Abstract:
An actuator assembly including a flexible printed circuit and a method for making such an actuator assembly are provided. The flexible printed circuit includes a body having a top side and a bottom side, with the body defining a plurality of bumps extending from the bottom side. A first bump of the plurality of bumps is disposed adjacent to a second bump of the plurality of bumps, and the body further defines at least one relief configured to reduce movement of the second bump caused by movement of the first bump. The flexible printed circuit also includes a plurality of contact pads disposed on the bottom side of the body at least partially at the plurality of bumps, with the plurality of contacts pads being configured to be electrically coupled to a power source and to a piezoelectric transducer.
Abstract:
A method and structure for flattening or straightening a curled flexible printed circuit, such as a flexible printed circuit that has been curled during a contact embossing process. The structure can include a cylindrical opening and a support shaft suspended within the cylindrical opening that prevents buckling of the flexible printed circuit during straightening. To flatten the curled flexible printed circuit, the curled end of the flexible printed circuit can be inserted into the cylindrical opening until the curled end is wrapped partially or completely around the support shaft.
Abstract:
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for predicting a service call for digital printing equipment from a customer are disclosed. For example, the method detects a triggering event based upon a number of detections of an event on a digital printing equipment exceeding a threshold within a predefined time period, wherein the number of detected events on the digital printing equipment exceeding the threshold within the predefined time period is indicative of an impending soft failure, calculates a probability that the customer will place the service call due to the impending soft failure within a second predefined period of time based on a fusion of a hazard model of the digital printing equipment, a customer behavior model and the number of detections of the event in response to the triggering event being detected and determines an action based upon the probability using a cost based utility function.
Abstract:
A structure and method for a post plate of a die set that can be used to emboss a plurality of contact pads of a flexible printed circuit during the formation of a printer printhead. In one embodiment, a plurality of post plate posts can be formed, where each post plate post has a flat upper surface, generally straight sides, and a sharp corner where the flat upper surface and the generally straight sides intersect. Each post can be polished using, for example, a pad and an abrasive polishing compound or an electrochemical polishing process, to round the sharp corners to form a post having a rounded contour. In another embodiment, a plurality of post plate posts each having a rounded contour can be formed using a molding process.
Abstract:
A method and structure for flattening or straightening a curled flexible printed circuit, such as a flexible printed circuit that has been curled during a contact embossing process. The structure can include a cylindrical opening and a support shaft suspended within the cylindrical opening that prevents buckling of the flexible printed circuit during straightening. To flatten the curled flexible printed circuit, the curled end of the flexible printed circuit can be inserted into the cylindrical opening until the curled end is wrapped partially or completely around the support shaft.
Abstract:
A structure and method for a post plate of a die set that can be used to emboss a plurality of contact pads of a flexible printed circuit during the formation of a printer printhead. In one embodiment, a plurality of post plate posts can be formed, where each post plate post has a flat upper surface, generally straight sides, and a sharp corner where the flat upper surface and the generally straight sides intersect. Each post can be polished using, for example, a pad and an abrasive polishing compound or an electrochemical polishing process, to round the sharp corners to form a post having a rounded contour. In another embodiment, a plurality of post plate posts each having a rounded contour can be formed using a molding process.
Abstract:
An ink jet printhead including a substrate such as an ink reservoir or an interposer and a printing device. The printing device can be attached to the substrate with a first adhesive and with a second adhesive that is different than the first adhesive. The second adhesive can be applied to the printing device and to the substrate after attaching the printing device to the substrate with the first adhesive. The second adhesive can seal a gap from an ink channel in the substrate to a location between the printing device and the substrate.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for preparing an ink jet printhead which comprises: (a) providing a diaphragm plate having a plurality of piezoelectric transducers bonded thereto with an adhesive; (b) placing an encapsulant thin film on the piezoelectric transducers; and (c) applying heat, pressure, or a combination thereof to the encapsulant thin film to a degree sufficient to cause the encapsulant to encapsulate the adhesive.
Abstract:
A method for assembling an inkjet jet print head enables piezoelectric transducers to be bonded to an inkjet ejector without closing inlets to a pressure chamber within the inkjet ejector. The method includes bonding a polymer layer to a diaphragm layer having a plurality of openings, bonding piezoelectric transducers to the diaphragm layer with a thermoset adhesive, placing thermoset polymer in areas between the piezoelectric transducers on the diaphragm layer, and drilling inlets through the thermoset polymer and the diaphragm at the openings in the diaphragm.
Abstract:
A method of proactively identifying print device incidents for servicing by a service provider may include receiving print device data for one or more print devices, determining a probability value for each of the one or more of the print devices based on the print device data, where each probability value represents a likelihood that the print device will experience a subsequent incident of an incident type within a timeframe, identifying one or more of the print devices associated with probability values that each exceed a threshold value, and for one or more of the print devices that is identified, automatically initiating a service request for the subsequent incident.