Laminated support structure for silicon printhead modules
View Patent ↗A printhead assembly for an ink jet printer that has an elongate support structure ( 1 ) that attaches to the printer and is adapted to accept a printhead ( 2 ) that mounts to the support member ( 1 ). The support member ( 1 ) is formed from a number of laminated materials ( 3, 4 ) having different coefficients of thermal expansion. The support member materials ( 3, 4 ) are selected and structurally configured so that the effective coefficient of thermal expansion of the support member as a whole substantially matches that of the silicon nozzle substrate material.
1. A printhead assembly comprising:
a printhead support beam formed from an odd number of layers, there being a pair of outer layers symmetrically disposed about and laminated to a core, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the core and the outer layers providing a coefficient of expansion, in the beam, substantially equal to that of silicon wherein:
the coefficients of thermal expansion of the outer layers and the core are different.
2. The printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein;
the outer layers are the same thickness.
3. The ptinthead assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer layers are made from invar.
4. The printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the beam is elongate, the assembly further comprising:
a plurality of printhead modules positioned end to end along the beam.
5. The printhead assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the printhead modules are all silicon MEMS type modules.
6. The printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the layers are hot rolled.
7. The printhead assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the layers are three in number and the core has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of silicon.