EP0743184A2 - Composite nozzle plate - Google Patents

Composite nozzle plate Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0743184A2
EP0743184A2 EP96303396A EP96303396A EP0743184A2 EP 0743184 A2 EP0743184 A2 EP 0743184A2 EP 96303396 A EP96303396 A EP 96303396A EP 96303396 A EP96303396 A EP 96303396A EP 0743184 A2 EP0743184 A2 EP 0743184A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nozzle plate
high density
fabricating
metal
long array
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96303396A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0743184A3 (en
Inventor
Hilarion Braun
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kodak Versamark Inc
Original Assignee
Kodak Versamark Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kodak Versamark Inc filed Critical Kodak Versamark Inc
Publication of EP0743184A2 publication Critical patent/EP0743184A2/en
Publication of EP0743184A3 publication Critical patent/EP0743184A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
    • B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
    • B41J2/1626—Manufacturing processes etching
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
    • B41J2/162—Manufacturing of the nozzle plates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
    • B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
    • B41J2/1632—Manufacturing processes machining
    • B41J2/1634—Manufacturing processes machining laser machining

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of ink jet printers and, more particularly, to the manufacture or fabrication of long array high density nozzle plates for the printheads of ink jet printers.
  • electrically conductive ink is supplied under pressure to a manifold region that distributes the ink to a plurality of orifices, typically arranged in a linear array(s).
  • the ink discharges from the orifices in filaments which break into droplet streams.
  • Individual droplet streams are selectively charged in the region of the break off from the filaments and charge drops are deflected from their normal trajectories. The deflected drops may be caught and recirculated, and the undeflected drops allowed to proceed to a print receiving medium.
  • Drops are charged by a charge plate having a plurality of charging electrodes along one edge, and a corresponding plurality of connecting leads along one surface.
  • the edge of the charge plate having the charging electrodes is placed in close proximity to the break off point of the ink jet filaments, and charges applied to the leads to induce charges in the drops as they break off from the filaments.
  • nozzle plates Long array high density orifice plates, or nozzle plates, have previously been made exclusively by electroforming or by butting short nozzle arrays together to form a long array, i.e., an array length greater than one inch.
  • the problem with making nozzle plates with high density nozzle arrays is twofold.
  • the nozzle plate must be rigidly attached to a solid droplet generator which, because of the necessary dimensional tolerances, must be of a metal or ceramic.
  • a material necessarily has a small coefficient of thermal expansion. This necessitates that the nozzle plate likewise has a similarly small coefficient of thermal expansion.
  • the nozzle plate can only be a material with a small coefficient of thermal expansion, yet must meet the thermal expansion criteria of the droplet generator.
  • Electroformed nozzle plates have aspect ratio problems that also lead to noisy jets while involving expensive manufacturing processes.
  • a polymer is retained against a single metal laminate, or can be constrained between metal laminates, to provide mechanical and thermal stability to the nozzle plate. Apertures are chemically etched in the metal laminates. Subsequently, an axial aperture, or nozzle, is laser ablated through a portion of the polymer layer which corresponds to the aperture through the laminates.
  • Fig. 1 is a partial, magnified view of a laser ablated nozzle plate, in accordance with the present invention.
  • a laminated structure or nozzle plate 10 comprises a polymer or polyimide 12, generally a polymer filler, laminated to a metal.
  • the metal laminate may comprise one or more metal laminate layers. However, even a single layer of metal laminate achieves the objective of prohibiting the polymer from changing its dimensions under stress.
  • the polymer 12 is sandwiched between two metal sheets, first metal laminate 14 and second metal laminate 16.
  • the lamination provides both mechanical and thermal stability.
  • the polymer would tend to be contained by the metal sheets such that its coefficient of thermal expansion would lie very near that of the metal.
  • the polymer may be any suitable material, such as Kapton or any other material that readily ablates.
  • non-critical windows or openings 18 are provided, such as by chemically etching.
  • Subsequent laser ablation 20 of the polymer layer of the nozzle 10 allows for very small apertures through various polymers, without changing any dimensions of the nozzle plate.
  • the metal becomes irrelevant in terms of the nozzle. Since the metal acts as a constraint on the polymer, apertures 18 etched through the top and bottom layers of metal 14 and 16 need not meet any jetting parameters, such as aspect ratios, surface finish, round circularity, or hole size uniformity, and are only there to access the polymer.
  • the ablated nozzle now meets the jetting parameters.
  • the actual nozzle is then laser machined through the polymer where aspect ratios (axial length to nozzle diameter) greater than unity have readily been accomplished, offering laminar flow advantages.
  • the laser ablation according to the present invention can be accomplished by translating the nozzle plate in front of the laser very accurately, such that the position of each nozzle is well defined.
  • dimensional changes in the mandrel during electroforming processes are avoided.
  • the present invention is useful in the field of ink jet printing, and has the advantage of providing a long array high density nozzle plate.
  • the present invention provides the further advantage of a relatively inert nozzle, fabrication simplicity, and choice of axial shape. It is an advantage of the present invention that it provides mechanical and thermal stability to the nozzle plate.
  • the process of the present invention has the advantage of avoiding dimensional changes of the plate, while achieving laser ablation.
  • the present invention has the advantage of etching non-critical windows with subsequent laser ablation, so that the metal becomes irrelevant in terms of the nozzle.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)

Abstract

A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate for an ink jet printhead provides mechanical and thermal stability. A polymer is retained against a single metal laminate, or can be constrained between metal laminates, to provide the mechanical and thermal stability. Apertures are chemically etched in the one or more metal laminates. Subsequently, an axial aperture is laser ablated through a portion of the polymer layer which corresponds to the aperture through the laminates.

Description

    Technical Field
  • The present invention relates to the field of ink jet printers and, more particularly, to the manufacture or fabrication of long array high density nozzle plates for the printheads of ink jet printers.
    • Background Art
  • In continuous ink jet printing, electrically conductive ink is supplied under pressure to a manifold region that distributes the ink to a plurality of orifices, typically arranged in a linear array(s). The ink discharges from the orifices in filaments which break into droplet streams. Individual droplet streams are selectively charged in the region of the break off from the filaments and charge drops are deflected from their normal trajectories. The deflected drops may be caught and recirculated, and the undeflected drops allowed to proceed to a print receiving medium.
  • Drops are charged by a charge plate having a plurality of charging electrodes along one edge, and a corresponding plurality of connecting leads along one surface. The edge of the charge plate having the charging electrodes is placed in close proximity to the break off point of the ink jet filaments, and charges applied to the leads to induce charges in the drops as they break off from the filaments.
  • Long array high density orifice plates, or nozzle plates, have previously been made exclusively by electroforming or by butting short nozzle arrays together to form a long array, i.e., an array length greater than one inch. The problem with making nozzle plates with high density nozzle arrays is twofold. First, the nozzle plate must be rigidly attached to a solid droplet generator which, because of the necessary dimensional tolerances, must be of a metal or ceramic. Such a material necessarily has a small coefficient of thermal expansion. This necessitates that the nozzle plate likewise has a similarly small coefficient of thermal expansion. This poses the second part of the problem; namely, fabrication. The nozzle plate can only be a material with a small coefficient of thermal expansion, yet must meet the thermal expansion criteria of the droplet generator.
  • Fabrication techniques of etching holes through metal exist, but such techniques tend to leave rough surfaces causing local turbulence in the nozzle that lead to unstable jetting. Electroformed nozzle plates have aspect ratio problems that also lead to noisy jets while involving expensive manufacturing processes.
  • It is seen then that there is a need for an improved nozzle plate for use in the manufacture of ink jet printers.
    • Summary of the Invention
  • This need is met by the long array high density nozzle plates according to the present invention.
  • In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a polymer is retained against a single metal laminate, or can be constrained between metal laminates, to provide mechanical and thermal stability to the nozzle plate. Apertures are chemically etched in the metal laminates.
    Subsequently, an axial aperture, or nozzle, is laser ablated through a portion of the polymer layer which corresponds to the aperture through the laminates.
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide a long array high density nozzle plate for use in an ink jet printhead. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a long array high density nozzle plate wherein laser assisted chemical etching does not change dimensions of the plate.
  • Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
    • Brief Description of the Drawing
  • Fig. 1 is a partial, magnified view of a laser ablated nozzle plate, in accordance with the present invention.
    • Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
  • The manufacturing of long array high density nozzle plates is highly desirable for ink jet printheads. In the prior art, laser ablation or laser assisted chemical etching techniques have the tendency to change dimensions of the plate. This is particularly a problem with long array nozzle plates. In accordance with the present invention, the process of etching non-critical windows with subsequent laser ablation has made it possible to "drill" very small holes through various polymers with very well defined parameters and very smooth surfaces. Hence, the metal becomes irrelevant in terms of the nozzle.
  • Referring now to the drawing, in Fig. 1 there is illustrated a laminated structure or nozzle plate 10. The structure 10 comprises a polymer or polyimide 12, generally a polymer filler, laminated to a metal. The metal laminate may comprise one or more metal laminate layers. However, even a single layer of metal laminate achieves the objective of prohibiting the polymer from changing its dimensions under stress.
  • In a preferred embodiment, the polymer 12 is sandwiched between two metal sheets, first metal laminate 14 and second metal laminate 16. The lamination provides both mechanical and thermal stability. The polymer would tend to be contained by the metal sheets such that its coefficient of thermal expansion would lie very near that of the metal. The polymer may be any suitable material, such as Kapton or any other material that readily ablates. By varying the thickness of the metal and polymer, the thermal coefficient of expansion can be adjusted to any value between the two values in which the polymer has the high thermal coefficient and the metal has the lower limit.
  • In accordance with the present invention process, non-critical windows or openings 18 are provided, such as by chemically etching. Subsequent laser ablation 20 of the polymer layer of the nozzle 10 allows for very small apertures through various polymers, without changing any dimensions of the nozzle plate. Hence, the metal becomes irrelevant in terms of the nozzle. Since the metal acts as a constraint on the polymer, apertures 18 etched through the top and bottom layers of metal 14 and 16 need not meet any jetting parameters, such as aspect ratios, surface finish, round circularity, or hole size uniformity, and are only there to access the polymer. With the present invention, the ablated nozzle now meets the jetting parameters. The actual nozzle is then laser machined through the polymer where aspect ratios (axial length to nozzle diameter) greater than unity have readily been accomplished, offering laminar flow advantages.
  • The laser ablation according to the present invention can be accomplished by translating the nozzle plate in front of the laser very accurately, such that the position of each nozzle is well defined. In accordance with the present invention, dimensional changes in the mandrel during electroforming processes are avoided.
    • Industrial Applicability and Advantages
  • The present invention is useful in the field of ink jet printing, and has the advantage of providing a long array high density nozzle plate. The present invention provides the further advantage of a relatively inert nozzle, fabrication simplicity, and choice of axial shape. It is an advantage of the present invention that it provides mechanical and thermal stability to the nozzle plate. The process of the present invention has the advantage of avoiding dimensional changes of the plate, while achieving laser ablation. Finally, the present invention has the advantage of etching non-critical windows with subsequent laser ablation, so that the metal becomes irrelevant in terms of the nozzle.
  • Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that other modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

  1. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate for an ink jet printhead comprising the steps of:
    providing a metal laminate;
    abutting a polymer against the metal laminate to provide mechanical and thermal stability to the nozzle plate.
  2. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing at least one aperture in the metal laminate.
  3. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of providing at least one aperture comprises the step of chemically etching at least one aperture in the metal laminate.
  4. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the step of laser ablating an axial aperture through a portion of the polymer which corresponds to the aperture through the metal laminate.
  5. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of providing a metal laminate comprises the steps of:
    providing a first metal laminate; and
    providing a second metal laminate.
  6. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate as claimed in claim 5 further comprising the step of constraining the polymer between the first and second metal laminates.
  7. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate as claimed in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:
    providing at least one aperture in the first metal laminate; and
    providing at least one corresponding aperture in the second metal laminate.
  8. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the step of chemically etching the at least one apertures in the first and second metal laminates.
  9. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the step of laser ablating an axial aperture through a portion of the polymer which corresponds to the apertures through the first and second metal laminates.
  10. A method of fabricating a long array high density nozzle plate as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polymer comprises Kapton.
EP96303396A 1995-05-18 1996-05-14 Composite nozzle plate Withdrawn EP0743184A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US44392395A 1995-05-18 1995-05-18
US443923 1995-05-18

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0743184A2 true EP0743184A2 (en) 1996-11-20
EP0743184A3 EP0743184A3 (en) 1997-07-16

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96303396A Withdrawn EP0743184A3 (en) 1995-05-18 1996-05-14 Composite nozzle plate

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EP (1) EP0743184A3 (en)
JP (1) JPH0999560A (en)
CA (1) CA2176856A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2484796A (en) * 2010-10-15 2012-04-25 Xerox Corp Aperture plate for an inkjet printhead and method for preparing same

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2957528B2 (en) 1997-10-07 1999-10-04 株式会社東京機械製作所 Nozzle for inkjet printing, orifice member thereof, and method of manufacturing orifice member
GB0113639D0 (en) * 2001-06-05 2001-07-25 Xaar Technology Ltd Nozzle plate for droplet deposition apparatus
GB0608526D0 (en) * 2006-04-28 2006-06-07 Xaar Technology Ltd Droplet deposition component

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS62202743A (en) * 1986-03-04 1987-09-07 Ricoh Co Ltd Water-repelling treatment method of ink jet nozzle for ink jet recorder
JPH03108554A (en) * 1989-09-22 1991-05-08 Seiko Epson Corp Ink jet recording head
JPH05147223A (en) * 1991-12-02 1993-06-15 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Ink jet head
JPH06336009A (en) * 1993-05-28 1994-12-06 Sankyo Seiki Mfg Co Ltd Control nozzle of ink jet head or the like and its production
EP0629504A2 (en) * 1993-06-16 1994-12-21 Hewlett-Packard Company Orifice plate for ink jet printer

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS62202743A (en) * 1986-03-04 1987-09-07 Ricoh Co Ltd Water-repelling treatment method of ink jet nozzle for ink jet recorder
JPH03108554A (en) * 1989-09-22 1991-05-08 Seiko Epson Corp Ink jet recording head
JPH05147223A (en) * 1991-12-02 1993-06-15 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Ink jet head
JPH06336009A (en) * 1993-05-28 1994-12-06 Sankyo Seiki Mfg Co Ltd Control nozzle of ink jet head or the like and its production
EP0629504A2 (en) * 1993-06-16 1994-12-21 Hewlett-Packard Company Orifice plate for ink jet printer

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 012, no. 055 (M-669), 19 February 1988 & JP 62 202743 A (RICOH CO LTD), 7 September 1987, *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 015, no. 298 (M-1141), 29 July 1991 & JP 03 108554 A (SEIKO EPSON CORP), 8 May 1991, *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 017, no. 537 (M-1487), 28 September 1993 & JP 05 147223 A (MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD), 15 June 1993, & US 5 455 998 A (YUTAKA MIYAZONO) 10 October 1995 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 095, no. 003, 28 April 1995 & JP 06 336009 A (SANKYO SEIKI MFG CO LTD), 6 December 1994, *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2484796A (en) * 2010-10-15 2012-04-25 Xerox Corp Aperture plate for an inkjet printhead and method for preparing same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0999560A (en) 1997-04-15
CA2176856A1 (en) 1996-11-19
EP0743184A3 (en) 1997-07-16

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