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US 6,666,449 B2Granted
Star wheel surface enhancement and process of manufacture
OwnerStephen Francis DeFosse, Edward Lawrence Kiely +1inventors
InventorsStephen Francis DeFosse, Edward Lawrence Kiely, Sean David Smith
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Abstract
A star wheel manufacturing process, and a star wheel manufactured thereby, suitable for an ink jet printer. Metal is formed by chemical milling, subtractive etching or the like, into the desired star wheel configuration, including a plurality of radially extending projections having tips. At least a portion of each tip has an electropolished surface. A coating of fluorinated polymer or the like may be applied to at least a portion of the electrolpolished surface on each tip.
Claims8
A star wheel comprising:
- a metallic body;
- a plurality of radially extending projections from said body, each said projection having a tip on a distal end thereof;
- and
- at least a portion of each of said projections having an electropolished surface.
1 more element
An ink jet printer comprising:
- a print station including a media transport path therethrough;
- a star wheel in said media path engaging printed surfaces of media exiting said print station;
- and
- said star wheel having a plurality of projections, each said projection having an electropolished surface.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.