Ink jet printhead assembly incorporating a data and power connection assembly

1. An ink jet printhead assembly that comprises

an elongate ink distribution member that defines a longitudinally extending recess, a plurality of ink outlets opening into the recess and a plurality of distribution conduits in fluid communication with respective ink outlets;

a printhead chip mounted in the recess and having ink inlets in fluid communication with respective ink outlets of the ink distribution member;

an ink storage assembly mounted on the ink distribution member and defining at least one ink storage chamber in fluid communication with the distribution conduits of the ink distribution member;

data and power communication circuitry mounted on the ink storage assembly and connected to the printhead chip to provide data signals and power to the printhead chip; and

a positioning arrangement mounted on the ink storage assembly, the data and power communication circuitry being engaged with the positioning arrangement to ensure correct positioning of the data and power communication circuitry.

2. An ink jet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , in which the ink storage assembly includes an internal ink storage structure and a housing mounted on the ink storage structure, the housing and the internal structure defining the, or each ink storage chamber and the internal structure defining a plurality of transversely extending baffles that extend across the, or each, ink storage chamber.

3. An ink jet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 2 , in which the data and power communication circuitry includes a tape automated bonding (TAB) film that is mounted on the housing of the ink storage assembly, the positioning arrangement including a number of protuberances extending from the housing and received through holes in the TAB film to secure the TAB film in position on the housing, with the TAB film extending along a length of the housing.

4. An ink jet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 3 , in which the housing has a roof and a pair of opposed side walls that depend from the roof, the protuberances extending from the roof and the TAB film being configured to extend over each side wall and the roof, with one side of the TAB film extending further to engage the printhead chip.

5. An ink jet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 4 , in which the TAB film includes a pair of longitudinally extending spaced metal strips that are oriented to overlie the roof of the housing, and are configured to provide low resistance power and ground distribution along a surface of the TAB film for supply to the printhead chip.

6. An ink jet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 5 , in which the data and power communication circuitry includes a pair of busbars that extend along the roof of the housing and are in electrical contact with the respective metal strips to supply power and ground to the metal strips.

7. An ink jet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 6 , which includes a cover unit that is mounted on the housing to cover the housing, the positioning arrangement being defined by the cover unit that is configured to clamp the busbars in position against the respective metal strips of the TAB film.