Print head ink temperature control device

An ink iet print head, comprising:

• a plurality of ink channels disposed in a common plane, each of said channels having at least one orifice for protecting ink towards a substrate;
• and
• an ink heater made of a thermistor material having a positive temperature coefficient, the ink heater having a substantially flat plate configuration with a planar surface both facing said ink channels and extending in a plane generally parallel to the common plane of the ink channels, said planar surface being disposed adjacent to the ink channels,
• wherein the thermistor material includes a first side and a second side, and the ink heater includes a first electrode and a second electrode located on the first side of the thermistor material, wherein heat is generated on the first side of the thermistor material between the first and second electrodes, and
• wherein the plurality of ink channels include one or more channels which dissipate heat at a higher rate than other channels, and the first and second electrodes are located in an arrangement so that the thermistor material generates greater heat in a first area located adjacent the one or more channels than a second area adjacent the other channels.

An ink jet print head, comprising:

• a plurality of ink channels disposed in a common plane, each of said channels having at least one orifice for projecting ink towards a substrate;
• and
• an ink heater made of a thermistor material having a positive temperature coefficient, the ink heater having a substantially flat plate configuration with a planar surface both facing said ink channels and extending in a plane generally parallel to the common plane of the ink channels, said planar surface being disposed adjacent to the ink channels;
• wherein the thermistor material includes a first side and a second side, and the ink heater includes a first electrode and a second electrode located on the first side of the thermistor material, wherein heat is generated on the first side of the thermistor material between the first and second electrodes, and
• wherein the ink heater includes:
• a first longitudinal edge,
• a second longitudinal edge,
• a first transverse edge, and
• a second transverse edge,
• the first longitudinal edge is located opposite from the second longitudinal edge, the first and second longitudinal edges extend in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plurality of ink channels,
• the first transverse edge is located opposite from the second transverse edge,
• the first and second transverse edges extend in a direction which is substantially parallel to the plurality of ink channels,
• the second electrode is substantially U-shaped and extends along the first and second longitudinal edges and the first transverse edge, and
• the first electrode extends in an area defined by the U-shaped second electrode and in a direction parallel to the first and second longitudinal edges.

An ink jet print head, comprising:

• a plurality of ink channels disposed in a common plane, each of said channels having at least one orifice for projecting ink towards a substrate;
• and
• an ink heater made of a thermistor material, the ink heater having a substantially flat plate configuration with a planar surface both facing said ink channels and extending in a plane generally parallel to the common plane of the ink channels, said planar surface being disposed adjacent to the ink channels;
• wherein the ink heater is made of a thermistor material having a positive temperature coefficient,
• and wherein the thermistor material includes a first side and a second side, and the ink heater includes a first electrode and a second electrode located on the first side of the thermistor material, wherein heat is generated on the first side of the thermistor material between the first and second electrodes,
• a first lead electrically coupled to the first electrode, and a second lead electrically coupled to the second electrode;
• a top body portion having a first plurality of ink channel grooves extending in a longitudinal direction;
• an intermediate body portion having an upper side and a lower side, a second plurality of ink channel grooves extending in a longitudinal direction along the upper side, the upper side of the intermediate body portion located adjacent the top body portion wherein the first and second plurality of ink channel grooves form the plurality of ink channels;
• a main body portion located adjacent the lower side of the intermediate body portion,
• wherein the ink heater is located between the lower side of the intermediate body portion and the main body portion, and
• wherein the main body portion includes a recess and first and second grooves extending in a longitudinal direction from the recess, wherein the recess receives the thermistor material and the first and second grooves receive the first and second leads, respectively.

An ink jet print head comprising:

• a top body portion;
• an intermediate body portion having an upper side and a lower side, a plurality of ink channels disposed in a common plane along the upper side, each of said channels having at least one orifice for projecting ink towards a substrate, the upper side of the intermediate body portion located adjacent the top body portion;
• a main body portion located adjacent the lower side of the intermediate body portion;
• and
• an ink heater made of a thermistor material having a positive temperature coefficient, the ink heater having a substantially planar configuration and is located between the lower side of the intermediate body portion and the main body portion, and extends in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the ink channels and adjacent to the ink channels,
• wherein the thermistor material includes a first side and a second side, and the ink heater includes a first electrode and a second electrode located on the first side of the thermistor material, wherein heat is generated on the first side of the thermistor material between the first and second electrodes, and
• wherein the plurality of ink channels include one or more channels which dissipate heat at a higher rate than other channels, and the first and second electrodes are located in an arrangement so that the thermistor material generates greater heat in a first area located adjacent the one or more channels than a second area adjacent the other channels.

An ink jet print head comprising:

• a top body portion;
• an intermediate body portion having an upper side and a lower side, a plurality of ink channels disposed in a common plane along the upper side, each of said channels having at least one orifice for projecting ink towards a substrate, the upper side of the intermediate body portion located adjacent the top body portion;
• a main body portion located adjacent the lower side of the intermediate body portion;
• and
• an ink heater made of a thermistor material having a positive temperature coefficient, the ink heater having a substantially planar configuration and is located between the lower side of the intermediate body portion and the main body portion, and extends in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the ink channels and adjacent to the ink channels,
• wherein the thermistor material includes a first side and a second side, and the ink heater includes a first electrode and a second electrode located on the first side of the thermistor material, wherein heat is generated on the first side of the thermistor material between the first and second electrodes, and
• wherein the ink heater include a first edge and a second edge, the first edge is located opposite from the second edge, the first and second edge extend in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plurality of ink channels, the first electrode extends along the first edge and the second electrode extends along the second edge, wherein the first and second electrodes are opposite from one another and substantially parallel.

An ink jet print head comprising:

• a top body portion:
• an intermediate body portion having an upper side and a lower side, a plurality of ink channels disposed in a common plane along the upper side, each of said channels having at least one orifice for projecting ink towards a substrate, the upper side of the intermediate body portion located adjacent the top body portion;
• a main body portion located adjacent the lower side of the intermediate body portion;
• and
• an ink heater made of a thermistor material, the ink heater having a substantially planar configuration and is located between the lower side of the intermediate body portion and the main body portion, and extends in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the ink channels and adjacent to the ink channels,
• wherein the ink heater is made of a thermistor material having a positive temperature coefficient, and
• wherein the thermistor material includes a first side and a second side, and the ink heater includes a first electrode and a second electrode located on the first side of the thermistor material, wherein heat is generated on the first side of the thermistor material between the first and second electrodes, and
• wherein the ink heater includes:
• a first longitudinal edge,
• a second longitudinal edge,
• a first transverse edge and a second transverse edge, the first longitudinal edge is located opposite from the second longitudinal edge,
• the first and second longitudinal edges extend in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plurality of ink channels, the first transverse edge is located opposite from the second transverse edge,
• the first and second transverse edges extend in a direction which is substantially parallel to the plurality of ink channels, and
• the first electrode is substantially U-shaped and extends along the first and second longitudinal edges and the first transverse edge, and the second electrode extends in an area defined by the U-shaped first electrode and in a direction parallel to the first and second longitudinal edges.

An ink jet print head comprising:

• a top body portion;
• an intermediate body portion having an upper side and a lower side, a plurality of ink channels disposed in a common plane along the upper side, each of said channels having at least one orifice for projecting ink towards a substrate, the upper side of the intermediate body portion located adjacent the top body portion;
• a main body portion located adjacent the lower side of the intermediate body portion;
• and
• an ink heater made of a thermistor material, the ink heater having a substantially planar configuration and is located between the lower side of the intermediate body portion and the main body portion, and extends in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the ink channels and adjacent to the ink channels,
• wherein the main body portion includes a recess and first and second grooves extending in a longitudinal direction from the recess, wherein the recess receives the thermistor material and the first and second grooves receive the first and second leads, respectively.