200838707 九、發明說明 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明關於印表機，特別是關於噴墨印表機。 【先前技術】 申請人已發展出廣範圍的印表機，其使用頁寬的列印 頭，而非傳統的往復運動列印頭設計。因爲列印頭不需來 回橫向穿越頁面以沉積影像的一條線，所以頁寬設計增加 列印速率。當頁寬列印頭以高速率運動經過時，其單純地 將墨水沉積在媒介上。此等列印頭使得能夠以每分鐘約60 頁的速率執行全彩色1 600dpi (每_吋中的墨點數）的列印 ，此種速率是習知噴墨印表機不可能獲得的。 列印頭典型地由印表機內的微處理器所控制，該微處 理器通常稱做列印引擎控制器。如果以可移除匣的形式設 置列印頭，則列印引擎控制器和列印頭必須藉由可拆卸的 電性介面連通一通常是相配合的接點墊。列印頭上的接點 應該靠近列印頭積體電路中的噴嘴，以使電性效率和作業 最佳化。但是有強制的理由必須保持鄰近列印頭的紙路徑 呈直的，而非呈弧形或彎曲的。此要求接點位在匣的不同 側（不是固持列印頭積體電路之側）。然後，該等接點經 由可撓列印頭電路板（或已知的可撓印刷電路板）連接至 列印頭1C。可撓印刷電路板包覆匣的角落，以將接點連接 至列印頭1C。 可撓印刷電路板內的傳導性路徑已知是軌跡。因爲可 -5- 200838707 撓印刷電路板必須繞著角落彎曲，所以軌跡會龜裂且破壞 連接。爲了克服此問題，軌跡在彎曲之前可先分叉，然後 在彎曲之後再會合。如果分叉區段的其中一個分支產生裂 痕，還有其他的分支維持連接。不幸的是，將軌跡一分爲 二然後再結合在一起，會產生電磁干擾問題，此問題會造 成電路中的雜訊。 因爲較寬的軌跡無法顯著阻止產生裂痕，所以使軌跡 變寬一點並非有效的解決方案。一旦軌跡中開始產生裂痕 ，裂痕會相對快速且容易地蔓延遍及整個寬度。小心地控 制彎曲半徑對減少軌跡裂痕較有效，此可使穿過可撓印刷 電路板中彎曲部的軌跡數目最小化。 頁寬列印頭額外地複雜，因爲大陣列的噴嘴必須在相 對短的時間內發射。一次發射許多的噴嘴，使系統承受大 的電流負荷。此會產生高位準的電感穿過電路，其會造成 電壓降，該電壓降不利於作業。爲了避免此問題，可撓印 刷電路板具有一系列電容，該等電容在噴嘴發射順序期間 ，將電流負荷舒解至其餘的電路。不幸的是，電容和結合 驅動電路的其他組件產生額外的軌跡，該等軌跡在可撓印 刷電路板的彎曲區段中有產生裂痕的風險。 【發明內容】 因此在第一方面，本發明提供一種噴墨印表機用列印 頭，該列印頭包含： 一列印頭積體電路，其具有用於噴射墨水之陣列的噴 -6 - 200838707 嘴； 一支撐構造，用於支撐該列印頭積體電路，該支撐構 造具有墨水導管，用於以墨水供給該陣列的噴嘴；和 一含有氣體的射流阻尼器，用於被墨水導管內之墨水 中的壓力脈衝所壓縮，以消散壓力脈衝。 以小容積的氣體可達成：使用氣體壓縮以阻尼壓力脈 衝。 選擇性地，射流阻尼器具有用於保持氣體的陣列穴部 ，使得每一穴部是分離的氣體袋。選擇性地，當支撐構造 的墨水導管被墨水塡注時，墨水彎液面局部界定每一穴部 〇 •選擇性地，每一穴部是盲凹部，其具有開口面對一或 更多墨水導管。選擇性地，每一盲凹部的開口只面對墨水 導管其中之一。選擇性地，建構每一盲凹部的開口以禁止 墨水藉由毛細作用塡滿凹部。 選擇性地，支撐構造具有入口和出口，該入口用於將 墨水導管連接至墨水供給源，該出口用於將墨水導管連接 至廢墨水出口。選擇性地，至每一個別穴部的開口具有上 游邊緣和下游邊緣；在墨水供給源初始塡注墨水導管期間 ，上游邊緣比下游邊緣先接觸墨水；且上游邊緣在導管和 穴部內部之間具有過渡面；建構過渡面以在初始塡注墨水 導管期間，禁止藉由毛細作用塡滿穴部和清除氣體。 選擇性地，列印頭是頁寬列印頭；且該支撐構造是長 形，其具有在一端的入口及在另一端的出口；且該等墨水 200838707 導管具有通道，其沿著該入口和該出口之間的該支撐構造 縱向延伸；且該等通道的每一者具有一系列的墨水饋給流 道，該等墨水饋給流道沿著該通道相隔開，以提供該通道 和該列印頭積體電路之間的流體連通。選擇性地，該等墨 水饋給流道沿著該通道的壁接合至該通道，該壁和包括有 至該等穴部之該等開口的壁相對。 選擇性地，該支撐構造是液晶聚合物。選擇性地，該 支撐構造是二件式液晶聚合物模組，且該等通道和該等饋 給流道形成在其中一零件內，而該等穴部形成在另一零件 內。 選擇性地，該支撐構造具有複數列印頭積體電路，該 等列印頭積體電路沿著一側面端對端地安裝。選擇性地， 該藉由插置其間的黏性膜將該等列印頭積體電路安裝至該 側面，該黏性膜具有孔，供該等墨水饋給流道和該等列印 頭積體電路之間的流體連通。 因此在第二方面，本發明提供一種噴墨印表機用的列 印頭，該列印頭包含： 一列印頭積體電路，其具有用於噴射墨水之陣列的噴 嘴；和 一支撐構造，用於將該列印頭積體電路安裝在該印表 機內；該支撐構造具有墨水導管，用於以墨水供給該陣列 的噴嘴；該墨水導管具有壩結構，以局部阻礙墨水流；其 中 當塡注列印頭時，壩結構優先地塡注墨水導管的上游 -8- 200838707 區段。 在具有不正確塡注傾向的下游區域使用壩，可迫使它 們更快速或優先塡注下游區段。雖然被壩延遲，但是只要 下游區段可信賴地塡注，則不會對優先塡注上游區段造成 不利。 選擇性地，壩結構具有頂部輪廓，建構該輪廓以提供 錨點（固定點anchor point )供前進之墨水流的彎液面所 用。選擇性地，上游區段在其最上表面具有穴部；在列印 頭被塡注之後，該等穴部用於保持數袋的空氣。選擇性地 ，穴部具有界定在上游區段之最上表面的開口，每一開口 的上游邊緣成弧形，且下游邊緣相對地銳利，所以從上游 方向流來的墨水，不會被毛細作用抽進穴部內。選擇性地 ，設置壩以暫時固定（anchor )前進墨水流的彎液面，並 使其轉向以避免接觸其中一穴部之開口的相對銳利邊緣。 選擇性地，列印頭是匣，其被建構用於供使用者移除更換 。選擇性地，當裝設時和稍後被印表機內的泵塡注時，匣 未被塡注。 因此在第三方面，本發明提供一種用於噴墨印表機用 的列印頭，該列印頭包含： 一長形陣列的噴嘴，其用於噴射墨水； 複數墨水導管，用於以墨水供給該陣列的噴嘴，該等 墨水導管鄰接該長形陣列而延伸；和 複數脈衝阻尼器，每一脈衝阻尼器含有一容積的氣體 ’供該等墨水導管內的壓力脈衝壓縮，且每一脈衝阻尼器 -9- 200838707 個別地和該等墨水導管成流體連通；其中， 該等脈衝阻尼器沿著該長形陣列的長度分布。 運動經過長形列印頭（例如頁寬列印頭）的壓力脈衝 ，可在墨水流動管線內的任何點被阻尼。但是當脈衝通過 列印頭積體電路內的噴嘴時，不管脈衝是否稍後在阻尼器 處消散，脈衝會使噴嘴被淹沒。藉由將多個脈衝阻尼器倂 入墨水供給導管且緊鄰噴嘴陣列，任何壓力峰値在其會造 成有害淹沒氾濫的地點都會被阻尼。 選擇性地，該複數脈衝阻尼器是一系列的穴部，其在 一側連通至該等墨水導管。選擇性地，該等穴部的每一者 只在該等墨水導管其中之一內具有開口，該等墨水導管的200838707 IX. Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to an inkjet printer. [Prior Art] Applicants have developed a wide range of printers that use a page-wide printhead rather than a conventional reciprocating printhead design. The page width design increases the print rate because the print head does not need to come back horizontally across the page to deposit a line of the image. When the page width print head moves at a high rate, it simply deposits ink on the medium. These print heads enable printing of full color 1 600 dpi (number of dots per 吋) at a rate of about 60 pages per minute, which is not possible with conventional inkjet printers. The print head is typically controlled by a microprocessor within the printer, which is commonly referred to as a print engine controller. If the printhead is set in the form of a removable cartridge, the print engine controller and the printhead must be connected to a generally mating contact pad by a detachable electrical interface. The contacts on the print head should be close to the nozzles in the print head integrated circuit to optimize electrical efficiency and operation. However, there are compelling reasons to keep the paper path adjacent to the printhead straight, rather than curved or curved. This requires the contacts to be on different sides of the ( (not on the side of the holding print head integrated circuit). The contacts are then connected to the print head 1C via a flexible printhead circuit board (or a known flexible printed circuit board). The flexible printed circuit board wraps around the corners of the crucible to connect the contacts to the print head 1C. The conductive path within the flexible printed circuit board is known as the trajectory. Because the printed circuit board must be bent around the corner, the track will crack and break the connection. To overcome this problem, the trajectory can be forked before bending and then rejoined after bending. If one of the branches of the forked section has a crack, there are other branches that maintain the connection. Unfortunately, splitting the track into two and then combining them creates an electromagnetic interference problem that can cause noise in the circuit. Because a wider trajectory does not significantly prevent cracking, making the trajectory wider is not an effective solution. Once cracks begin to appear in the trajectory, the cracks spread relatively quickly and easily throughout the width. Careful control of the bend radius is effective in reducing trajectory cracks, which minimizes the number of traces through the bends in the flexible printed circuit board. The page width print head is additionally complicated because the large array of nozzles must be fired in a relatively short period of time. Many nozzles are fired at one time, subjecting the system to large current loads. This produces a high level of inductance across the circuit, which causes a voltage drop that is detrimental to the operation. To avoid this problem, the flexible printed circuit board has a series of capacitors that relax the current load to the rest of the circuit during the nozzle firing sequence. Unfortunately, the capacitors and other components of the combined drive circuit create additional tracks that present a risk of cracking in the curved section of the flexible printed circuit board. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a print head for an ink jet printer comprising: a print head integrated circuit having a spray -6 for ejecting an array of inks. 200838707 mouth; a support structure for supporting the printhead integrated circuit, the support structure having an ink conduit for supplying ink to the array of nozzles; and a gas containing jet damper for being used by the ink conduit The pressure pulse in the ink is compressed to dissipate the pressure pulse. A small volume of gas can be achieved: gas compression is used to dampen the pressure pulse. Optionally, the jet damper has an array of pockets for holding the gas such that each pocket is a separate gas pocket. Optionally, when the ink conduit of the support configuration is inked, the ink meniscus partially defines each pocket. Optionally, each pocket is a blind recess having an opening facing one or more inks catheter. Optionally, the opening of each blind recess faces only one of the ink conduits. Optionally, the opening of each blind recess is constructed to inhibit the ink from filling the recess by capillary action. Optionally, the support structure has an inlet for connecting the ink conduit to an ink supply source and an outlet for connecting the ink conduit to the waste ink outlet. Optionally, the opening to each individual pocket has an upstream edge and a downstream edge; during initial ink injection of the ink supply, the upstream edge contacts the ink earlier than the downstream edge; and the upstream edge is between the conduit and the interior of the cavity Having a transition surface; constructing a transition surface to prevent the filling of the cavity and the removal of gas by capillary action during the initial injection of the ink conduit. Optionally, the printhead is a pagewidth printhead; and the support structure is elongate having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end; and the ink 200838707 conduit has a passage along the inlet and The support structure between the outlets extends longitudinally; and each of the channels has a series of ink feed channels along which the ink feed channels are spaced to provide the channel and the column The fluid communication between the integrated circuits of the print head. Optionally, the ink feed channels are joined to the channels along the walls of the channels, the walls being opposite the walls including the openings to the pockets. Optionally, the support structure is a liquid crystal polymer. Optionally, the support structure is a two-piece liquid crystal polymer module, and the channels and the feed channels are formed in one of the parts, and the holes are formed in the other part. Optionally, the support structure has a plurality of print head integrated circuits that are mounted end to end along one side. Optionally, the print head integrated circuit is mounted to the side by interposing an adhesive film having pores for the ink feed flow path and the print head product Fluid communication between body circuits. In a second aspect, therefore, the present invention provides a printhead for an ink jet printer comprising: a row of print head integrated circuits having nozzles for ejecting an array of ink; and a support structure, ??? mounting the printhead integrated circuit in the printer; the support structure has an ink conduit for supplying ink to the array of nozzles; the ink conduit has a dam structure to partially block ink flow; When marking the print head, the dam structure preferentially focuses on the upstream -8-200838707 section of the ink conduit. The use of dams in downstream areas with a tendency to incorrectly bet can force them to target downstream sections more quickly or preferentially. Although delayed by the dam, as long as the downstream section can be trusted, it will not be a disadvantage to prioritize the upstream section. Optionally, the dam structure has a top profile that is constructed to provide an anchor point for use by the meniscus of the advancing ink stream. Optionally, the upstream section has pockets on its uppermost surface; the pockets are used to hold a plurality of bags of air after the printhead is inspected. Optionally, the pocket has an opening defined in the uppermost surface of the upstream section, the upstream edge of each opening is curved, and the downstream edge is relatively sharp, so the ink flowing from the upstream direction is not pumped by capillary action Into the hole. Optionally, the dam is positioned to temporarily anchor the meniscus of the advancement ink stream and deflect it to avoid contact with the relatively sharp edges of the opening of one of the pockets. Optionally, the printhead is a cymbal that is constructed for the user to remove the replacement. Optionally, 匣 is not noted when installed and later by the pump in the printer. In a third aspect, therefore, the present invention provides a printhead for an ink jet printer comprising: an elongated array of nozzles for ejecting ink; a plurality of ink conduits for ink a nozzle for supplying the array, the ink conduits extending adjacent to the elongated array; and a plurality of pulsation dampers each containing a volume of gas for compressing pressure pulses within the ink conduits, and each pulse Dampers -9-200838707 are in fluid communication with the ink conduits individually; wherein the pulsation dampers are distributed along the length of the elongate array. A pressure pulse that moves past an elongated printhead (e.g., a pagewidth printhead) can be damped at any point within the ink flow line. However, when the pulse passes through the nozzle in the print head integrated circuit, the pulse will flood the nozzle regardless of whether the pulse is later dissipated at the damper. By plunging multiple pulsation dampers into the ink supply conduit and in close proximity to the nozzle array, any pressure peaks are damped where they can cause unwanted flooding. Optionally, the plurality of pulsation dampers are a series of pockets that communicate to the ink conduits on one side. Optionally, each of the pockets has an opening only in one of the ink conduits, the ink conduits
I 每一者連接至對應的墨水供給源，且建構該等開口使得當 該等墨水導管被該對應的墨水供給源塡注肩，該等穴部不 被墨水塡注。 選擇性地，該等穴部'的每一者是盲凹部，使得該開口 界定的面積實質地等於該盲端的面積。選擇性地，該等開 口的每一者只面對該等墨水導管其中之一。選擇性地，建 構該等開口以禁止墨水藉由毛細作用塡滿該凹部。 選擇性地，至每一個別穴部的該等開口具有上游邊緣 和下游邊緣，在由該墨水供給源起始塡注該等墨水導管期 間，該上游邊緣比該下游邊緣先接觸該墨水，且該上游邊 緣在該導管和該穴部內部之間具有過渡面，建構該過渡面 以在起始塡注該墨水導管期間，禁止藉由毛細作用塡滿該 穴部及清除空氣。 -10- 200838707 選擇性地，該陣列的噴嘴是形成在至少一列印頭積體 電路內，該印頭積體電路安裝至支撐構造，該等墨水導管 形成在其內。選擇性地，該列印頭是頁寬列印頭；且該支 撐構造是長形，其具有在一端的入口及在另一端的出口； 且該等墨水導管具有通道，其沿著該入口和該出口之間的 該支撐構造縱向延伸；且該等通道的每一者具有一系列的 墨水饋給流道，該等墨水饋給流道沿著該通道相隔開，以 提供該通道和該列印頭積體電路之間的流體連通。選擇性 地，該等墨水饋給流道沿著該通道的壁接合至該通道，該 壁和包括有至該等穴部之該等開口的壁相對。 選擇性地，該支撐構造是液晶聚-合物。選擇性地，該 支撐構造是二件式液晶聚合物模組，且該等通道和該等饋 給流道形成在其中一零件內，而該等穴部形成在另一零件 內。 選擇性地，該支撐構造具有複數列印頭積體電路，該 等列印頭積體電路沿著一側面端對端地安裝。選擇性地， 藉由插置其間的黏性膜將該等列印頭積體電路安裝至該側 面，該黏性膜具有孔，供該等墨水饋給流道和該等列印頭 積體電路之間的流體連通。 因此在第四方面，本發明提供一種用於噴墨印表機用 的列印頭，該列印頭包含： 一列印頭積體電路，該列印頭積體電路呈長形，且具 有用於噴射墨水之陣列的噴嘴； 一支撐構造，用於支撐該列印頭積體電路，且具有墨 -11 - 200838707 水出口供以墨水供給該陣列噴嘴；其中 該等墨水出口沿著列印頭積體電路相隔開，使得在列 印頭積體電路端的墨水出口間隔減少。 藉由增加在末端區域附近之墨水出口的數目，可促進 墨水供給源補償末端噴嘴較慢的塡注。此可使全部的噴嘴 陣列更一致地塡注，以避免氾濫淹沒較早塡注的噴嘴和墨 水浪費（或者另一實施例，未塡注的末端噴嘴）。 選擇性地，支撐構造支撐複數的列印頭積體電路，該 等列印頭積體電路以端對端的關係建構；支撐構造具有複 數墨水饋給流道，用於供給墨水至墨水出口，使得其中二 個列印頭積體電路的末端之間接合處附近的至少一些墨水 饋給流道將墨水供給至其中二個墨水出口，該二墨水出口 在接合處的不同側上。選擇性地，支撐構造具有模組化的 墨水歧管和聚合物膜，墨水饋給流道形成在該模組化的墨 水歧管內，墨水出口形成在聚合物膜內，使得聚合物膜安 裝至模組化墨水歧管，且列印頭積體電路安裝至聚合物膜 的另一側。選擇性地，列印頭積體電路在晶圓基板的一側 上具有墨水入口通道，且陣列的噴嘴形成在晶圓基板的另 一側，使得每一墨水入口通道連接到至少其中一墨水出口 〇 選擇性地，支撐構造具有射流阻尼器，用於阻尼被供 給至列印頭積體電路之墨水內的壓力脈衝。選擇性地，射 流阻尼器具有用於保持容積氣體的陣列穴部，使得每一穴 部是分離的氣體袋。選擇性地，當支撐構造的墨水導管被 -12- 200838707 墨水塡注時，墨水彎液面局部界定每一穴部。 選擇性地，墨水歧管具有一系列的主通道，其平行列 印頭積體電路而延伸，且每一穴部是肓凹部，其具有開口 面對一或更多主通道。選擇性地，每一盲凹部的開口只面 對主通道其中之一。選擇性地，建構每一盲凹部的開口以 禁止墨水藉由毛細作用塡滿凹部。 選擇性地，支撐構造具有入口和出口，該入口用於將 墨水導管連接至墨水供給源，該出口用於將墨水導管連接 至廢墨水出口。選擇性地，至每一個別穴部的開口具有上 游邊緣和下游邊緣；在墨水供給源初始塡注主通道期間， 上游邊緣比下游邊緣先接觸墨水；且上游邊緣在導管和穴 部內部之間具有過渡面；建構過渡面以在初始塡注墨水導 管期間，禁止藉由毛細作用塡滿穴部和清除氣體。 選擇性地，列印頭是頁寬列印頭；且該支撐構造是長 形，其具有在一端的入口及在另一端的出口；且該等主通 道沿著該入口和該出口之間的該支撐構造縱向延伸；且該 等墨水饋給流道沿著主通道的壁接合至其中之一主通道， 該壁和包括有至該等穴部之該等開口的壁相對。 選擇性地，該支撐構造是液晶聚合物。選擇性地，該 支撐構造是二件式液晶聚合物模組，且該等通道和該等饋 給流道形成在其中一零件內，而該等穴部形成在另一零件 內。 因此在第五方面，本發明提供一種可拆離的流體耦合 器，用於在噴墨列印頭和墨水供給源之間建立密封的流體 -13- 200838707 連通。該可拆離的流體耦合器包含： 一固定閥構件，其界定閥座； 一密封套環，用於與該閥座密封嚙合； 一彈性套筒，具有一環形末端其相對於該固定閥構件 而固定，且另一環端嚙合密封套環，以將其偏壓進入與閥 座相密封嚙合；和 一導管開口，其可相對於該固定閥構件運動，用於嚙 參 合密封套環，以解除其和閥座的密封；其中 解除密封套環與閥座的密封，會壓縮彈性套筒，使得 套筒的中間區段相對於環形末端向外位移。 由於彈性套筒向外挫曲或彎折，所以耦合器的直徑比 習知耦合器的直徑小，該等習知耦合器使用環形彈性元件 ，該彈性元件偏壓閥使閥關閉且保持殘留張力。因爲較小 的外部直徑，所以用於全部不同墨水顏料的耦合器較袖珍 ，且設置時干涉較小。 選擇性地，彈性套筒的中間區段是環形彎折，當軸向 壓縮套筒時，該環形彎折向外擴張。選擇性地，當抽掉導 管開口時，彈性套筒對密封套環施加恢復力；所以當軸向 長度增加時，恢復力也增加；所以當其抵住閥座而密封時 ，最大的恢復力施加至密封套環。選擇性地，彈性套筒連 接至密封套環的內徑。選擇性地，彈性套筒的兩個環形末 端大致爲相同尺寸。 選擇性地，密封套環具有彈性材料，導管開口嚙合密 封套環，以致在該嚙合上形成流體緊密封。選擇性地’在 -14- 200838707 密封套環自閥座解除密封之前，導管開口和密封套環之間 先形成流體緊密封。 選擇性地，固定閥構件具有中空區段，當耦合器打開 時，該中空區段形成穿過耦合器之流體流動路徑的一部分 。選擇性地，固定閥構件和彈性套筒是在耦合器的下游側 ，而導管開口是在上游側。選擇性地，下游側是具有可更 換列印頭之匣的一部分，而上游側是印表機的一部分，匣 可設置在印表機內。 因此在第六方面，本發明提供一種用於噴墨印表機用 的過濾器，該過濾器包含： 一室，被過濾器膜分割成上游區段和下游區段； 一入口導管，用於建立墨水供給源和上游區段之間的 流體連通·； 一出口導管，用於建立下游區段和列印頭之間的流體 連通；其中，在使用期間， 至少部分的入口導管相對於過濾器膜上升。 藉由相對於過濾器膜升高入口導管，其當作泡泡陷阱 ，以留住泡泡，否則泡泡會阻礙過濾器。此允許減少過濾 器的尺寸，以供更袖珍的整體設計。 選擇性地，該室具有對應於過濾器膜尺寸的高度和寬 度，且其厚度實質地小於該高度和寬度尺寸。 以此方式建構的室保持整體體積最小化，且將過濾器 膜以大致直立平面設置。室內任何泡泡的浮力會促使泡泡 更靠近室的頂部，且可能返回進入入口導管。此不利泡泡 -15- 200838707 附著（pin)在過濾器膜的上游面。 選擇性地，在使用期間’出口導管連接至下游區段具 有最低高度的點，如果泡泡真的開始阻礙過濾器，泡泡會 最後阻礙室的最低區域。選擇性地’過濾器膜是矩形，且 入口連接至上游區段的一個角落，而出口導管連接至斜對 角的角落。 選擇性地，下游區段具有支撐結構供支承過濾器膜， φ 使得其與下游區段的相對壁保持間隔。選擇性地，該相對 壁也是局部界定類似室之上游區段的壁（該類似室容置類 似的過濾器膜），以並列地建構複數室。 選擇性地，將過濾器設置在噴墨印表機的組件內，以 週期性地更換。 ‘ 選擇性地，將過濾器設置在具有頁寬列印頭的匣內。 選擇性地，匣在過濾器的上游具有可拆離的墨水耦合器， 供連接至墨水供給源。 φ 因此在.第七方面，本發明提供一種墨水耦合器，用於 建立噴墨印表機和可替換匣之間的流體連通，該可替換匣 _ 用於裝設在該印表機內，該耦合器包含： 一匣閥，在該耦合器的匣側面上；和 一印表機導管，在該耦合器的印表機側面上；該匣閥 和該印表機導管具有相配合的結構，將其建構成當進行嚙 合時形成耦合密封；其中 該匣閥被偏壓關閉，且建構成當進行與該印表機導管 嚙合時打開；使得 -16- 200838707 當解除嚙合時，在該匣閥關閉後該耦合密封才解除， 且當匣閥與印表機導管分開時，形成墨水彎液面並自該等 相配合結構縮回；該匣閥具有外部表面，建構該等外部表 面，使得該彎液面從該印表機導管乾浄地分離，且只附著 (pin)至該等印表機導管表面。 藉由小心設計墨水彎液面之已知縮回接觸角相關的外 部表面’本發明使得殘留墨水脫離匣閥的外部。當耦合密 封解除且形成彎液面時，墨水的性質和各閥材料的親水性 會決定彎液面停止運動且最終附著的位置。因爲知道墨水 性質和解除嚙合的方向，所以閥材料和外部設計可使得該 彎液面只附著（pin)至該等印表機導管。 選擇性地，相較於該印表機導管上的該等外部表面至 少其中之一，該匣閥的該等外部表面至少其中之一具有較 低的親水性。選擇性地，藉由直立地向下運動，使該匣嚙 合該印表機，且藉由直立地向上運動解除嚙合。選擇性地 ，當嚙合時，在該匣閥和印表機閥打開之前，該耦合密封 先形成。選擇性地，該匣閥具有界定閥座的固定閥構件、 和用於密封嚙合於該閥座的密封套環，且彈性套筒具有相 對地固定至該固定閥構件的一環形端，且另一環形端嚙合 該密封套環，以將其偏壓進入密封嚙合於該閥座；和 該印表機導管具有導管開口；使得 該導管開口的軸向端和該密封套環，分別在該印表機 導管和該匣閥提供該等相配合的結構。 選擇性地，在打開該匣閥之前，該導管開口先抵著該 -17- 200838707 密封套環以密封該密封套環。選擇性地，該彈性套筒和該 密封套環是整合地成型。選擇性地，該彈性套筒和該密封 套環是矽氧樹脂。選擇性地，該固定閥構件是由聚（對苯 二甲酸乙醇）（poly ethylene ter ephthal ate )形成。選擇 性地，該導管開口是由聚（對苯二甲酸乙醇）形成。 選擇性地，該匣具有頁寬列印頭，且該印表機具有墨 水庫，用於經由該耦合器供給該列印頭。 因此在第八方面，本發明提供一種用於噴墨印表機用 的列印頭，該列印頭包含： 一列印頭積體電路，其具有用於噴射墨水之陣列的噴 嘴；和 一支撐構造，用於將該列印頭積體電路安裝在該印表 機內，該支撐構造具有導管，用於以墨水供給陣列的噴嘴 ，該等墨水導管具有壩結搆，以局部地阻礙墨水流動；其 中 當塡注列印頭時，壩結構優先塡注墨水導管的上游區 段。 在具有不正確塡注傾向的下游區域使用壩，可迫使它 們更快速或優先塡注下游區段。雖然被壩延遲，但是只要 下游區段可信賴地塡注，則不會對優先塡注上游區段造成 不利。 選擇性地，壩結構具有頂部輪廓，建構該輪廓以提供 錨點（固定點anchor point )供前進之墨水流的彎液面所 用。選擇性地，上游區段在其最上表面具有穴部；在列印 -18- 200838707 頭被塡注之後，該等穴部用於保持數袋的空氣。選擇性地 ，穴部具有界定在上游區段之最上表面的開口，每一開口 的上游邊緣成弧形，且下游邊緣相對地銳利，所以從上游 方向流來的墨水，不會被毛細作用抽進穴部內。選擇性地 - ，設置壩以暫時固定（anchor )前進墨水流的彎液面，並 . 使其轉向以避免接觸其中一穴部之開口的相對銳利邊緣。 選擇性地，列印頭是匣，其被建構用於供使用者移除更換 φ 。選擇性地，當裝設時和稍後被印表機內的泵塡注時，匣 未被塡注。 因此在第九方面，本發明提供一種用於噴墨印表機用 的列印頭，該列印頭包含： 一列印頭積體電路，其具有用於噴射墨水之陣列的噴 嘴；和 一支撐構造，用於將該列印頭積體電路安裝在該印表 機內，該支撐構造具有導管，用於以墨水供給陣列的噴嘴 φ ，該等墨水導管具有彎液面錨（meniscus anchor)，用於 附著（pin )墨水之前進彎液面的一部分，以將前進彎液 面轉向離開其將進行的路徑。 如果因爲彎液面附著在一點或更多點而致列印頭始終 ' 未能正確地塡注，則可引導前進的彎液面不接觸這些臨界 點（critical point)。在此問題區域的緊鄰上游處故意使 墨水導管內不連續，可暫時附著彎液面，且將其偏斜至導 管的一側並離開不想要的附著點。一旦流動已被起始進入 側分支或不想要附著點的下游，則錨不需再保持墨水彎液 -19- 200838707 面，且可繼續塡注δ 選擇性地，彎液面錨是突然凸出進入墨水導管。選擇 性地，彎液面錨是局部阻礙墨水流的壩結構，所以當塡注 列印頭時，壩結構優先塡注墨水導管的上游區段。 選擇性地，上游區段在其最上表面具有穴部；在列印 頭被塡注之後，該等穴部用於保持數袋的空氣。選擇性地 ，穴部具有界定在上游區段之最上表面的開口，每一開口 的上游邊緣成弧形，且下游邊緣相對地銳利，所以從上游 方向流來的墨水，不會被毛細作用抽進穴部內。選擇性地 ，設置壩以暫時固定（anchor )前進墨水流的彎液面，並 使其轉向以避免接觸其中一穴部之開口的相對銳利邊緣。 選擇性地，列印頭是匣，其被建構用於供使用者移除更換 。選擇性地，當裝設時和稍後被印表機內的泵塡注時，匣 未被塡注。 因此在第十方面，本發明提供一種用於噴墨印表機用 的列印頭，該噴墨印表機具有列印引擎控制器’用於接收 列印資料並將該列印資料傳送至該列印頭，該列印頭包含 一列印頭積體電路，其具有用於噴射墨水之陣列的噴 嘴； 一支撐構造，用於將該列印頭積體電路安裝在該印表 機內且鄰接紙路徑，該列印頭積體電路安裝在該支撐構造 的面上，其在使用時面對該紙路徑； 一可撓印刷電路板’具有用於操作該列印頭積體電路 -20- 200838707 上之該陣列噴嘴的驅動電路，該驅動電路具有藉由軌跡連 接在該可撓印刷電路板內的電路組件，該可撓印刷電路板 也具有用於接收來自該列印引擎控制器之列印資料的接點 ，該可撓印刷電路板在該等接點處安裝至該支撐構造的一 面上，該面未面對該紙路徑，使得該可撓印刷電路板延伸 經過在該列印頭積體電路和該等接點之間的彎曲區段；其 中， 該列印頭積體電路和該電路組件彼此鄰接，且藉由該 可撓印刷電路板的該彎曲區段與該等接點分離。 選擇性地，該支撐構造具有弧形表面，以支撐該可撓 印刷電路板的該彎曲區段。藉由將可撓印刷電路板固持在 設定的半徑，該等弧形表面減少軌跡產生裂痕的可能性， 而不是允許可撓印刷電路板跟隨不規則的弧形，以致使軌 跡上的局部點冒著高應力的風險。 選擇性地，該可撓印刷電路板在該等電路組件處固定 至該支撐構件。選擇性地，該等電路組件包括電容，其在 該列印頭積體電路上之噴嘴的發射順序期間放電。選擇性 地，該支撐構造是液晶聚合物模組。建構該液晶聚合物模 組，使得其熱膨脹係數約略等於列印頭積體電路中矽樹酯 基板的熱膨脹係數。 選擇性地，該液晶聚合物模組具有墨水導管，用於供 給墨水至該列印頭積體電路。選擇性地，該等墨水導管導 通至在該液晶聚合物模組之該面內的出口，該列印頭積體 電路安裝在該面上。 -21 - 200838707 選擇性地，該列印頭是頁寬列印頭。選擇性地，該支 撐構造具有匣支承區段和力傳輸構件；該匣支承區段位在 與該等接點相對，該力傳輸構件從該等接點延伸至匣支承 區段’使得當裝設在該印表機內時，來自該印表機之相配 合接點的壓力，經由該力傳輸構件直接傳輸至該匣支承區 段。選擇性地，該支承區段包括定位結構，用以和該印表 機上的相配合結構嚙合。選擇性地，該定位結構是具有圓 弧遠端的脊部，使得一旦該脊部已嚙合該印表機時，該匣 可旋轉進入位置。 【實施方式】 槪要 圖1顯示將本發明具體化的印表機2。印表機的主體 4支撐在後面的媒介饋給盤1 4，和在前面的樞轉面6。圖 1顯示樞轉面6關閉，使得顯示螢幕8在其直立的觀察方 向。控制鈕1 〇從螢幕8的側邊延伸，以方便操作者邊觀 看螢幕時邊輸入。爲了列印，從饋給盤1 4內的媒介疊12 抽出單一片體，並饋給通過列印頭（隱藏在印表機內）。 將已列印的片體1 6輸送穿過已列印媒介出口槽1 8。 圖2顯不樞轉即面6打開，以顯露印表機2的內部。 打開印表機的前面，暴露了設置在內部的列印頭匣9 6。列 印頭匣96被匣嚙合凸輪20固定定位。凸輪20將列印頭 匣96向下推，以確保墨水耦合器（稍後描述）完全嚙合 且列印頭積體電路（1C )(稍後描述）被正確地定位鄰接 -22- 200838707 紙饋給路徑。凸輪20被釋放槓桿24手動地致動。前面6 不能關閉，且因此印表機不能操作，直到釋放桿24被向 下推以完全嚙合凸輪。關閉樞轉面6以使印表機接點22 嚙合匣接點104。 圖3顯示印表機2的樞轉面6打開，且移除列印頭匣 9 6。因爲樞轉面6向前傾斜，所以使用者可向上拉匣釋放 槓桿24，以解除凸輪的嚙合。此允許抓著匣96上的把手 26向上拉。上游墨水耦合器1 12A和下游墨水耦合器1 12B 脫離印表機的導管1 42，此將於下文更詳細地描述。進行 相反的步驟可安裝未使用過的新匣。新匣以未塡注的狀態 運輸和販售，所以爲了使印表機預備供列印，主動射流系 統（下文描述）使用下游泵，以用墨水塡注匣和列印頭。 在圖4中，已移除印表機2的外殼已顯露其內部。大 的墨水罐具有四個分離的儲庫供全部四種不同墨水用。墨 水罐60本身是可更換的匣，其耦合至開關閥66 (圖6 ) 的印表機上游。也有貯槽92供泵62從匣96抽出墨水。 參考圖6詳細描述印表機射流系統。簡言之，墨水從罐60 流經上游墨水管線84而至開關閥66，且流至印表機導管 142上。如圖5所示，當設置有匣96時，泵62 (被馬達 196驅動）可將墨水抽進液晶聚合物（LCP )模組64 (見 圖6、圖17-20)，使得列印積體電路68 (再度參考圖6 、圖17-20 )被毛細作用塡注。泵62所多抽出的墨水被饋 給至貯槽92，該貯槽92容置在墨水罐60。 因爲所用接點的數目，所以匣接點1 04和印表機接點 -23- 200838707 22之間的全部連接器力相對地高。在所示的實施例中’全 部的接點力是45牛頓，此荷重足以使匣撓曲變形。暫時 參考圖30，其顯示底盤模組100的內部構造。圖3所示的 支承表面28示意地顯示在圖30中。以箭頭代表印表機接 點作用在匣接點1 04上的壓縮荷重，同樣地，以箭頭代表 在支承表面2 8的反作用力。爲維持匣9 6的構造整體性， 底盤模組1 00具有結構性構件，其在連接器力的平面延伸 。爲了保持反作用力作用在連接器力的平面內，底盤也具 有接觸肋32，其抵壓著支承表面28。此將結構性構造30 上的荷重保持完全地壓縮，以使匣的勁性最大化，並使任 何的撓性最小化。 列印引擎管線 列印引擎管線是印表機處理接收自外部來源並輸出至 列印頭供列印之列印資料的參考。2004年1 2月20日申請 之USSN 1 1/0 1 4769 ( RR C 0 〇 1 U S )案中詳細描述列印引 擎管線，茲將該內容倂入做參考。 射流系統 傳統的印表機依賴列印頭、匣、和墨水管線內的構造 和組件’以避免射流問題。一些共通的射流問題爲未塡注 的或乾掉的噴嘴、排氣的泡泡、和因交互污染而顏色混合 。避免這些問題之印表機組件的最佳化設計是，射流控制 的被動方法。通常，噴嘴致動器本身是用於改善這些缺點 -24- 200838707 的唯一主動組件，但是在企圖改善這些問題時，此常常不 足夠，且/或浪費許多墨水。因爲供給列印頭積體電路之 墨水導管的長度和複雜性，所以該問題在頁寬列印頭更嚴 重。 藉由發展出供印表機用的主動射流系統，申請人已解 決此問題。USSN 1 1/677049案詳細描述了數個此等系統 ，茲將其內容倂入做參考。圖6顯示主動流射系統之單一 泵實施例其中之一，其適合使用在本說明書所述之列印頭 〇 圖6所示的流射結構是只供一種顏色用的單一墨水管 線。彩色印表機具有供每一顏色墨水用的分離管線（和當 然分離的墨水罐60)。如圖6所示，此結構具有在LCP 模組64下游的單一泵62、和在LCP模組64上游的開關 閥66。LCP模組藉由黏性積體電路附接膜174 (見圖25) 支撐列印頭積體電路68。無論什麼時候關掉印表機的電源 ，開關閥66都會將墨水罐60內的墨水和列印頭積體電路 68相隔離。此防止在列印頭積體電路68的任何顏色混合 於非做動期間到達墨水罐 6〇。這些議題在交互參考的 USSN 1 1/677049案說明書中有更詳細的討論。 墨水罐60具有排出氣泡點壓力調節器72，其用以系隹 持噴嘴處墨水內相對的流體靜力負壓力。在共同申請（ co-pending)之USSN 11/640355案內，更廣泛地描述墨水 庫內的氣泡點壓力調節器，茲將該案倂入做參考。但是_ 了此描述，將調節器72顯示成氣泡出口 74，該氣泡出口 -25 - 200838707 74浸在罐60之墨水中且藉由密封的導管76通氣至大氣， 該導管76延伸至空氣入口 78。當列印頭積體電路68消耗 墨水時，罐60內的壓力下降，直到在氣泡出口 74的壓力 差將空氣吸入罐內。此空氣在墨水內形成氣泡，該氣泡上 升至罐的頭部空間。此壓力差是氣泡點壓力，且將取決於 氣泡出口 74的直徑（或最小的尺寸）和在該出口處墨水 彎液面的拉普拉斯壓力。該拉普拉斯壓力會阻止空氣進入 〇 氣泡點-調節器使用氣泡點壓力，以保持出口處的流體 靜力壓力大致橫定（當空氣的凸出彎液面形成氣泡且上升 至墨水罐內的頭部空間時，有些微的波動）。該氣泡點壓 力是於浸在墨水中之氣泡出口 74產生氣泡所需要的。如 果出口處的流體靜力壓力在氣泡點，則不管罐內墨水已被 消耗了多少，墨水罐內的流體靜力壓力分布圖（pressure profile )也已知。當墨水位準下降至該出口時，罐內墨水 表面處的壓力會朝氣泡點壓力減少。當然，一旦暴露了出 口 74，則頭部空間連通至大氣，且負壓力消失。在墨水位 準到達氣泡出口 74以前，應再塡充墨水罐、或更換（如 果該墨水罐是匣型式）。 墨水罐60可爲能再充塡的固定庫、可更換的匣、或 (如倂入做參考之RRC001US所揭露的）可再充塡的匣。 爲了防範微粒積垢，墨水罐60的出口 80具有粗的過濾器 82。在耦合至列印頭卡匣處.，系統也使用細的過濾器。因 爲過濾器具有有限的壽命，所以藉由簡單的更換墨水匣或 -26- 200838707 列印頭匣來更換過濾器’對使用者特別地方便。如果過濾 器是分離的可消耗物件’則有賴使用者的勤勉以定期更換 〇 當氣泡出口 74處在氣泡點壓力’且開關閥66打開時 ，則噴嘴處的流體靜力壓力也恆定且小於大氣壓力。但是 如果開關閥66已關閉一段時間’則排氣的氣泡可形成在 LCP模組64或列印頭1C中，其改變噴嘴處的壓力。同樣 地，因每日溫度變化而致氣泡的膨脹和收縮，可改變開關 閥6 6下游管線8 4內的壓力。類似的，在非做動期間’因 爲自溶液跑出的溶解氣體，所以墨水罐內的壓力會改變。 從L C P 6 4至泵6 2的下游墨水管線8 6可包括墨水感 應器88，該墨水感應器88連接至用於泵的電子控制器90 。感應器8 8感測下游墨水管線8 6內是否有墨水存在。在 另一實施例中，系統可設有感應器8 8，且可將泵62建構 成就每一不同作業運轉適當的期間。此可能因增加墨水浪 費而不利地影響作業成本。 泵62饋給進入貯槽92 (當以向前的方向泵送時）° 貯槽92物理性地定位在印表機內，以比列印頭IC 68位 在較低的位置。此允許下游墨水管線8 6內的墨水柱在待 命期間懸吊在LCP 64，藉此在列印頭LCP 64處產生流體 靜力負壓力。在噴嘴處的負壓力將墨水彎液面向內抽且禁 止顏料混合。當然，蠕動性泵62需停止在打開狀態’以 使LCP 64和貯槽92內之墨水出口之間呈流體連通。 在非做動期間，在不同顏料之墨水管線之間會有壓力 -27- 200838707 差。再者，在噴嘴板上的紙灰塵或其他微粒，會將墨水從 一噴嘴毛細吸引至另一噴嘴。藉由每一墨水管線間之些微 壓力差的驅動，在印表機非做動時，會發生顏料混合。開 關閥66將墨水罐60和列印頭1C 68相隔離，以防止顏料 混合的情形向上延伸至墨水罐60。一旦墨水罐內的墨水受 到不同顏料的污染，是不能恢復的，且必須更換。 蓋體94是列印頭維護站，其在待命期間將噴嘴密封 ，以避免列印頭1C 68脫水，且蓋體94遮蔽噴嘴板以防 止紙灰塵和其他微粒。也將蓋體94建構成用以擦拭噴嘴 板，以移除已乾燥的墨水和其他污染物。當墨水溶劑（通 常是水）蒸發時，會發生列印頭1C 68脫水，且增加墨水 的黏性。如果墨水黏性太高，則墨水噴射·致動器難以噴射 墨水液滴。萬一蓋體密封產生洩漏，則在關掉電源或待命 期間之後再做動時，已脫水的噴嘴是個問題。 上述的問題在印表機的作業壽命期間並非不常見，但 其可由圖6所不相對簡單的射流結構有效地改善。該射流 結構亦允許使用者初始地塡注印表機、在移除該射流結構 前先停止塡注印表機、或使用簡單的排解疑難協定將印表 機恢復至已知的列印預備狀態。在上述參考案 USSN 1 1/67 7 049中，詳細描述數個這些狀況的例子。 ’ 列印頭匣 列印頭匣96顯示在圖7至圖16A中。圖7顯示匣96 在其組合和完整的形態。匣的區塊被包覆在匣底座1 00和 -28- 200838707 底座蓋102之間。底座100的窗口暴露匣接點104，該等 匣接點1 04接收來自印表機中列印引擎控制器的資料。 圖8和9顯示匣96扣合在保護套98上。保護套98 防止對電性接點1 04和列印頭1C 68 (見圖1 0 )的損害接 觸。使用者能抓住匣96的頂部，並在裝設到印表機內之 前才移除保護套98。 圖1 〇顯示列印頭匣96的下側和背部（相對於紙饋給 方向）。列印頭接點1 04是在可撓印刷電路板1 0 8上的傳 導性墊，該可撓印刷電路板圍繞著弧形支撐表面（在下文 關於LCP模組的描述中討論），而至列印頭1C 68 —側的 一列導線接合1 1 0。列印頭1C 68另一側是紙遮罩1 06， 以預防和媒介基板直接接觸。 圖1 1顯示列印頭匣96的下側租前側。匣的前側具有 在二端的二墨水耦合器112A、112B，每一墨水耦合器具 有四個匣閥 U 4。當匣設置在印表機內時，墨水耦合器 112A、112B嚙合相配合的墨水供給介面（下文更詳細描 述）。墨水供給介面具有印表機導管1 42，其嚙合並打開 匣閥114。其中之一的墨水耦合器n2A是上游墨水耦合 器’而其他的是下游耦合器n2B。上游耦合器112A建立 列印頭1C 68和墨水供給源60 (見圖6 )之間的流體連通 ，而下游耦合器1 1 2 B則連接至貯槽9 2 (見圖6 )。 圖1 2顯示列印頭匣9 6的各種視圖。匣9 6的平面視 Η也顯不圖14、15、16所示之剖面視圖的位置。 圖是匣96的分解立體圖。LCP模組64附接至匣 -29- 200838707 底座100的下側。可撓印刷電路板108附接至LCP模組 64的下側，且圍繞一側以暴露列印頭接點1 04。入口歧管 及過濾器116和出口歧管118附接至底座100的頂部。入 口歧管及過濾器116藉由彈性連接器120連接至LCP入口 122，同樣地，LCP出口 124藉由另一組彈性連接器120 連接至出口歧管118。底座蓋102從頂部包覆底座100內 的入口和出口歧管，且可移除的保護套98扣合在底部， 以保護接點1 04和列印頭1C (見圖1 1 )。 入口及過濾器歧管 圖14是沿著圖12之線14-14的放大視圖，其顯示經 由上游耦合器112A的其中一個匣閥114至LCP模組64 的流體路徑。匣閥114具有彈性套筒126，其被偏壓進入 和固定閥構件1 28密封嚙合的狀態。印表機導管1 42 (見 圖1 6 )藉由壓縮彈性套筒1 2 6使其離開固定閥構件1 2 8而 打開匣閥1 1 4，且允許墨水向上流至頂部通道1 3 8，該頂 部通道1 3 8沿著入口及過濾器歧管1 1 6的頂部，導通至上 游過濾器室132。上游過濾器室132具有由過濾器薄膜 1 3 0所界定的一壁部。墨水通過過濾器薄膜1 3 0進入下游 過濾器室134，且流出至LCP入口 122。已過濾之墨水從 LCP入口 122沿著LCP主通道136饋給進入列印頭1C ( 未示）。 現在參考圖15描述入口及過濾器歧管116的特殊構 造特徵和優點。圖1 5的分解立體圖最適於例示入口及過 -30- 200838707 濾器歧管1 1 6的袖珍設計。有多方面的設計幫助達成該袖 珍形式。首先，匣閥靠在一起地配置，此係藉由脫離自行 密封墨水閥的傳統結構而達成。以前的設計也使用彈性構 件偏壓進入與固定構件密封嚙合，但是彈性構件不是實心 形狀（墨水繞其流動）就是隔膜形式（墨水流經隔膜）。 在匣耦合器中，匣閥很方便在安裝時就自動地打開， 此藉由耦合器而最容易且最便宜地提供。在該耦合器，一 個閥具有彈性構件，該彈性構件被剛性構件嚙合在另一個 閥上。如果彈性構件呈膈膜形式，則其經常在張力作用下 貼抵中央剛性構件。此提供有效率的密封，且要求相對低 的公差。但是此亦要求彈性元件具有廣的周圍安裝。彈性 體的寬度在所欲的耦合力、密封的整體性、和所用彈性體 的材料性質之間折衷。 如圖1 6所清楚顯示者，本發明的匣閥1 1 4使用彈性 套筒126，其在殘留壓力作用下，壓抵固定閥構件128而 密封。當匣設置在印表機內且印表機閥1 42的導管末端 148進一步壓縮套筒126時，閥114被打開。套環146解 除固定閥構件12 8的密封，以將LCP 64連接進入印表機 射流系統（見圖6)，經由上游和下游墨水耦合器n 2 a、 1 1 2 B。將套筒的側壁建構成向外凸出，因爲向內變形會造 成流動障礙。如圖16所示，套筒126具有環繞其中段的 一線相對脆弱部，以促進及引導挫曲步驟。此減少將匣嚙 合於印表機所需的力，且確保套筒向外挫曲。 將耦合器建構成解除匣和印表機的耦合時無滴液，當 -31 - 200838707 從印表機相上拉匣時，彈性套筒126推套環146以壓抵固 定閥構件128而將其密封。一旦套筒126已密封閥構件 128 (藉此密封耦合器的匣側），密封套環146和匣一起 上升，此解除套環146和導管末端148的密封。當密封被 破壞時，橫越套環和導管末端1 4 8之間的空隙形成墨水彎 液面。固定閥構件1 28之末端的形狀引導彎液面朝其底部 表面的中間前進，而非形成一點。在固定閥構件128之圓 形底部的中間，彎液面被迫和現在幾乎水平的底部表面分 離。爲了獲得可能的最低能量狀態，表面張力驅使彎液面 脫離固疋閥構件1 2 8。使彎液面表面積最小化的偏壓是強 的，所以該分離很完全，且幾乎沒有（如果有的話）墨水 殘留在匣閥1 1 4上。任何殘留的墨水，不足以在拋棄匣之 前形成會滴漏或沾污的液滴。 當新的匣設置在印表機內時，導管1 5 0內的空氣會被 挾帶進入墨水流1 52內，且被匣所吸納。有鑑於此，入口 歧管和過濾器組合體具有高氣泡容許量。往回參考圖1 5， 墨水流經固定閥構件1 2 8的頂部，，且流入頂部通道1 3 8 。做爲入口歧管116的最高點，頂部通道可捕捉（收集） 氣泡。但是氣泡仍然會流入過濾器入口 1 5 8。在此情況中 ，過濾器組合體本身可容許氣泡。 在過瀘器膜1 3 0上游側上的氣泡會影響流率，氣泡有 效率地減少過濾器膜1 3 0之髒側上的濕潤表面積。過濾器 膜具長矩形狀，所以即使相當可觀數目的氣泡被抽入過濾 器的髒側，還保留足夠大的濕潤表面積以所要求的流率過 -32- 200838707 濾墨水。此對本發明所提供之高速率作業很重要。 當上游過濾器室1 32內的氣泡不能橫越過過濾器膜 130時，因加熱除去氣體而致的氣泡，會在下游過濾器室 134內產生氣泡。過濾器出口 156位在下游過濾器室134 的底部，且和上游過濾器室1 3 2內的入口 1 5 8呈斜對角， 以使氣泡在任一室內對流率的影響最小化。 供每一顏料用的過濾器膜1 3 0直立且緊密地並列疊積 。分隔壁162局部地界定在一側上的上游過濾器室132， 且局部地界定在另一側上鄰接顏料的下游過濾器室1 34。 因爲過濾器是很薄（因袖珍設計），所以過濾器膜1 3 0能 被推抵住下游過濾室1 3 4的相對壁。此有效率地減少過濾 器膜1 3 0的表面，因此其不利於使流率最大化。爲了預防 此現象，下游過濾器室1 3 4的該相對壁具有一系列的間隔 肋160，以保持膜130和壁分離。 將過濾器入口和出口設置在斜對角落，也可在系統的 起始塡注期間，幫助清除系統的空氣。 爲了減少微粒污染列印頭的風險’在下一分隔壁1 6 2 熔接至第一分隔壁之前’過濾器膜13〇先熔接至第一分隔 壁的下游側。以此方式’在熔接製程期間折斷的任何過濾 器膜小片，都是在過濾器1 3 0的「髒」側上。 LCP模組/可撓印刷電路板/列印頭1C 圖17-33顯示LCP模組64、可撓印刷電路板1 08、和 列印頭1C 68組合體。圖17是附接有可撓印刷電路板108 -33- 200838707 和列印頭IC 68之LCP模組64的下側透視圖。LCP模組 64經由埋頭孔166、168固定至匣底座100。孔168是橢 圓形孔，以適應在熱膨脹係數方面的未匹配，而不必彎曲 LCP。列印頭1C 68端對端地配置在沿著LCP模組64縱 向的線上。可撓印刷電路板1 〇 8導線接合在列印頭IC 6 8 的一邊緣。將可撓印刷電路板的兩邊緣固定，以使可撓印 刷電路板緊緊地保持在弧形支撐表面1 7 0 (見圖19)。此確 保可撓印刷電路板不會以比特定最小的半徑更緊地彎曲， 藉此降低穿過可撓印刷電路板之傳導性軌跡折斷的風險。 圖1 8是圖1 7所示***區塊A的放大視圖。其顯示沿 著可撓印刷電路板1 〇 8之側邊的導線接合接點1 64線、和 列印頭IC68的線。 圖1 9是LCP模組/可撓印刷電路板/列印頭1C組合體 的立體分解圖，其顯示每一組件的下側。圖20是另一分 解立體圖，此次顯示各組件的上側。LCP模組64具有密 封至其下側的液晶聚合物（LCP )通道模組176。列印頭 1C 68藉由黏性1C附接膜174附接至通道模組176下側。 在LCP通道模組176上側的是LCP主通道184。這些連通 至LCP模組64中的墨水入口 122和墨水出口 124。在 LCP主通道184底部處的是墨水供給流道182 ’其連通至 列印頭1C 68。黏性1C附接膜174具有一系列雷射鑽出供 給孔1 86，所以每一列印頭1C 68的附接側和墨水供給流 道1 82呈流體連通。下文將參考圖3 1至3 3詳細描述黏性 1C附接膜。 ' -34- 200838707 LCP模組64具有凹部178，以容置可撓印刷電路板 108上之驅動電路中的電子組件180。爲了最佳的墊性效 率和作業，可撓印刷電路板1 08上匣接點1 04應靠近列印 頭IC 6 8。但是爲了保持鄰接列印頭的紙路徑是直的而不 是弧形或彎曲，匣接點1 0 4需要在匣9 6的側面上。在可 撓印刷電路板上的傳導性路徑稱爲軌跡。當可撓印刷電路 板必須繞著角落彎曲時，軌跡會產生裂痕且破壞連接。爲 了解決此問題，軌跡在該彎曲處之前需先分叉，然後在該 彎曲處之後再會合。如果分叉段的分支產生裂痕，則由其 他的分支保持連接。不幸的是，將軌跡一分爲二然後再結 合在一起，會增加電磁干擾問題，此問題在電路中產生雜 訊。 將軌跡變寬一點並非有效的解決之道，因爲較寬的軌 跡並未大幅提昇防止裂痕的能力。一旦軌跡內開始產生裂 痕，裂痕會相對地快且容易地傳播遍及整個寬度。小心控 制彎曲半徑可更有效使軌跡裂痕最小化，此可使橫越過可 撓印刷電路板之彎曲處的軌跡數目最小化。 頁寬列印頭出現額外的複雜性，因爲必須在相對短時 間內發射大陣列的噴嘴。一次發射許多噴嘴’使得系統承 受大的電流負荷。此可經由電路產生高位準的電感’其會 造成電壓驟降，而電壓驟降不利於作業。爲了避免此問題 ，可撓印刷電路板具有一系列電容，其在噴嘴發射順序期 間放電，以將電流負荷釋放在其餘的電路上。因爲需要保 持通過列印頭1C之紙路徑是直的，傳統的方式是將電容 -35- 200838707 附接至匣側面上之接點附近的可撓印刷電路板上。不幸的 是，電容產生額外的軌跡，該等軌跡增加可撓印刷電路板 之彎曲區段產生裂痕的風險。 藉由將電容180 (見圖20)安裝成緊密鄰接列印頭1C 68以減少軌跡破裂的機會，可解決上述問題。藉由將電容 和其他組件容置在LCP模組64的凹部內，可將紙路徑保 持線性。列印頭1C 68和紙遮罩172安裝至匣96之前面 (相對於饋給方向），其下游之可撓印刷電路板1 〇 8的相 對平坦表面使卡紙的風險降至最低。 將接點和可撓印刷電路板的其餘組件隔離，可使延伸 經過彎曲區段的軌跡數目最小化。此可增加可靠度，因爲 其減少發生裂痕的機會。將電路組件設置在列印頭1C旁 邊，意涵匣需要較寬的邊緣，且此不利於袖珍設計·。但是 此結構所提供的優點，比稍微寬之匣的任何缺點更重要。 首先，接點可較大，因爲沒有來自組件的軌跡行經各接點 之間和圍繞各接點。因爲具有較大的接點，所以連接較可 靠，且更能夠處理匣接點和印表機側之接點間的製造不準 確問題。此問題在本案特別重要，因爲依賴使用者準確地 將匣***以匹配接點。 第二，導線接合至列印頭1C側面之可撓印刷電路板 的邊緣，未受有殘留應力且不會試著自彎曲半徑剝離。可 撓印刷電路板被固定至電容和其他組件處的支撐構造，所 以在製造期間較容易形成至列印頭1C的導線連接，且當 其未被用於固定可撓印刷電路板時較不易產生裂痕。 -36- 200838707 第三，電容更靠近列印頭1C的噴嘴，所以放電電容 所產生的電磁干擾降至最小。 圖2 1是列印頭匣96之下側的放大圖，其顯示可撓印 刷電路板1 08和列印頭1C 68。可撓印刷電路板1 08的導 線接合接點1 64，平行於在黏性1C附接膜1 74之下側上的 列印頭1C 68的墊。圖22顯示除去圖21的列印頭1C 68 和可撓印刷電路板，以顯露供給孔1 86。該等孔配置成四 縱向列，每一列輸送一種特殊顏色的墨水，且每一列對齊 在每一列印頭1C背後的單一通道。— 圖23顯示除去黏性1C附接膜174之LCP通道模組 176的下側。此暴露墨水供給流道182，其連接至形成在 通道模組176另一側內的LCP主通道184 (見圖20 )。應 瞭解當黏性1C附接膜1 74黏附至定位時，其局部界定供 給流道1 82。也應瞭解附接膜必須準確地定位，因爲個別 的供給流道1 8 2必須和雷射鑽穿膜1 74的供給孔1 8 6對齊 〇 圖2 4顯示除去L C P通道膜組之L C P模組的下側，此 暴露陣列的盲穴部2 0 0。當以墨水塡注匣時，盲穴部2 〇 〇 含有空氣，以阻尼任何壓力脈衝。此於下文更詳細討論。 列印頭1C附接膜 暫時參考圖3 1至3 3，更詳細描述黏性IC附接膜。膜 1 74被雷射鑽穿且捲繞在捲筒i 98，以方便倂入列印頭厘 9 6內。爲了處理和儲存’膜1 7 4在任一側有二保護襯料； -37- 200838707 其中之一是現存襯料188，其在雷射穿孔之前就附接至膜 ;另一保護襯料是置換襯料’其在鑽孔作業之後才附加上 去。顯示在圖32之膜174的區段，移除一些現存襯料Γ88 以暴露供給孔1 8 6。在膜另一側上的置換襯料^ 9 2，是在 雷射鑽出供給孔1 8 6之後才附加上去。 圖33顯示膜174的層狀構造。中央腹板19〇提供層 狀構造所需的強度’在任一側是黏劑層1 94。黏劑層1 94 φ 被襯料覆蓋。雷射鑽削形成孔1 8 6，其從膜1 7 4的第一側 延伸，且終止於第二側之襯料1 8 8內的某地方。移除第一 側上之有小孔的襯料，並以置換襯料1 92取代。然後將膜 帶捲繞於捲筒198(見圖31)，以在附接之前先儲存和處 理。當組合列印頭匣時，從捲筒1 9 8拉出適當長度，移除 襯料並黏附至LCP模組64的下側，使得孔186對準正確 的墨水供給流道182 (見圖25 )。 φ 促進墨水供給至列印頭1C末端 圖25顯示列印頭1C，其重疊在穿透黏性1C附接膜 174的墨水供給孔186上，膜174重疊在LCP通道模組 176下側內的墨水供給通道182上。藉由附接膜174將鄰 ' 接的列印頭1C 68端對端地設置在LCP通道模組176的底 部上。在各鄰接列印頭1C 68的接合處，其中一個1C 68 具有成列噴嘴的「滴下三角形（droP trianSle)」206部 。該等噴嘴從其餘噴嘴陣列220中的對應列位移’此允許 一個列印頭1C的列印邊緣接續鄰接列印頭1C的列印。藉 -38-Each of the I is coupled to a corresponding ink supply source and the openings are constructed such that when the ink conduits are licked by the corresponding ink supply, the pockets are not inked. Optionally, each of the pockets ' is a blind recess such that the area defined by the opening is substantially equal to the area of the blind end. Optionally, each of the openings faces only one of the ink conduits. Optionally, the openings are configured to inhibit ink from filling the recess by capillary action. Optionally, the openings to each of the individual pockets have an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the upstream edge contacting the ink prior to the ink supply, and the upstream edge contacts the ink prior to the ink supply, and The upstream edge has a transition surface between the conduit and the interior of the pocket, the transition surface being configured to inhibit the filling of the pocket and the removal of air by capillary action during initial injection of the ink conduit. -10- 200838707 Optionally, the nozzles of the array are formed in at least one of the print head integrated circuits mounted to the support structure, the ink conduits being formed therein. Optionally, the printhead is a pagewidth printhead; and the support structure is elongate having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end; and the ink conduits have channels along which the inlet and The support structure between the outlets extends longitudinally; and each of the channels has a series of ink feed channels along which the ink feed channels are spaced to provide the channel and the column The fluid communication between the integrated circuits of the print head. Optionally, the ink feed channels are joined to the channel along the wall of the channel, the walls being opposite the walls including the openings to the pockets. Optionally, the support structure is a liquid crystal polymer. Optionally, the support structure is a two-piece liquid crystal polymer module, and the channels and the feed channels are formed in one of the parts, and the holes are formed in the other part. Optionally, the support structure has a plurality of print head integrated circuits that are mounted end to end along one side. Optionally, the print head integrated circuit is mounted to the side by interposing an adhesive film having a hole for the ink feed flow path and the print head assembly Fluid communication between circuits. Therefore, in a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a printhead for an ink jet printer, the printhead comprising: a row of print head integrated circuits, the print head integrated circuit is elongated and has a nozzle for ejecting an array of ink; a support structure for supporting the printhead integrated circuit, and having an ink port - 200838707 water outlet for supplying ink to the array nozzle; wherein the ink outlets are along the print head The integrated circuits are spaced apart such that the ink exit spacing at the end of the printhead integrated circuit is reduced. By increasing the number of ink outlets near the end regions, the ink supply source can be encouraged to compensate for the slower end of the nozzle. This allows all of the nozzle arrays to be more consistently patted to avoid flooding the earlier nozzles and ink waste (or another embodiment, the untwisted end nozzles). Optionally, the support structure supports a plurality of print head integrated circuits that are constructed in an end-to-end relationship; the support structure has a plurality of ink feed channels for supplying ink to the ink outlets such that At least some of the ink feed channels adjacent the junction between the ends of the two printhead integrated circuits supply ink to two of the ink outlets on different sides of the joint. Optionally, the support structure has a modular ink manifold and a polymer film, the ink feed flow path is formed in the modular ink manifold, and the ink outlet is formed in the polymer film to enable the polymer film to be mounted. To the modular ink manifold, and the printhead integrated circuit is mounted to the other side of the polymer film. Optionally, the printhead integrated circuit has an ink inlet channel on one side of the wafer substrate, and the nozzles of the array are formed on the other side of the wafer substrate such that each ink inlet channel is connected to at least one of the ink outlets Optionally, the support structure has a jet damper for damping pressure pulses within the ink supplied to the printhead integrated circuit. Optionally, the jet damper has an array of pockets for holding the volume of gas such that each pocket is a separate gas pocket. Alternatively, the ink meniscus partially defines each of the pockets when the support constructed ink conduit is infused by -12-200838707 ink. Optionally, the ink manifold has a series of main channels extending parallel to the head integrated circuit, and each of the pockets is a dome recess having an opening facing one or more of the main channels. Optionally, the opening of each blind recess faces only one of the main channels. Optionally, the opening of each blind recess is constructed to inhibit ink from filling the recess by capillary action. Optionally, the support structure has an inlet for connecting the ink conduit to an ink supply source and an outlet for connecting the ink conduit to the waste ink outlet. Optionally, the opening to each individual pocket has an upstream edge and a downstream edge; during the initial feeding of the ink supply source, the upstream edge contacts the ink earlier than the downstream edge; and the upstream edge is between the conduit and the interior of the pocket Having a transition surface; constructing a transition surface to prevent the filling of the cavity and the removal of gas by capillary action during the initial injection of the ink conduit. Optionally, the print head is a page wide print head; and the support structure is elongate having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end; and the main passages are between the inlet and the outlet The support structure extends longitudinally; and the ink feed channels are joined along the wall of the main passage to one of the main passages, the wall being opposite the wall including the openings to the pockets. Optionally, the support structure is a liquid crystal polymer. Optionally, the support structure is a two-piece liquid crystal polymer module, and the channels and the feed channels are formed in one of the parts, and the holes are formed in the other part. Thus in a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a detachable fluid coupler for establishing a sealed fluid -13 - 200838707 communication between an ink jet print head and an ink supply. The detachable fluid coupler comprises: a fixed valve member defining a valve seat; a sealing collar for sealing engagement with the valve seat; an elastomeric sleeve having an annular end opposite the fixed valve member And fixed, and the other ring end engages the sealing collar to bias it into sealing engagement with the valve seat; and a conduit opening movable relative to the fixed valve member for engaging the sealing collar to relieve Its sealing with the valve seat; wherein releasing the seal of the sealing collar from the valve seat compresses the elastic sleeve such that the intermediate section of the sleeve is displaced outwardly relative to the annular end. Since the elastic sleeve is deflected or bent outward, the diameter of the coupler is smaller than that of a conventional coupler that uses an annular resilient member that biases the valve to close the valve and maintain residual tension . Because of the smaller outer diameter, couplers for all different ink pigments are more compact and less interference when placed. Optionally, the intermediate section of the elastomeric sleeve is an annular bend that expands outwardly when the sleeve is axially compressed. Optionally, the elastic sleeve applies a restoring force to the sealing collar when the conduit opening is withdrawn; therefore, as the axial length increases, the restoring force also increases; so when it is sealed against the valve seat, the maximum restoring force is applied To the sealing collar. Optionally, the elastomeric sleeve is coupled to the inner diameter of the sealing collar. Optionally, the two annular ends of the elastomeric sleeve are substantially the same size. Optionally, the sealing collar has an elastomeric material and the conduit opening engages the sealing collar such that a fluid tight seal is formed on the engagement. Optionally, a fluid tight seal is formed between the conduit opening and the seal collar before the seal collar is unsealed from the -14-200838707 seal. Optionally, the fixed valve member has a hollow section that forms a portion of the fluid flow path through the coupler when the coupler is open. Alternatively, the fixed valve member and the elastic sleeve are on the downstream side of the coupler, and the conduit opening is on the upstream side. Optionally, the downstream side is part of a crucible that can replace the print head, and the upstream side is part of the printer, which can be placed in the printer. In a sixth aspect, therefore, the present invention provides a filter for an ink jet printer, the filter comprising: a chamber divided into an upstream section and a downstream section by a filter membrane; an inlet conduit for Establishing fluid communication between the ink supply source and the upstream section; an outlet conduit for establishing fluid communication between the downstream section and the printhead; wherein, during use, at least a portion of the inlet conduit is opposite the filter The membrane rises. By raising the inlet conduit relative to the filter membrane, it acts as a bubble trap to retain the bubble, otherwise the bubble will obstruct the filter. This allows the filter to be reduced in size for a more compact overall design. Optionally, the chamber has a height and width corresponding to the size of the filter membrane, and its thickness is substantially less than the height and width dimensions. The chamber constructed in this manner keeps the overall volume to a minimum and the filter membrane is placed in a generally upright plane. The buoyancy of any bubble in the chamber causes the bubble to move closer to the top of the chamber and may return to the inlet duct. This unfavorable bubble -15- 200838707 is pinned on the upstream side of the filter membrane. Optionally, during use the outlet conduit is connected to the point where the downstream section has the lowest height, and if the bubble really begins to obstruct the filter, the bubble will eventually obstruct the lowest area of the chamber. Optionally the filter membrane is rectangular and the inlet is connected to a corner of the upstream section and the outlet conduit is connected to the diagonally opposite corner. Optionally, the downstream section has a support structure for supporting the filter membrane, φ such that it is spaced from the opposing walls of the downstream section. Optionally, the opposing wall is also a wall that partially defines an upstream section of the chamber (the chamber resembles a similar filter membrane) to construct a plurality of chambers in parallel. Optionally, the filter is placed within the assembly of the inkjet printer for periodic replacement. ‘ Optionally, set the filter inside the 具有 with the page width print head. Optionally, the crucible has a detachable ink coupler upstream of the filter for connection to an ink supply. φ is therefore in. In a seventh aspect, the present invention provides an ink coupler for establishing fluid communication between an ink jet printer and a replaceable cartridge for mounting in the printer, the coupler comprising a 匣 valve on the side of the yoke of the coupler; and a printer conduit on the side of the printer of the coupler; the tamper valve and the printer conduit have a matching structure to build Forming a coupling seal when engaged; wherein the valve is biased closed and configured to open when engaged with the printer conduit; such that when -16-200838707 is disengaged, after the valve is closed The coupling seal is released, and when the valve is separated from the printer conduit, an ink meniscus is formed and retracted from the mating structure; the valve has an outer surface that is constructed such that the meniscus The printer catheter is cleanly separated and pinned only to the surface of the printer catheter. By carefully designing the outer surface associated with the known retracted contact angle of the ink meniscus, the present invention allows residual ink to escape the exterior of the helium valve. When the coupling seal is released and the meniscus is formed, the nature of the ink and the hydrophilicity of each valve material determine where the meniscus stops moving and eventually adheres. Because of the nature of the ink and the direction in which the engagement is disengaged, the valve material and external design can cause the meniscus to only pin to the printer catheter. Optionally, at least one of the outer surfaces of the valve has a lower hydrophilicity than at least one of the outer surfaces on the printer conduit. Optionally, the cymbal is engaged by the printer by upright downward movement and disengaged by upright upward movement. Optionally, when engaged, the coupling seal is formed prior to opening the valve and printer valve. Optionally, the weir valve has a fixed valve member defining a valve seat, and a sealing collar for sealingly engaging the valve seat, and the elastic sleeve has an annular end that is relatively fixed to the fixed valve member, and An annular end engages the sealing collar to bias it into sealing engagement with the valve seat; and the printer conduit has a conduit opening; such that the axial end of the conduit opening and the sealing collar are respectively in the print The metering conduit and the weir valve provide the mating structure. Optionally, prior to opening the valve, the conduit opening first abuts the -17-200838707 sealing collar to seal the sealing collar. Optionally, the elastomeric sleeve and the sealing collar are integrally formed. Optionally, the elastomeric sleeve and the sealing collar are silicone resins. Optionally, the fixed valve member is formed from poly ethylene ter ephthalate. Optionally, the conduit opening is formed from poly(ethylene terephthalate). Optionally, the crucible has a pagewidth printhead and the printer has an ink reservoir for supplying the printhead via the coupler. Accordingly, in an eighth aspect, the present invention provides a printhead for an ink jet printer, the printhead comprising: a row of print head integrated circuits having nozzles for ejecting an array of ink; and a support Constructing for mounting the printhead integrated circuit in the printer, the support structure having a conduit for supplying ink to the nozzles of the array, the ink conduits having a dam structure to partially block ink flow; Where the dam structure prioritizes the print head, the dam structure preferentially licks the upstream section of the ink conduit. The use of dams in downstream areas with a tendency to incorrectly bet can force them to target downstream sections more quickly or preferentially. Although delayed by the dam, as long as the downstream section can be trusted, it will not be a disadvantage to prioritize the upstream section. Optionally, the dam structure has a top profile that is constructed to provide an anchor point for use by the meniscus of the advancing ink stream. Optionally, the upstream section has a pocket on its uppermost surface; after the head is printed -18-200838707, the pockets are used to hold a plurality of bags of air. Optionally, the pocket has an opening defined in the uppermost surface of the upstream section, the upstream edge of each opening is curved, and the downstream edge is relatively sharp, so the ink flowing from the upstream direction is not pumped by capillary action Into the hole. Optionally - setting the dam to temporarily anchor the meniscus of the advancing ink stream, and . Turn it to avoid contact with the relatively sharp edges of the opening of one of the pockets. Optionally, the print head is a cymbal that is constructed for the user to remove the replacement φ. Optionally, 匣 is not noted when installed and later by the pump in the printer. Accordingly, in a ninth aspect, the present invention provides a printhead for an ink jet printer, the printhead comprising: a row of print head integrated circuits having nozzles for ejecting an array of ink; and a support Constructed for mounting the printhead integrated circuit in the printer, the support structure having a conduit for supplying ink to the nozzle φ of the array, the ink conduit having a meniscus anchor A portion of the meniscus before being used to pin the ink to divert the advancing meniscus away from the path it will take. If the print head is always 'not properly spotted because the meniscus is attached to one or more points, the forward meniscus can be guided away from these critical points. Deliberately in the immediate vicinity of the problem area, the ink conduit is discontinuous, the meniscus can be temporarily attached, and deflected to one side of the catheter and away from the unwanted attachment point. Once the flow has been initiated into the side branch or downstream of the unwanted attachment point, the anchor does not need to remain in the ink meniscus -19-200838707 face, and can continue to focus δ selectively, the meniscus anchor is suddenly protruding Enter the ink conduit. Optionally, the meniscus anchor is a dam structure that partially blocks the flow of ink, so when the print head is inspected, the dam structure preferentially licks the upstream section of the ink conduit. Optionally, the upstream section has pockets on its uppermost surface; the pockets are used to hold a plurality of bags of air after the printhead is inspected. Optionally, the pocket has an opening defined in the uppermost surface of the upstream section, the upstream edge of each opening is curved, and the downstream edge is relatively sharp, so the ink flowing from the upstream direction is not pumped by capillary action Into the hole. Optionally, the dam is positioned to temporarily anchor the meniscus of the advancement ink stream and deflect it to avoid contact with the relatively sharp edges of the opening of one of the pockets. Optionally, the printhead is a cymbal that is constructed for the user to remove the replacement. Optionally, 匣 is not noted when installed and later by the pump in the printer. Accordingly, in a tenth aspect, the present invention provides a printhead for an ink jet printer having a print engine controller 'for receiving print data and transmitting the print data to a print head comprising a print head integrated circuit having a nozzle for ejecting an array of inks; a support structure for mounting the print head integrated circuit in the printer Adjacent to the paper path, the print head integrated circuit is mounted on the face of the support structure, which faces the paper path when in use; a flexible printed circuit board 'has been used to operate the print head integrated circuit -20 - 200838707, the drive circuit of the array nozzle, the drive circuit having a circuit component connected by the track in the flexible printed circuit board, the flexible printed circuit board also having a function for receiving from the print engine controller a contact of the printed material, the flexible printed circuit board being mounted to one side of the support structure at the contacts, the face not facing the paper path such that the flexible printed circuit board extends past the print Head integrated circuit and Contacts between the bent section; wherein the print head integrated circuit and the circuit component adjacent to each other, and by the curved section of the flexible printed circuit board is separated from these contacts. Optionally, the support structure has an arcuate surface to support the curved section of the flexible printed circuit board. By holding the flexible printed circuit board at a set radius, the curved surfaces reduce the likelihood of cracks in the trajectory, rather than allowing the flexible printed circuit board to follow an irregular arc, resulting in localized spurs on the trajectory The risk of high stress. Optionally, the flexible printed circuit board is secured to the support member at the circuit components. Optionally, the circuit components include a capacitor that discharges during a firing sequence of nozzles on the printhead integrated circuit. Optionally, the support structure is a liquid crystal polymer module. The liquid crystal polymer module is constructed such that its coefficient of thermal expansion is approximately equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the eucalyptus substrate in the printhead integrated circuit. Optionally, the liquid crystal polymer module has an ink conduit for supplying ink to the printhead integrated circuit. Optionally, the ink conduits are routed to an outlet in the face of the liquid crystal polymer module, the printhead integrated circuit being mounted on the face. -21 - 200838707 Optionally, the printhead is a pagewidth printhead. Optionally, the support structure has an ankle support section and a force transmission member; the ankle support section is located opposite the joints, the force transmission member extending from the joints to the ankle support section so that when installed During the printer, the pressure from the mating contacts of the printer is transmitted directly to the crucible support section via the force transfer member. Optionally, the support section includes a positioning structure for engaging a mating structure on the printer. Optionally, the locating structure is a ridge having a distal end of the arc such that the cymbal can be rotated into position once the ridge has engaged the printer. [Embodiment] Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 shows a printer 2 embodying the present invention. The main body 4 of the printer supports the media feed tray 14 at the rear and the pivoting surface 6 at the front. Figure 1 shows the pivoting face 6 closed so that the display screen 8 is in its upright viewing direction. The control button 1 延伸 extends from the side of the screen 8 to allow the operator to enter while viewing the screen. For printing, a single sheet is withdrawn from the stack 12 of feed trays 14 and fed through the print head (hidden in the printer). The printed sheet 16 is conveyed through the printed medium exit slot 18. Figure 2 shows that the face 6 is open to reveal the interior of the printer 2. Open the front of the printer and expose the print heads that are set inside. The print head cartridge 96 is fixedly positioned by the 匣 engaging cam 20. The cam 20 pushes the print head 匣 96 downward to ensure that the ink coupler (described later) is fully engaged and the print head integrated circuit (1C) (described later) is correctly positioned adjacent to the -22-200838707 paper feed. Give the path. The cam 20 is manually actuated by the release lever 24. The front 6 cannot be closed, and therefore the printer cannot be operated until the release lever 24 is pushed down to fully engage the cam. The pivoting face 6 is closed to engage the printer contact 22 with the splicing point 104. Figure 3 shows that the pivoting face 6 of the printer 2 is open and the printhead 匣 96 is removed. Since the pivoting face 6 is inclined forward, the user can pull up the release lever 24 to release the engagement of the cam. This allows the handle 26 on the catch 96 to be pulled up. The upstream ink coupler 1 12A and the downstream ink coupler 1 12B are separated from the catheter 1 42 of the printer, as will be described in more detail below. Perform the reverse steps to install an unused new one. The new rafts are shipped and sold in an unreported state, so in order to prepare the printer for printing, the active jet system (described below) uses a downstream pump to inject the sputum and print head with ink. In Fig. 4, the outer casing of the printer 2 has been removed to reveal its interior. The large ink tank has four separate reservoirs for all four different inks. The ink tank 60 itself is a replaceable cassette that is coupled upstream of the printer of the switching valve 66 (Fig. 6). There is also a sump 92 for pump 62 to draw ink from 匣96. The printer jet system is described in detail with reference to FIG. Briefly, ink flows from tank 60 through upstream ink line 84 to switching valve 66 and onto printer tube 142. As shown in Figure 5, when 匣96 is provided, pump 62 (driven by motor 196) draws ink into liquid crystal polymer (LCP) module 64 (see Figures 6, 17-20), resulting in a print product. The body circuit 68 (refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 17-20 again) is referred to by capillary action. The ink extracted by the pump 62 is fed to the sump 92, which is housed in the ink tank 60. Because of the number of contacts used, all connector forces between the junction 104 and the printer contacts -23-200838707 22 are relatively high. In the illustrated embodiment, the total contact force is 45 Newtons, which is sufficient to deflect the 匣 deflection. Referring briefly to Figure 30, the internal construction of the chassis module 100 is shown. The bearing surface 28 shown in Figure 3 is shown schematically in Figure 30. The compression load acting on the splicing joint 104 is indicated by an arrow, and likewise the reaction force on the bearing surface 28 is represented by an arrow. To maintain the structural integrity of the 匣96, the chassis module 100 has structural members that extend in the plane of the connector force. In order to maintain the reaction force in the plane of the connector force, the chassis also has contact ribs 32 that press against the support surface 28. This maintains the load on the structural construct 30 completely compressed to maximize the stiffness of the crucible and minimize any flexibility. Print engine pipeline The print engine pipeline is a reference for the printer to process print data that is received from an external source and output to the printhead for printing. The print engine pipeline is described in detail in USSN 1 1/0 1 4769 (RR C 0 〇 1 U S ) filed on February 20, 2004, and is hereby incorporated by reference. Jet Systems Traditional printers rely on the construction and assembly of printheads, cartridges, and ink lines to avoid jet problems. Some common jet problems are unfilled or dry nozzles, venting bubbles, and color mixing due to cross-contamination. The optimized design of the printer components to avoid these problems is a passive approach to jet control. Typically, the nozzle actuator itself is the only active component used to improve these drawbacks -24-200838707, but this is often insufficient and/or wasted a lot of ink when attempting to improve these problems. This problem is more severe in page width printheads because of the length and complexity of the ink conduits supplied to the printhead integrated circuit. The applicant has solved this problem by developing an active jet system for printers. Several such systems are described in detail in USSN 1 1/677,049, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Figure 6 shows one of the single pump embodiments of an active flow system suitable for use with the print head described herein. The flow pattern shown in Figure 6 is a single ink line for only one color. The color printer has a separation line (and an ink tank 60 that is naturally separated) for each color ink. As shown in FIG. 6, this configuration has a single pump 62 downstream of the LCP module 64 and a switching valve 66 upstream of the LCP module 64. The LCP module supports the print head integrated circuit 68 by a viscous integrated circuit attachment film 174 (see Fig. 25). Whenever the power to the printer is turned off, the on-off valve 66 isolates the ink in the ink tank 60 from the print head integrated circuit 68. This prevents any color of the print head integrated circuit 68 from being mixed into the ink tank 6 during non-action. These topics are discussed in more detail in the cross-referenced USSN 1 1/677049 specification. The ink tank 60 has a discharge bubble point pressure regulator 72 for holding the relative hydrostatic negative pressure within the ink at the nozzle. In the co-pending USSN 11/640355 case, the bubble point pressure regulator in the ink reservoir is more widely described, and the case is hereby incorporated by reference. However, in this description, the regulator 72 is shown as a bubble outlet 74 that is immersed in the ink of the canister 60 and vented to the atmosphere by a sealed conduit 76 that extends to the air inlet 78. . When the print head integrated circuit 68 consumes ink, the pressure in the can 60 drops until the pressure difference at the bubble outlet 74 draws air into the can. This air forms bubbles in the ink which rise to the head space of the can. This pressure differential is the bubble point pressure and will depend on the diameter (or smallest dimension) of the bubble outlet 74 and the Laplace pressure of the ink meniscus at the outlet. The Laplace pressure will prevent air from entering the bubble point - the regulator uses the bubble point pressure to keep the hydrostatic pressure at the outlet substantially symmetrical (when the convex meniscus of the air forms bubbles and rises into the ink tank) When the head space is slightly fluctuating). This bubble point pressure is required for bubble generation at the bubble outlet 74 immersed in the ink. If the hydrostatic pressure at the outlet is at the bubble point, the hydrostatic pressure profile within the ink tank is known regardless of how much ink has been consumed in the tank. When the ink level drops to the exit, the pressure at the surface of the ink in the tank decreases toward the bubble point. Of course, once the outlet 74 is exposed, the head space is connected to the atmosphere and the negative pressure disappears. The ink tank should be refilled or replaced (if the tank is in the 匣 type) before the ink level reaches the bubble outlet 74. The ink tank 60 can be a refillable fixed reservoir, a replaceable cartridge, or a refillable cartridge (as disclosed in RRC001US for reference). In order to prevent particulate deposits, the outlet 80 of the ink tank 60 has a thick filter 82. At the coupling to the print head cassette. The system also uses a thin filter. Because of the limited life of the filter, it is particularly convenient for the user to replace the filter by simply replacing the ink cartridge or the -26-200838707 print head. If the filter is a separate consumable item 'depends on the user's diligence to periodically replace the 气泡 when the bubble outlet 74 is at the bubble point pressure' and the on-off valve 66 is open, then the hydrostatic pressure at the nozzle is also constant and less than atmospheric force. However, if the switching valve 66 has been closed for a period of time, the bubble of the exhaust gas may be formed in the LCP module 64 or the printing head 1C, which changes the pressure at the nozzle. Similarly, the pressure in the downstream line 84 of the switching valve 66 can be varied due to the expansion and contraction of the bubble due to daily temperature changes. Similarly, during the non-actuation period, the pressure inside the ink tank changes due to the dissolved gas that escapes from the solution. The downstream ink line 86 from L C P 6 4 to pump 6 2 may include an ink sensor 88 that is coupled to an electronic controller 90 for the pump. The sensor 8 8 senses the presence of ink in the downstream ink line 86. In another embodiment, the system can be provided with a sensor 8 8 and the pump 62 can be constructed to achieve an appropriate period of operation for each different job. This may adversely affect operating costs by increasing ink waste. Pump 62 is fed into storage sump 92 (when pumping in the forward direction). Storing tank 92 is physically positioned within the printer at a lower position than printhead IC 68. This allows the ink column within the downstream ink line 86 to be suspended from the LCP 64 during standby, thereby creating a hydrostatic negative pressure at the printhead LCP 64. The negative pressure at the nozzle draws the ink meniscus inward and prevents pigment mixing. Of course, the peristaltic pump 62 needs to be stopped in the open state' to provide fluid communication between the LCP 64 and the ink outlets within the sump 92. During non-action, there will be pressure between the ink lines of different pigments -27- 200838707 Poor. Furthermore, paper dust or other particles on the nozzle plate will draw ink from one nozzle capillary to the other. By the slight differential pressure between each ink line, pigment mixing occurs when the printer is not operating. The on-off valve 66 isolates the ink tank 60 from the print head 1C 68 to prevent the pigment mixing from extending up to the ink tank 60. Once the ink in the ink tank is contaminated with different pigments, it cannot be recovered and must be replaced. The cover 94 is a printhead maintenance station that seals the nozzle during standby to avoid dewatering of the printhead 1C 68, and the cover 94 shields the nozzle plate from paper dust and other particulates. The cover 94 is also constructed to wipe the nozzle plate to remove dried ink and other contaminants. When the ink solvent (usually water) evaporates, the print head 1C 68 dehydrates and increases the viscosity of the ink. If the ink viscosity is too high, it is difficult for the ink jetting/actuator to eject ink droplets. In the event of a leak in the cover seal, the dehydrated nozzle is a problem when the power is turned off or after the standby. The above problems are not uncommon during the operational life of the printer, but they can be effectively improved by the relatively simple jet structure of Figure 6. The jet structure also allows the user to initially inject the printer, stop the printer before removing the jet structure, or restore the printer to a known print ready state using a simple troubleshooting protocol. . An example of several of these conditions is described in detail in the above-referenced USSN 1 1/67 7 049. The print head 匣 print head 匣 96 is shown in Figs. 7 to 16A. Figure 7 shows the 匣96 in its combination and intact morphology. The crucible blocks are wrapped between the bases 100 and -28-200838707 base covers 102. The window of the base 100 exposes the splicing points 104, which receive data from the print engine controller in the printer. Figures 8 and 9 show that the 匣 96 is snapped onto the protective cover 98. The protective cover 98 prevents damage to the electrical contacts 104 and printhead 1C 68 (see Figure 10). The user can grasp the top of the cymbal 96 and remove the protective cover 98 before installing it into the printer. Figure 1 shows the lower side and back of the print head 匣 96 (relative to the paper feed direction). The print head contact 104 is a conductive pad on the flexible printed circuit board 108 that surrounds the curved support surface (discussed below in the description of the LCP module) to The print head 1C 68 - a row of wires on the side joins 1 10 . The other side of the print head 1C 68 is a paper mask 106 to prevent direct contact with the media substrate. Figure 11 shows the lower side of the print head cartridge 96 on the front side. The front side of the crucible has two ink couplers 112A, 112B at the two ends, and each ink coupling device has four helium valves U4. When the crucible is disposed within the printer, the ink couplers 112A, 112B engage the mating ink supply interface (described in more detail below). The ink supply interface has a printer conduit 1 42, which engages and opens the sputum valve 114. One of the ink couplers n2A is the upstream ink coupler' and the other is the downstream coupler n2B. The upstream coupler 112A establishes fluid communication between the print head 1C 68 and the ink supply source 60 (see Figure 6), while the downstream coupler 1 1 2 B is coupled to the sump 9 2 (see Figure 6). Figure 12 shows various views of the print head cartridge 96. The plane view of 匣9 6 also shows the position of the section view shown in Figures 14, 15, and 16. The figure is an exploded perspective view of the 匣96. The LCP module 64 is attached to the underside of the base 100 of the 匣-29-200838707. The flexible printed circuit board 108 is attached to the underside of the LCP module 64 and surrounds one side to expose the print head contacts 104. An inlet manifold and filter 116 and outlet manifold 118 are attached to the top of the base 100. The inlet manifold and filter 116 are coupled to the LCP inlet 122 by a resilient connector 120, and similarly, the LCP outlet 124 is coupled to the outlet manifold 118 by another set of resilient connectors 120. The base cover 102 covers the inlet and outlet manifolds in the base 100 from the top, and a removable protective sleeve 98 snaps over the bottom to protect the contacts 104 and the print head 1C (see Figure 11). Inlet and Filter Manifold Figure 14 is an enlarged view along line 14-14 of Figure 12 showing the fluid path through one of the helium valves 114 to the LCP module 64 of the upstream coupler 112A. The weir valve 114 has an elastomeric sleeve 126 that is biased into a state of sealing engagement with the fixed valve member 128. The printer conduit 1 42 (see Fig. 16) opens the helium valve 1 14 by compressing the elastomeric sleeve 1 26 away from the fixed valve member 1 28 and allows the ink to flow upwardly to the top channel 1 3 8 The top channel 138 is conducted to the upstream filter chamber 132 along the inlet and the top of the filter manifold 1 16 . The upstream filter chamber 132 has a wall portion defined by the filter membrane 130. The ink enters the downstream filter chamber 134 through the filter membrane 130 and flows out to the LCP inlet 122. The filtered ink is fed from the LCP inlet 122 along the LCP main channel 136 to the print head 1C (not shown). The specific construction features and advantages of the inlet and filter manifold 116 will now be described with reference to FIG. The exploded perspective view of Fig. 15 is best suited for exemplifying the inlet design and the pocket design of the -30-200838707 filter manifold 1 16 . There are many aspects of design to help achieve this pocket form. First, the helium valves are placed together, which is achieved by the conventional structure of the self-sealing ink valve. Previous designs have also used elastic members to bias into sealing engagement with the stationary member, but the resilient member is either not solid (the ink flows around it) or the diaphragm (the ink flows through the diaphragm). In the 匣 coupler, the 匣 valve is easily opened automatically during installation, which is most easily and inexpensively provided by the coupler. In the coupler, a valve has an elastic member that is engaged by the rigid member on the other valve. If the elastic member is in the form of a aponeurizing film, it often abuts against the central rigid member under tension. This provides an efficient seal and requires relatively low tolerances. However, this also requires a wide surrounding installation of the elastic element. The width of the elastomer is a compromise between the desired coupling force, the integrity of the seal, and the material properties of the elastomer used. As clearly shown in Fig. 16, the helium valve 1 14 of the present invention uses an elastic sleeve 126 which is pressed against the fixed valve member 128 under residual pressure to seal. When the crucible is disposed within the printer and the catheter end 148 of the printer valve 1 42 further compresses the sleeve 126, the valve 114 is opened. Collar 146 releases the seal of fixed valve member 128 to connect LCP 64 into the printer jet system (see Figure 6) via upstream and downstream ink couplers n 2 a, 1 1 2 B. The side walls of the sleeve are constructed to project outwardly because the inward deformation creates a flow barrier. As shown in Figure 16, the sleeve 126 has a line of relatively fragile portions around the midsection thereof to facilitate and guide the buckling step. This reduction will force the force required to engage the printer and ensure that the sleeve is deflected outward. When the coupler is constructed to uncouple the printer from the printer, there is no dripping. When -31 - 200838707 is pulled from the printer phase, the elastic sleeve 126 pushes the collar 146 to press against the fixed valve member 128. It is sealed. Once the sleeve 126 has sealed the valve member 128 (by thereby sealing the crotch side of the coupler), the seal collar 146 and the weir rise together, which releases the seal of the collar 146 and the catheter tip 148. When the seal is broken, the gap between the collar and the end of the conduit 148 forms an ink meniscus. The shape of the end of the fixed valve member 1 28 guides the meniscus toward the middle of the bottom surface thereof instead of forming a point. In the middle of the rounded bottom of the fixed valve member 128, the meniscus is forced to separate from the now almost horizontal bottom surface. In order to obtain the lowest possible energy state, the surface tension drives the meniscus out of the solid valve member 1 28 . The bias that minimizes the surface area of the meniscus is strong, so the separation is complete and there is little, if any, ink remaining on the helium valve 1 14 . Any residual ink is not sufficient to form droplets that will leak or stain before they are discarded. When a new crucible is placed in the printer, the air in the conduit 150 is entrained into the ink stream 1 52 and absorbed by the crucible. In view of this, the inlet manifold and filter assembly have a high bubble tolerance. Referring back to Figure 15, the ink flows through the top of the fixed valve member 1 28 and flows into the top channel 1 3 8 . As the highest point of the inlet manifold 116, the top channel captures (collects) bubbles. However, the bubble will still flow into the filter inlet 1 5 8 . In this case, the filter assembly itself can tolerate air bubbles. The bubbles on the upstream side of the damper membrane 130 affect the flow rate, and the bubbles effectively reduce the wet surface area on the dirty side of the filter membrane 130. The filter membrane has a long rectangular shape so that even a considerable amount of air bubbles are drawn into the dirty side of the filter, leaving a sufficiently large wetted surface area to filter the ink at the required flow rate over the -32-200838707. This is important for the high rate operation provided by the present invention. When bubbles in the upstream filter chamber 1 32 cannot traverse the filter membrane 130, bubbles caused by heating to remove the gas generate bubbles in the downstream filter chamber 134. The filter outlet 156 is located at the bottom of the downstream filter chamber 134 and is diagonally opposite the inlet 158 in the upstream filter chamber 132 to minimize the effect of air bubbles on the convection rate in either chamber. The filter film 1 30 for each pigment is erected and closely juxtaposed. The dividing wall 162 partially defines an upstream filter chamber 132 on one side and partially defines a downstream filter chamber 134 that abuts the pigment on the other side. Because the filter is very thin (due to pocket design), the filter membrane 130 can be pushed against the opposite wall of the downstream filter chamber 134. This effectively reduces the surface of the filter membrane 130, so it is not conducive to maximizing the flow rate. To prevent this, the opposing wall of the downstream filter chamber 134 has a series of spaced ribs 160 to keep the membrane 130 and wall apart. Set the filter inlet and outlet in diagonally opposite corners to help clear air from the system during the initial betting of the system. In order to reduce the risk of particulate contamination of the print head, the filter film 13 is first welded to the downstream side of the first partition wall before the next partition wall 16 2 is welded to the first partition wall. Any filter film that is broken during this welding process in this manner is on the "dirty" side of the filter 130. LCP Module / Flexible Printed Circuit Board / Print Head 1C Figure 17-33 shows an LCP module 64, a flexible printed circuit board 108, and a print head 1C 68 assembly. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the LCP module 64 to which the flexible printed circuit boards 108-33-200838707 and the printhead IC 68 are attached. The LCP module 64 is secured to the crucible base 100 via countersunk holes 166,168. The aperture 168 is an elliptical aperture to accommodate mismatch in thermal expansion coefficient without having to bend the LCP. The print head 1C 68 is disposed end to end along a line along the longitudinal direction of the LCP module 64. The flexible printed circuit board 1 〇 8 wire is bonded to one edge of the print head IC 6 8 . The edges of the flexible printed circuit board are secured such that the flexible printed circuit board is held tightly against the curved support surface 170 (see Figure 19). This ensures that the flexible printed circuit board does not bend more tightly than a particular minimum radius, thereby reducing the risk of breaking through the conductive track of the flexible printed circuit board. Figure 18 is an enlarged view of the insertion block A shown in Figure 17. It shows the wires joining the contacts 1 64 lines and the print head IC 68 along the sides of the flexible printed circuit board 1 〇 8 . Figure 19 is an exploded perspective view of the LCP module/flexible printed circuit board/print head 1C assembly showing the underside of each component. Fig. 20 is another exploded perspective view showing the upper side of each component this time. The LCP module 64 has a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) channel module 176 that is sealed to its underside. The print head 1C 68 is attached to the underside of the channel module 176 by a viscous 1C attachment film 174. On the upper side of the LCP channel module 176 is the LCP main channel 184. These are connected to the ink inlet 122 and the ink outlet 124 in the LCP module 64. At the bottom of the LCP main channel 184 is an ink supply flow path 182' which is connected to the print head 1C 68. The viscous 1C attachment film 174 has a series of laser drilled supply holes 186 such that the attachment side of each of the print heads 1C 68 is in fluid communication with the ink supply flow path 182. The viscous 1C attachment film will be described in detail below with reference to Figs. 31 to 3 3. The -CP-200838707 LCP module 64 has a recess 178 for receiving the electronic component 180 in the drive circuit on the flexible printed circuit board 108. For optimum pad efficiency and operation, the flexible contact printed circuit board 108 should be close to the print head IC 6 8 . However, in order to keep the paper path adjacent to the print head straight rather than curved or curved, the splicing point 104 needs to be on the side of the 匣96. The conductive path on a flexible printed circuit board is called a trajectory. When a flexible printed circuit board has to be bent around a corner, the trajectory can crack and break the connection. To solve this problem, the trajectory needs to be forked before the bend and then rejoined after the bend. If the branches of the bifurcation segment are cracked, the other branches remain connected. Unfortunately, splitting the track into two and then combining them increases the electromagnetic interference problem, which creates noise in the circuit. Widening the trajectory is not an effective solution because the wider trajectory does not significantly increase the ability to prevent cracking. Once cracks begin to appear in the trajectory, the cracks propagate relatively quickly and easily throughout the width. Careful control of the bend radius minimizes trajectory cracking, which minimizes the number of traces across the bend of the flexible printed circuit board. The page width printhead presents additional complexity because large arrays of nozzles must be launched in a relatively short time. Launching many nozzles at a time enables the system to withstand large current loads. This can result in a high level of inductance through the circuit 'which causes a voltage dip, and a voltage dip is detrimental to the operation. To avoid this problem, the flexible printed circuit board has a series of capacitors that discharge during the nozzle firing sequence to release the current load on the remaining circuitry. Since it is necessary to keep the paper path through the print head 1C straight, the conventional method is to attach the capacitor -35-200838707 to the flexible printed circuit board near the joint on the side of the crucible. Unfortunately, the capacitors create additional tracks that increase the risk of cracking in the curved sections of the flexible printed circuit board. The above problem can be solved by mounting the capacitor 180 (see Fig. 20) in close proximity to the print head 1C 68 to reduce the chance of trajectory cracking. The paper path can be kept linear by accommodating capacitors and other components within the recesses of the LCP module 64. The print head 1C 68 and the paper cover 172 are mounted to the front side of the crucible 96 (relative to the feed direction), and the relatively flat surface of the flexible printed circuit board 1 下游 8 downstream thereof minimizes the risk of jamming. Isolating the contacts from the rest of the flexible printed circuit board minimizes the number of tracks that extend through the curved section. This increases reliability as it reduces the chance of cracking. Setting the circuit components beside the print head 1C means that a wider edge is required, which is disadvantageous for the pocket design. However, the advantages offered by this structure are more important than any disadvantage of being slightly wider. First, the contacts can be larger because there are no traces from the components that travel between and around the contacts. Because of the large contacts, the connection is more reliable and more capable of handling manufacturing inaccuracies between the contacts on the splicing and printer sides. This issue is particularly important in this case because it relies on the user to accurately insert 匣 to match the joint. Second, the wire is bonded to the edge of the flexible printed circuit board on the side of the print head 1C without being subjected to residual stress and does not try to peel off from the bend radius. The flexible printed circuit board is fixed to the support structure at the capacitor and other components, so that it is easier to form the wire connection to the print head 1C during manufacturing, and is less prone to be produced when it is not used to fix the flexible printed circuit board. crack. -36- 200838707 Third, the capacitor is closer to the nozzle of the print head 1C, so the electromagnetic interference generated by the discharge capacitor is minimized. Figure 21 is an enlarged view of the lower side of the print head cartridge 96 showing the flexible printed circuit board 108 and the print head 1C 68. The wire of the flexible printed circuit board 108 is joined to the joint 1 64, parallel to the pad of the print head 1C 68 on the underside of the viscous 1C attachment film 1 74. Figure 22 shows the removal of the print head 1C 68 and the flexible printed circuit board of Figure 21 to reveal the supply apertures 186. The holes are arranged in four longitudinal columns, each column conveying a particular color of ink, and each column is aligned with a single channel behind each of the print heads 1C. - Figure 23 shows the underside of the LCP channel module 176 with the viscous 1C attachment film 174 removed. This exposed ink supply flow path 182 is coupled to an LCP main channel 184 (see Fig. 20) formed in the other side of the channel module 176. It will be appreciated that when the viscous 1C attachment film 1 74 is adhered to the location, it partially defines the supply flow path 182. It should also be understood that the attachment film must be accurately positioned because the individual supply channels 18 2 must be aligned with the supply holes 186 of the laser drill through film 1 74. Figure 24 shows the LCP module with the LCP channel film set removed. On the underside, this exposes the blind portion of the array to 200. When spotted with ink, the blind hole 2 〇 含有 contains air to dampen any pressure pulses. This is discussed in more detail below. Print Head 1C Attachment Film Referring briefly to Figures 31 to 3 3, the viscous IC attachment film is described in more detail. The film 1 74 is drilled through the laser and wound around the reel i 98 to facilitate penetration into the print head 96. For handling and storage 'membrane 174 has two protective linings on either side; -37- 200838707 one of which is the existing lining 188, which is attached to the membrane prior to laser perforation; the other protective lining is replacement The lining 'is attached after the drilling operation. In the section of film 174 of Figure 32, some of the existing linings 88 are removed to expose the supply holes 168. The replacement lining on the other side of the membrane is added after the laser has drilled the supply port 186. FIG. 33 shows the layered configuration of the film 174. The central web 19 turns to provide the strength required for the layered construction' on either side of the adhesive layer 194. The adhesive layer 1 94 φ is covered by the lining. The laser drilling forms a hole 186 which extends from the first side of the membrane 174 and terminates somewhere within the lining 18.8 of the second side. The gusset having the small holes on the first side is removed and replaced with a replacement lining 192. The film strip is then wound onto a roll 198 (see Figure 31) for storage and handling prior to attachment. When the print head is combined, the appropriate length is pulled from the reel 1 9 8 to remove the liner and adhere to the underside of the LCP module 64 such that the aperture 186 is aligned with the correct ink supply flow path 182 (see Figure 25). ). φ promotes ink supply to the end of the print head 1C. FIG. 25 shows the print head 1C which is superposed on the ink supply hole 186 penetrating the viscous 1C attachment film 174, and the film 174 is overlapped in the lower side of the LCP channel module 176. The ink is supplied to the passage 182. The adjacent print heads 1C 68 are disposed end-to-end on the bottom of the LCP channel module 176 by an attachment film 174. At the junction of each adjacent print head 1C 68, one of the 1C 68 has a "droP trian" portion 206 of the array of nozzles. The nozzles are displaced from corresponding columns in the remaining nozzle array 220. This allows the printing edge of one of the printing heads 1C to continue printing adjacent to the printing head 1C. Borrow -38-
200838707 由位移噴嘴的滴下三角形20 6，不管各噴嘴是否 1C上或在不同1C上之接合處的任一側，鄰接噴 間隔都保持不變。此需要鄰接列印頭IC 6 8的相 位，且使用基準記號2 0 4以達此目標。此製程可 間，但可避免在所列印的影像中產生人爲的結果 不幸的是，相對於其餘陣列220中之噴嘴1 噴嘴在列印頭1C 6 8的末端可能會缺乏墨水。 2 22可由二墨水供給孔的墨水供給。墨水供給孔 靠近的。但是如果從噴嘴至孔224的左側有障石| 的需求，則供給孔226也靠近噴嘴222，所以發 太可能會發生因缺乏墨水而未塡注的情形。 相對地，如果墨水供給孔2 1 6不是供設於年 之間連接處的「額外」墨水供給孔21 0之用，貝 1C 68末端的噴嘴214只和墨水供給孔216呈吞 「具有額外墨水供給孔2 1 0」亦即沒有噴嘴離1 太遙遠以致該等噴嘴會有缺乏墨水的風險。 墨水供給孔208、210兩者是由共同的墨7」 2 1 2所饋給。墨水供給流道2 1 2具有供給二孔白 爲供給孔208只具有噴嘴至其左側，且供給孔： 噴嘴至其右側。因此，經過供給流道2 1 2的全ί 等於只饋給一個孔的供給流道。200838707 The adjoining spray interval remains unchanged by the drop triangle 20 6 of the displacement nozzle, regardless of whether each nozzle is on either 1C or on either side of the junction at a different 1C. This requires the proximity of the printhead IC 6 8 phase and the use of the reference mark 2 0 4 to achieve this goal. This process can be used, but avoids artificial results in the printed images. Unfortunately, the nozzles of the nozzles 1 in the remaining array 220 may be deficient in ink at the end of the print head 1C 6 8 . 2 22 can be supplied by the ink of the two ink supply holes. The ink supply hole is close. However, if there is a demand for the barrier stone from the nozzle to the left side of the hole 224, the supply hole 226 is also close to the nozzle 222, so that the case where the ink is not injected due to lack of ink may occur. In contrast, if the ink supply hole 2 16 is not for the "extra" ink supply hole 21 0 provided at the junction between the years, the nozzle 214 at the end of the bay 1C 68 is only swallowed with the ink supply hole 216 "with additional ink The supply port 2 1 0", i.e., no nozzles are too far away from 1 so that the nozzles are at risk of lacking ink. Both of the ink supply holes 208, 210 are fed by a common ink 7" 2 1 2 . The ink supply flow path 2 1 2 has a supply of two holes. The supply hole 208 has only a nozzle to the left side thereof, and the supply hole: the nozzle to the right side thereof. Therefore, the full ί through the supply flow path 2 1 2 is equal to the supply flow path fed only to one hole.
圖2 5也特寫墨水供給源（四通道）內通錢 數目和列印頭1C 68內五通道2 1 8的不一致。在 6 8背後之第三和第四通道，由相同的墨水供給？I 在相同的 嘴之間的 對精確定 能很耗時 〇 塊，一些 例如噴嘴 224是最 或特別大 些噴嘴不 鄰 1C 68 在列印頭 體連通。 水供給孔 供給流道 能力，因 1 〇只具有 i流率約略 (顏料） 列印頭1C • 1 8 6供給 -39- 200838707 。這些供給孔被稍微放大，以使兩通道2 1 8間有距離。 此原因在於列印頭1C 68是製造供使用於廣範圍的印 表機和列印頭結構。這些可具有五個顏料通道…青色、洋 紅色、黃色、黑色和紅外（infrared)顏料---但是其他的 印表機（例如本設計）可只爲四通道印表機，而其餘的仍 然可只爲三通道（青色CC、洋紅色MM、和黃色Y)。有 鑑於此，單一顏料通道可被饋給至列印頭1C通道其中的 兩個通道。列印引擎控制器（PEC )微處理器可容易地將 此適應於被送至列印頭1C的列印資料。再者，供給相同 的顏料至1C內的二噴嘴列，可提供用於死噴嘴（dead η ο z z 1 e )補償之多餘噴嘴的地位。 壓力脈衝 當流入列印頭的墨水突然停止時，產生尖銳峰値的墨 水壓力，此現象會發生在列印工作結束時或在一頁的末端 。由於保管人的高速率，所以頁寬列印頭在作業期間需要 高流率供給墨水。因此，在墨水管線內至噴嘴的墨水質量 相對地大，且以可觀的速率運動。 突然地結束列印工作、或單純地在列印頁的末端，都 要求此相對快速流動的相對高容積墨水立即停止。但是突 然擷取墨水動量會升高墨水管線內的衝擊波。LCP模組64 (見圖19)具有特殊勁度，且當管線內的墨水柱進行靜止 時，LCP模組64幾乎沒有提供撓性。由於墨水管線內無 任何順從性，所以衝擊波可超過拉普拉斯壓力（在噴嘴開 -40- 200838707 口之墨水的表面張力所提供的壓力，其用以將墨水保留在 噴嘴室內），且淹沒列印頭噴嘴的前表面。如果噴嘴被淹 沒，則墨水可不噴射，且人爲造成的結果顯現在列印中。 當噴嘴發射率和墨水管線的共振頻率匹配時，墨水內 會產生共振脈衝。再者，因爲界定墨水管線的勁性構造， 所以用於一種顏色之大部分噴嘴同時發射，會在墨水管線 內產生標準波或共振脈衝。此可導致噴嘴氾濫（或被淹沒 )，或相反地，如果拉普拉斯壓力超過，則因爲在峰値之 後的壓力降，噴嘴未塡注。 爲了解決此問題，LCP模組64倂入有脈衝阻尼器， 以從墨水管線移除壓力峰値。阻尼器可爲封閉的氣體容積 ，其可被氣體壓縮。在另一實施例中，阻尼器可爲墨水管 線的柔順性區段，其可彈性地撓區並吸收壓力脈衝。 爲了使設計複雜性降至最低並保留袖珍的形式，本發 明使用可壓縮的氣體容積，以阻尼壓力脈衝。以小容積的 氣體可獲得利用氣體壓縮而阻尼壓力脈衝。此保有袖珍設 計，同時避免墨水壓力內瞬間峰値所致的任何噴嘴淹沒。 如圖24和26所示，脈衝阻尼器並不是單一的氣體容 積供墨水內的脈衝壓縮，而是沿著LCP模組64的長度分 布的陣列穴部200。運動經過長形列印頭（例如頁寬列印 頭）的壓力脈衝，可在墨水流動管線內的任何點被阻尼。 但是當脈衝通過列印頭1C內的噴嘴時，不管脈衝是否稍 後在阻尼器處消散，脈衝會使噴嘴被淹沒。藉由將多個脈 衝阻尼器倂入墨水供給導管且緊鄰噴嘴陣列，任何壓力峰 -41 - 200838707 値在其會造成有害淹沒氾濫的地點都會被阻尼。 在圖26中可看到空氣阻尼穴部200配置成四列，每 一列穴部直接位在LCP通道模組176內之LCP主通道184 上方。主通道1 84內之墨水中的任何壓力脈衝，直接作用 在穴部200內的空氣上，並快速地逸散。 列印頭塡注 現在特別參考示於圖27之LCP通道模組176，來描 述塡注匣。藉由從射流系統（見圖6 )的泵施加至主通-道 出口 232的吸力，墨水會塡注LCP通道模組176。主通道 184被墨水注滿，然後墨水供給流道182和列印頭1C 68 藉由毛細作用自行塡注。 主通道184相對地長且細。再者，如果空氣穴部200 是用於阻尼墨水內的壓力脈衝，則空氣穴部200必須保持 未塡注。此對塡注過程可能會有問題，在塡注過程中可藉 由毛細作用而輕易地注滿穴部2 0 0、或者主通道可能因爲 被困住的空氣而無法完全塡注。爲確保LCP通道模組1 76 完全塡注，主通道184在出口 232之前的下游端具有壩 228。爲確保LCP模組64內的空氣穴部200不塡注，空氣 穴部200具有開口，且開口具有銳利的上游邊緣，以引導 墨水彎液面不向上行經穴部的壁。 參考圖28A、28B和29A至29C詳細描述匣的這些方 面。這些圖示意地例示塡注過程。圖28A、28B顯示如果 有壩在主通道內可能會發生的問題，而圖29 A至29C顯示 -42- 200838707 壩228的功能。 圖28A、28B是穿過LCP通道模組176的其中一主通 道1 8 4和通道之頂部內空氣穴部2 0 0管線的剖面示意圖。 墨水238被抽送經過入口 230，且沿著主通道184的底板 流動。應注意的是前進的彎液面和通道184底板具有陡峭 的接觸角，此使墨水流23 8的前端部略成球狀。當墨水到 達通道184末端時，墨水位準上升，且球狀前端在其餘墨 水流之前先接觸通道的頂部。如圖2 8 B所示，通道1 8 4未 能完全塡注，且空氣現在被困住。此空氣袋會保留且干擾 列印頭的作業。墨水阻尼特徵被改變，且空氣可爲墨水障 礙。 在圖2 9A至29C中，通道184在下游端具有壩22 8。 如圖29A所不，墨水流238聚集在壩228的後面，且朝通 道的頂部上升。壩228在頂部具有銳利邊緣240，做爲彎 液面固定點。前進的彎液面被釘（附著pin)在此錨240 ，所以當墨水位準在此頂部邊緣上方時，墨水不會馬上單 純地流過壩2 2 8。 如圖29B所示，突出的彎液面使墨水上升，直到墨水 注滿通道1 8 4至頂部。由於墨水將穴部密封成分離的空氣 袋，所以在壩228處的突出墨水彎液面脫離銳利頂部邊緣 240’並塡充通道184的末端及墨水出口 232(見圖29C) 。精確定位銳利頂部邊緣240，使得墨水彎液面凸出直到 墨水塡充至通道184的頂部，但是不允許墨水凸出太多以 政墨水接觸末端空氣穴部2 4 2的一部分。如果彎液面接觸 -43- 200838707 且固定至末端空氣穴部242的內部，則該末端空氣穴部 242可能被墨水塡注。據此，壩的高度和其在穴部下的位 置是嚴密地被控制。壩22 8的弧形下游表面，確保沒有進 一步的錨點（anchor point )可允許墨水彎液面跨越間隙 至穴部242。 LCP用於保持穴部位被塡注的另一機構是穴部開口的 上游和下游邊緣。如圖2 8 A、2 8 B和2 9 A至2 9 C所示，所 有的上游邊緣具有弧形過渡面234而下游邊緣23 6是銳利 的。沿著通道1 84頂部前進钓墨水彎液面，可釘在銳利的 上游邊緣，然後藉由毛細作用向上運動進入穴部。在上游 邊緣的的過渡表面（特別是弧形過渡表面234 )移除銳利 邊緣所提供的強錨點。 類似地，申請人的努力已發現，如果穴部200已被一 些墨水不利地塡充，則銳利的下游邊緣2 3 6可促進去除塡 注。如果印表機被撞擊、搖動或傾斜，或射流系統因任一 理由而必須逆流，則穴部200可能完全或局部塡注。當墨 水再以其正常的方向流動時，銳利的下游邊緣23 6幫助將 彎液面拉回至自然錨點（亦即銳利角落）。以此方式，運 動墨水彎液面經過LCP通道模組176的管理，是用於正確 地塡注匣的機制。 本文已藉由只做爲例子的方式描述本發明。此領域的 熟悉技藝者可認出未脫離寬廣發明槪念之精神和範圍的變 化和修飾。據此，附圖所描述和顯示的實施例，只能嚴謹 地認爲例示用，而絕非對本發明的限制。 -44- 200838707 【圖式簡單說明】 參考附圖且藉由只做爲例子的方式描述本發明的各實 施例。附圖爲： 圖1是將本發明具體化之印表機的側前方透視圖； 圖2顯示圖1之印表機，且前面在打開位置； 圖3顯示圖2之印表機，且除去列印頭匣； 圖4顯示圖3之印表機，且除去外殼體； 圖5顯示圖3之印表機，且除去外殼體，但安裝有列 印頭匣； 圖6是印表機射流系統的示意代表； 圖7是列印頭匣的前上方透視圖； 圖8是在其保護套內之列印頭匣的前上方透視圖； 圖9是除去其保護套之列印頭匣的前上方透視圖； 圖1 〇是列印頭匣的前下方透視圖； 圖1 1是列印頭匣的後下方透視圖； 圖1 2顯示列印頭匣各側的視圖； 圖1 3是列印頭匣的立體分解圖； 圖1 4是穿過列印頭匣之墨水入口親合器的橫向剖面 9 圖15是墨水入口和過濾器組合體的分解立體圖； 圖1 6是嚙合有印表機閥之匣閥的剖面視圖； 圖17是LCP模組和可撓PCB的透視圖； 圖1 8是圖1 7所示***區塊A的放大視圖； -45- 200838707 圖1 9是LCP模組/可撓印刷電路板/列印頭1C組合體 的下方立體分解圖； 圖20是LCP模組/可撓印刷電路板/列印頭1C組合體 的上方立體分解圖； 圖2 1是LCP模組/可撓印刷電路板/列印頭1C組合體 之下側的放大視圖； 圖22顯示除去圖2 1的列印頭1C和可撓印刷電路板 後的放大圖； 圖23顯示除去圖22之列印頭1C附接膜後的放大圖 9 圖24顯示除去圖23之LCP通道膜組後的放大圖； 圖25顯示列印頭1C具有重疊在墨水供給流道上之背 面通道和噴嘴； 圖26是LCP模組/可撓印刷電路板/列印頭1C組合體 之橫向放大透視圖； 圖27是1^0?通道模組的平面視圖； 圖28 A、28 B是LCP通道模組無壩時塡注的剖面示意 圖； 圖29A、29B、29C是LCP通道模組具有壩時塡注的 剖面示意圖； 圖3 0是L CP模組具有接觸力和反應力位置的橫向放 大透視圖； 圖3 1顯不IC附接膜的捲同， 圖32顯示各襯料之間的1C附接膜的剖面；和 -46- 200838707 圖33是顯示膜之層狀構造的局部剖面視圖。 【主要元件符號說明】 2 :印表機 4 :主體 6 :樞轉面 8 :顯示螢幕 1 〇 :控制鈕 12 :媒介疊 1 4 :饋給盤 1 6 :已列印片體 1 8 :出口槽 2 〇 :凸輪 22 :接點 24 :釋放槓桿 2 6 :把手 2 8 :支承表面 3 〇 :結構性構件 3 2 :接觸肋 6 0·墨水罐 62 :泵 64 :液晶聚合物（LCP )模組 66 :關閉閥 68 :列印頭積體電路（1C) -47- 200838707 72 :調節器 74 :氣泡出口 76 :密封的導管 7 8 ·•空氣入口 80 :出口 82 :過濾器 84 :上游墨水管線 0 8 6 :下游墨水管線 8 8 :感應器 9 0 :電子控制器 92 :貯槽 94 :蓋體 96 ：(列印頭）匣 98 :保護套 100 :匣底座（底盤模組） _ 102 :底座蓋 1 0 4 :匣接點 I 0 4 :匣接點 106 :紙遮罩 * 108 :可撓印刷電路板 II 〇 :導線接合 1 1 2 A ·上游墨水親合器 I 12B ：下游墨水耦合器 II 4 :匣閥 -48- 200838707 116:入口歧管及過濾器 118:出口歧管 120 :彈性連接器 122 :液晶聚合物（LCP )入口（墨水入口） 124 :液晶聚合物（LCP )岀口（墨水出口） 126 :彈性套筒 ， 128 :固定閥構件 130 ：過濾器膜 1 3 2 :上游過濾器室 134 :下游過濾器室 136 :液晶聚合物（LCP )通道 1 3 8 :頂部通道 142 :導管（印表機閥） 146 :套環 148 :導管末端 150 :導管 1 5 2 :墨水流 1 5 6 :過濾器出口 1 5 8 :過濾器入口 1 6 0 :間隔肋 162 :分隔壁 164 :導線接合接點 166 :埋頭孔 168 :埋頭孔 -49- 200838707 170:弧形支撐表面 1 72 :紙遮罩 174 :黏性積體電路（1C)附接膜 176 :液晶聚合物（LCP)通道模組 1 7 8 :凹部 180 :電子組件 182 :墨水供給流道 184 :液晶聚合物（LCP )主通道 186 :(雷射鑽出）供給孔 1 8 8 :現存襯料 190 :中央腹板 192 :置換襯料 1 94 :黏劑層 196 :馬達 1 98 :捲筒 200 :穴部 204 :基準記號 206 :滴下三角形 208 :(墨水）供給孔 2 1 0 :(墨水）供給孔 2 1 2 :(墨水）供給流道 2 1 4 :噴嘴 2 1 6 :(墨水）供給孔 2 1 8 :通道 -50- 200838707 220 :噴嘴陣列 222 :噴嘴 224 :(墨水）供給孔 226 :(墨水）供給孔 228 :壩 230 :入□ 232 :主通道出口 234 :弧形過渡面 236 :下游邊緣 2 3 8 :墨水（流） 240 :銳利邊緣Figure 2 5 also shows the inconsistency between the number of money in the close-up ink supply (four channels) and the five channels 2 1 8 in the print head 1C 68. The third and fourth channels behind the 6 8 are supplied by the same ink? I can be time-consuming between the same nozzles. Some of the nozzles 224, for example, are the most or particularly large nozzles that are not adjacent to 1C 68 in the print head. Water supply hole Supply flow capacity, since 1 〇 only has i flow rate approximation (pigment) print head 1C • 1 8 6 supply -39- 200838707 . These supply holes are slightly enlarged to provide a distance between the two channels 2 18 . The reason for this is that the print head 1C 68 is manufactured for use in a wide range of printer and print head structures. These can have five pigment channels... cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and infrared pigments - but other printers (such as this design) can only be four-channel printers, while the rest can still be Only three channels (cyan CC, magenta MM, and yellow Y). In view of this, a single pigment channel can be fed to two of the channels of the print head 1C. The Print Engine Controller (PEC) microprocessor can easily adapt this to the printed material that is sent to the print head 1C. Furthermore, supplying the same pigment to the two nozzle rows in 1C provides the status of excess nozzles for dead η ο z z 1 e compensation. Pressure pulse When the ink flowing into the print head suddenly stops, the ink pressure of the sharp peak is generated, which occurs at the end of the printing job or at the end of a page. Due to the high rate of the custodian, the pagewidth printhead requires a high flow rate to supply ink during the job. Therefore, the ink mass to the nozzle in the ink line is relatively large and moves at a considerable rate. Suddenly ending the printing job, or simply at the end of the printed page, requires that this relatively fast flowing relatively high volume ink be stopped immediately. However, suddenly extracting the momentum of the ink will increase the shock wave in the ink line. The LCP module 64 (see Figure 19) has a special stiffness and the LCP module 64 provides little flexibility when the ink column in the line is stationary. Since there is no compliance in the ink line, the shock wave can exceed the Laplace pressure (the pressure provided by the surface tension of the ink at the nozzle opening -40-200838707, which is used to retain the ink in the nozzle chamber) and is submerged The front surface of the print head nozzle. If the nozzle is submerged, the ink may not be ejected, and the artificial result appears in the printing. When the nozzle emissivity matches the resonant frequency of the ink line, a resonance pulse is generated in the ink. Furthermore, because of the rigid configuration of the ink line, most of the nozzles for one color are simultaneously emitted, producing standard or resonant pulses in the ink line. This can cause the nozzle to flood (or be submerged), or conversely, if the Laplace pressure is exceeded, the nozzle is not licked because of the pressure drop after the peak. To address this issue, the LCP module 64 incorporates a pulsation damper to remove the pressure peaks from the ink line. The damper can be a closed gas volume that can be compressed by a gas. In another embodiment, the damper can be a compliant section of the ink tube that flexibly flexes and absorbs pressure pulses. To minimize design complexity and preserve pocket form, the present invention uses a compressible gas volume to dampen pressure pulses. With a small volume of gas, it is possible to use a gas compression to dampen the pressure pulse. This keeps the pocket design while avoiding any nozzle flooding caused by momentary peaks in the ink pressure. As shown in Figures 24 and 26, the pulsation damper is not a single gas volume for pulse compression within the ink, but rather an array pocket 200 distributed along the length of the LCP module 64. Pressure pulses that move past a long print head (such as a page wide print head) can be damped at any point within the ink flow line. However, when the pulse passes through the nozzle in the print head 1C, the pulse will cause the nozzle to be flooded regardless of whether the pulse is later dissipated at the damper. By plunging multiple pulse dampers into the ink supply conduit and in close proximity to the nozzle array, any pressure peak -41 - 200838707 will be damped where it would cause harmful flooding. In Fig. 26, it can be seen that the air damming pockets 200 are arranged in four rows, each of which is located directly above the LCP main channel 184 in the LCP channel module 176. Any pressure pulse in the ink in the main channel 184 acts directly on the air within the pocket 200 and dissipates quickly. Print Head Note Referring now specifically to the LCP channel module 176 shown in Figure 27, the description will be described. The ink will inflate the LCP channel module 176 by the suction applied to the main passage-way outlet 232 from the pump of the fluidic system (see Figure 6). The main channel 184 is filled with ink, and then the ink supply flow path 182 and the print head 1C 68 are self-injected by capillary action. Main channel 184 is relatively long and thin. Furthermore, if the air pockets 200 are used to damp the pressure pulses within the ink, the air pockets 200 must remain unmarked. This pairing process may be problematic, and the hole can be easily filled by capillary action during the injection process, or the main channel may not be fully immersed because of the trapped air. To ensure that the LCP channel module 1 76 is fully focused, the main channel 184 has a dam 228 at the downstream end prior to the outlet 232. To ensure that the air pockets 200 within the LCP module 64 are not in focus, the air pockets 200 have openings and the openings have sharp upstream edges to direct the ink meniscus to not travel up the walls of the pockets. These aspects of the crucible are described in detail with reference to Figs. 28A, 28B and 29A to 29C. These figures schematically illustrate the injection process. Figures 28A, 28B show the problems that may occur if a dam is in the main channel, while Figures 29A through 29C show the function of the -42-200838707 dam 228. 28A, 28B are cross-sectional schematic views of one of the main channels 184 through the LCP channel module 176 and the air pockets 20 in the top of the channel. Ink 238 is pumped through inlet 230 and along the bottom plate of main channel 184. It should be noted that the advancing meniscus and the bottom surface of the channel 184 have a steep contact angle which causes the front end of the ink stream 23 8 to be slightly spherical. As the ink reaches the end of channel 184, the ink level rises and the ball front contacts the top of the channel before the rest of the ink flow. As shown in Figure 2 8 B, the channel 1 8 4 is not fully immersed and the air is now trapped. This air bag retains and interferes with the job of the print head. The ink damping characteristics are altered and the air can be an ink barrier. In Figures 2A through 29C, the passage 184 has a dam 22 8 at the downstream end. As shown in Fig. 29A, the ink stream 238 collects behind the dam 228 and rises toward the top of the channel. The dam 228 has a sharp edge 240 at the top as a fixed point for the meniscus. The advancing meniscus is pinned (attached) to the anchor 240 so that when the ink level is above the top edge, the ink does not flow through the dam 2 28 immediately. As shown in Fig. 29B, the protruding meniscus raises the ink until the ink fills the channel 184 to the top. Since the ink seals the pockets into separate air pockets, the protruding ink meniscus at the dam 228 exits the sharp top edge 240' and fills the end of the channel 184 and the ink outlet 232 (see Figure 29C). The sharp top edge 240 is precisely positioned such that the ink meniscus bulges until the ink fills the top of the channel 184, but does not allow the ink to bulge too much of the administrative ink to contact a portion of the end air pockets 242. If the meniscus contacts -43-200838707 and is fixed to the inside of the end air pocket 242, the end air pocket 242 may be inked. Accordingly, the height of the dam and its position under the pocket are tightly controlled. The curved downstream surface of the dam 22 8 ensures that no further anchor points allow the ink meniscus to span the gap to the pocket 242. Another mechanism by which the LCP is used to maintain the pocket site is the upstream and downstream edges of the pocket opening. As shown in Figures 2 8 A, 2 8 B and 2 9 A to 2 9 C, all of the upstream edges have curved transition faces 234 and the downstream edges 23 6 are sharp. Advancing the ink meniscus along the top of channel 1 84 can be nailed to the sharp upstream edge and then moved upward into the cavity by capillary action. The transition surface at the upstream edge (especially the curved transition surface 234) removes the strong anchor points provided by the sharp edges. Similarly, Applicants' efforts have found that if the pockets 200 have been undesirably impaired by some of the ink, the sharp downstream edge 236 can facilitate the removal of the sputum. If the printer is impacted, shaken, or tilted, or the jet system must flow back for any reason, the pocket 200 may be completely or partially licked. When the ink is again flowing in its normal direction, the sharp downstream edge 23 6 helps pull the meniscus back to the natural anchor point (i.e., the sharp corner). In this manner, the movement of the ink meniscus through the management of the LCP channel module 176 is a mechanism for proper sputum injection. The invention has been described herein by way of example only. Those skilled in the art will recognize variations and modifications that come within the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments described and illustrated in the drawings are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [Brief Description of the Drawings] Embodiments of the present invention are described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side front perspective view of a printer embodying the present invention; FIG. 2 shows the printer of FIG. 1 with the front in an open position; FIG. 3 shows the printer of FIG. Figure 4 shows the printer of Figure 3, and the outer casing is removed; Figure 5 shows the printer of Figure 3, and the outer casing is removed, but the print head is mounted; Figure 6 is the jet of the printer Figure 7 is a front upper perspective view of the print head cartridge; Figure 8 is a front upper perspective view of the print head cartridge in its protective cover; Figure 9 is a print head cartridge with its protective cover removed Front upper perspective view; Figure 1 〇 is the front lower perspective view of the print head ;; Figure 1 1 is the lower rear perspective view of the print head ;; Figure 1 2 shows the view of each side of the print head ;; An exploded perspective view of the print head cartridge; Figure 14 is a transverse cross-section of the ink inlet abutment through the print head cartridge. Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the ink inlet and filter assembly; Figure 16 is an engagement print Figure 17 is a perspective view of the LCP module and the flexible PCB; Figure 18 is an enlarged view of the insertion block A shown in Figure 17. Figure 45 is a bottom exploded view of the LCP module/flexible printed circuit board/printing head 1C assembly; Figure 20 is an LCP module/flexible printed circuit board/printing head 1C combination Figure 1 is an enlarged view of the underside of the LCP module / flexible printed circuit board / print head 1C assembly; Figure 22 shows the print head 1C and flexible printing removed from Figure 21 FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of the LCP channel film group of FIG. 23; FIG. 25 is a view showing the print head 1C having the print head of FIG. Fig. 26 is a lateral enlarged perspective view of the LCP module/flexible printed circuit board/printing head 1C assembly; Fig. 27 is a plan view of the 1^0? channel module Figure 28 A, 28 B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the LCP channel module without dam; Figure 29A, 29B, 29C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the LCP channel module with dam; Figure 3 0 is the L CP module has A horizontally enlarged perspective view of the contact force and reaction force position; Figure 3 shows the same volume of the IC attachment film, and Figure 32 shows the lining Cross-sectional view of the attachment between the film 1C; and a partial sectional view of a layered structure of a film 200 838 707 FIG 33 is a -53-. [Main component symbol description] 2: Printer 4: Main body 6: Pivot surface 8: Display screen 1 〇: Control button 12: Media stack 1 4: Feed tray 1 6: Printed sheet 1 8 : Exit Slot 2 〇: Cam 22: Contact 24: Release lever 2 6 : Handle 2 8 : Support surface 3 〇: Structural member 3 2 : Contact rib 6 0·Ink tank 62: Pump 64: Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) mold Group 66: Close valve 68: Print head integrated circuit (1C) -47- 200838707 72: Regulator 74: Bubble outlet 76: Sealed conduit 7 8 • Air inlet 80: Outlet 82: Filter 84: Upstream ink Line 0 8 6 : downstream ink line 8 8 : sensor 90 : electronic controller 92 : sump 94 : cover 96 : (print head ) 匣 98 : protective cover 100 : 匣 base (chassis module ) _ 102 : Base cover 1 0 4 : 匣 contact I 0 4 : 匣 contact 106 : paper cover * 108 : flexible printed circuit board II 〇: wire bonding 1 1 2 A · upstream ink affinity I 12B : downstream ink coupling II 4 : 匣 valve -48- 200838707 116: inlet manifold and filter 118: outlet manifold 120: elastic connector 122: liquid crystal polymer (LCP) inlet (ink inlet) 124 : Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) rinse (ink outlet) 126: elastic sleeve, 128: fixed valve member 130: filter membrane 1 3 2 : upstream filter chamber 134: downstream filter chamber 136: liquid crystal polymer (LCP) Channel 1 3 8 : Top channel 142: conduit (printer valve) 146 : collar 148 : catheter end 150 : conduit 1 5 2 : ink flow 1 5 6 : filter outlet 1 5 8 : filter inlet 1 6 0 : spacer rib 162 : partition wall 164 : wire joint contact 166 : countersunk hole 168 : countersunk hole - 49 - 200838707 170 : curved support surface 1 72 : paper cover 174 : viscous integrated circuit (1C) attachment film 176: Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) channel module 1 7 8 : recess 180: electronic component 182: ink supply flow path 184: liquid crystal polymer (LCP) main channel 186: (laser drilling) supply hole 1 8 8 : Existing lining 190: central web 192: replacement lining 1 94: adhesive layer 196: motor 1 98: reel 200: pocket 204: reference mark 206: drop triangle 208: (ink) supply hole 2 1 0 : (ink) supply hole 2 1 2 : (ink) supply flow path 2 1 4 : nozzle 2 1 6 : (ink) supply hole 2 1 8 : channel -50 - 200838707 220 : Nozzle array 222: Nozzle 224: (ink) supply hole 226: (ink) supply hole 228: dam 230: inlet 232: main channel outlet 234: curved transition surface 236: downstream edge 2 3 8 : ink (flow) 240 : sharp edges