an electrical signal to a heating trace on a first component, applying a sealing material between at least a portion of the first component and at least a portion of a second component, and at least partially thermally curing the sealing material using thermal energy generated by the application of the electrical signal to the heating trace.
Claims23
An apparatus comprising:
- a first component;
- a second component having at least one electrical heater trace;
- and
- a thermally cured sealing material interface physically coupled between at least a portion of said first component and at least a portion of said second component, said at least a portion of said second component being controllably heatable by said electrical heater trace when an electrical signal is applied through said electrical heater trace, and wherein said first component includes at least one channel corresponding to at least one edge of said second component that is configured to receive said sealing material.
A method comprising:
- selectively applying an electrical signal to a heater trace on a first component;
- applying a sealing material between at least a portion of said first component and at least a portion of a second component;
- and
- at least partially thermally curing said sealing material using thermal energy generated by the application of said electrical signal to said heater trace, and wherein said first component includes at least one channel corresponding to at least one edge of said second component that is configured to receive said sealing material.
A print cartridge for use with a printing device, the print cartridge comprising:
- a pen body;
- a flexible strip affixed to said pen body, said flexible strip including an electrical heater trace that extends about at least a portion of said flexible strip and is located near at least one edge of said flexible strip;
- and
- a thermally cured sealing material coupling at least a portion of said flexible strip to at least a portion of said pen body, said thermally cured sealing material forming a seal between said flexible strip and said pen body nearby the location of said electrical heater trace, and wherein said pen body includes at least one channel corresponding to at least one edge of said flexible strip this is configured to receive said sealing material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.