Ink jet printhead with conformally coated heater
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorsKia Silverbrook, Angus John North
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. Each heater element is substantially covered by a conformal protective coating which has been applied to all sides of the heater element simultaneously so that the coating is seamless.
Claims59
An ink jet printhead comprising:
- a plurality of nozzles;
- and at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, wherein
- each heater element is covered by a conformal protective coating, the coating of each heater element having been applied to all sides of the heater element simultaneously such that the coating is seamless;
- each heater element is arranged for being in thermal contact with a bubble forming liquid, and
- each heater element is configured to heat at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein thereby to cause the ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that heater element.
A printer system incorporating a printhead, the printhead comprising:
- a plurality of nozzles;
- and
- at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, wherein
- each heater element is covered by a conformal protective coating, the coating of each heater element having been applied to all sides of the heater element simultaneously such that the coating is seamless;
- each heater element is arranged for being in thermal contact with a bubble forming liquid, and
- each heater element is configured to heat at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein thereby to cause the ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that heater element.
A method of ejecting a drop of a bubble forming liquid from a printhead, the printhead comprising a plurality of nozzles and at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the printhead, including applying to each heater element, to all sides thereof simultaneously, a conformal protective coating such that the coating is seamless;
- heating at least one heater element corresponding to a said nozzle so as to heat at least part of a bubble forming liquid which is in thermal contact with the at least one heated heater element to a temperature above the boiling point of the bubble forming liquid;
- generating a gas bubble in the bubble forming liquid by said stop of heating;
- and
- causing the drop of bubble forming liquid to be ejected through the nozzle corresponding to the at least one heated heater element by said step of generating a gas bubble.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.