Ink-jet printing head - has ink nozzles placed close together on single silicon substrate, with ink flow channels formed in substrate by dry-plasma etching

摘要

A new multi-nozzle ink-jet printing head has the nozzles (22) arranged close together on a single substrate. The ink flow channels are formed on a silicon substrate (17) by a dry-plasma etching process, and a glass plate (23) is attached by an adhesive to the surface of the substrate. The surface of each channel undergoes an alkali cleaning procedure. A water-repelling film is formed around the outlets of the ink nozzles. A notch is formed between the outlets of neighbouring nozzles and has a greater cross-sectional surface area than any of the nozzles. A heating element is located on the surface of the substrate contg. the ink flow channels. USE/ADVANTAGE - Used in the design of ink-jet printing heads of the "Kaiser on-demand" type. Provides an improved printing head when compared with the "Gould" design, and in particular provides a printing head which can be made thinner and smaller, is cheaper to mfr. and produces a better print quality.