Printer assembly having flexible ink channel extrusion
View Patent ↗An elastomeric ink delivery extrusion transports ink and air to printhead modules in an ink jet printhead assembly. A series of patterned holes are laser ablated onto an upper surface of the extrusion. These interface with inlets on the underside of a series of printhead modules of the assembly and relay ink and air from respective longitudinal channels of the extrusion.
1. A printhead assembly for a pagewidth drop on demand ink jet printer, comprising:
an array of printhead modules extending substantially across said pagewidth, and
a flexible ink delivery extrusion substantially coextensive with said array of printhead modules configured to contort for connection to an ink source, the extrusion having a plurality of ink channels for conveying discrete inks and a pattern of holes in a surface of the extrusion via which said discrete inks in said channels can pass from the flexible extrusion to each said printhead module,
wherein each printhead module has a number of inlets having annular rings to seal against said surface of the ink delivery extrusion.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said ink delivery extrusion also includes an air channel for the delivery of air to the printhead modules.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said ink delivery extrusion is bonded onto a flexible printed circuit board.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said ink extrusion is non-hydrophobic.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said holes in said surface of the extrusion are laser ablated.
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein an end of the ink delivery extrusion has a molded end cap fitted thereto, the end cap having a number of connectors to which ink and air delivery hoses can be connected.
7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said end cap has a spine including a row of plugs that are received within ends of the respective flow channels.
8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said end cap clamps onto the ink delivery extrusion by way of snap engagement tabs formed thereon.
9. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said end cap includes connectors which interface directly with an ink cartridge.