Kinematically fixing flex circuit to PWA printbar
US5734394A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 1995 |
| Grant date | Mar 31, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 20, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05K3/0058
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A page-wide-array ("PWA") printhead includes a flex circuit thermal-kinematically fixed to a printbar. Thermal kinematic fixturing directs thermal expansion and contraction of the flex circuit along known paths. One effect of the invention is that over a given temperature range, PWA printhead nozzles remain aligned and nozzle spacing changes uniformly across the printhead. To accomplish the fixturing, a sealant, fixtures, and a reference barrier hold the flex circuit to the printbar. The flex circuit defines elongated slots receiving a fixture post. Each slot and fixture defines a 1-D connection or free-floating connection in an xy-plane. For a 1-D connection thermal displacement occurs in only one direction as defined by the slot orientation. For a free-floating connection thermal displacement is free-floating in the xy-plane. The reference barrier is located on the printbar and defines a corner "bench mark" for the flex circuit. All expansion or contraction of the flex material occurs relative the flex circuit edges abutting the reference barrier. Points of the flex circuit away from the reference barrier are free (in a thermal kinematic sense) to move locally for small distances…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.