Claims
- 1. A step-and-repeat process for forming a nozzle member for an ink printer comprising the steps of:
- forming ink orifices in a strip of flexible tape using laser ablation; and
- forming a fluid communication channel in said flexible tape, using laser ablation, through only a portion of a thickness of said flexible tape to enable fluid communication between said ink orifices and an ink reservoir,
- wherein said step of forming said ink orifices comprises the steps of:
- unreeling said strip of flexible tape from a reel to be in a predetermined position relative to a source of laser radiation;
- providing a first masking means between said source of laser radiation and said tape, said first masking means including a pattern corresponding to said ink orifices;
- exposing said tape to laser radiation through said first masking means, said first masking means being physically spaced from said tape;
- and wherein said step of forming said fluid communication channel comprises the steps of:
- providing a second masking means between a source of laser radiation and said tape, said second masking means including a pattern corresponding to vaporization chambers, each vaporization chamber being associated with an ink orifice; and
- exposing said tape to laser radiation through said second masking means, said vaporization chambers extending through only a portion of a thickness of said tape.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said flexible tape comprises a polymer material.
- 3. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
- attaching a plurality of heater resistors to a surface of said nozzle member, each of said heat resistors being associated with one of said ink orifices.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No 07/568,00 filed on Aug. 16, 1990, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (21)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
309146 |
Mar 1989 |
EPX |
0367541A2 |
Oct 1989 |
EPX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
568000 |
Aug 1990 |
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