Structure and method for preventing ink shorting of conductors connected to a printhead

• Main Authors: TIMM, DALE D., JR, FIELD, MARSHALL, COLBURN, WILLIAM S, BOUCHER, WILLIAMS R, THIERHEIMER, CHARLES L., JR, STOKES, PETER R, ELLIOTT, JOSEPH R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 11.02.1998
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; LINING MACHINES; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRINTED CIRCUITS; PRINTING; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS; STAMPS; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS

A flexible tape (58) has formed on it conductors (72) for being connected to a printhead substrate (68,120), the conductors being coated with an insulating layer (67), and exposed ends of the conductors (72) extending from the layer. A headland (74,136) is formed on a plastic print cartridge (50) for receiving the printhead substrate (68,120) having the exposed conductors (72) extending from one or more edges of the printhead substrate (68,120). An adhesive bead (90,102,104) is formed on the headland (74,136) so that when the printhead (68,120) is properly positioned on the headland (74,136), the adhesive (90,102,104) contacts the conductors (72) to encapsulate and insulate one exposed side of the conductors (72). A second adhesive or encapsulant bead (96,106) is deposited over the opposite side of the conductors (72) to encapsulate and insulate the remaining exposed regions of the conductors (72). The combined insulating action of the insulating layer (67) and the two insulating adhesive beads (90,96,102,104,106) prevents the conductors (72) from being shorted together by ink which may flow in the vicinity of the conductors (72).