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

• Main Authors: STOKES; PETER R, COLBURN; WILLIAM S, BOUCHER; WILLIAM R, CHILDERS; WINTHROP D, THIERHEIMER, JR.; CHARLES L, ELLIOT; JOSEPH R, TIMM, JR.; DALE D, FIELD; MARSHALL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.08.1995
• 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

In one embodiment of the invention, a flexible tape has formed on it conductors for being connected to a printhead substrate. The conductors on the tape are coated with an insulating layer, and exposed ends of the conductors extend from the layer. A headland is formed on a plastic print cartridge for receiving the printhead substrate having the exposed conductors extending from one or more edges of the printhead substrate. An adhesive bead is formed on the headland so that when the printhead is properly positioned on the headland, the adhesive contacts the conductors to encapsulate and insulate one exposed side of the conductors. A second adhesive or encapsulant bead is deposited over the opposite side of the conductors to encapsulate and insulate the remaining exposed regions of the conductors. In this manner, the combined insulating action of the insulating layer and the two insulating adhesive beads prevents the conductors from being shorted together by ink which may flow in the vicinity of the conductors.