Adhesiveless encapsulation of tab circuit traces for ink-jet pen

摘要

A method of encapsulating exposed conductive traces (19) connecting an ink-jet printhead die (170, 140) to an interconnection circuit (14) attached to a headland region (42) of an ink-jet pen cartridge (10). The cartridge includes a frame structure (32) fabricated of a rigid plastic frame member (34) formed of a first plastic material and a polymeric second material molded to the frame member. The headland region is defined at the tip of a snout region (40) of the cartridge. The second plastic material coats the headland region. The printhead assembly (14) includes a thermoplastic cover layer, a flexible interconnection circuit and a printhead die and orifice plate affixed to the circuit. The second plastic material at the headland region includes regions of additional material. The printhead assembly is attached to the headland region. Heat and pressure are applied to melt the regions of additional second plastic material so that this material reflows to encapsulate the die traces.