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US 8,911,060 B2Granted
Passivation of printhead assemblies and components therefor
AssigneeXaar Technology Limited
InventorPaul R. Drury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printhead assembly comprising the printhead and filters intended for use with the printhead is passivated by passing a gaseous coating such as Parylene through the assembly. In this way dirt particles created during manufacture of the printhead are encapsulated and thus prevented from blocking the nozzles. The printhead assembly is also prevented from interacting physically or chemically with ink flowing through the printhead.
Claims7
A method for passivating a printhead assembly comprising the steps of:
- assembling a printhead and at least one filter having a plurality of pores and being intended for use with the printhead when in operation;
- assembling said printhead with a blank nozzle plate to create a printhead assembly comprising said printhead, said blank nozzle plate, and said at least one filter having a plurality of pores;
- passing a fluid or gaseous coating substance through said printhead assembly comprising said printhead, said blank nozzle plate, and said at least one filter having a plurality of pores, via said filter, thus forming a passivating layer over at least some of the surfaces of both the printhead and the filter;
- wherein said step of assembling said printhead with a blank nozzle plate to create a printhead assembly takes place prior to said step of passing a fluid or gaseous coating substance through said printhead assembly via said filter;
- and,
- subsequent to said step of passing a fluid or gaseous coating substance through said printhead assembly via said filter, the step of forming a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle having a nozzle bore extending through said nozzle plate, and wherein said nozzle bores are free of said coating substance.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.