| 摘要 |
<p>A method of manufacturing one or more nozzles (13) for an ink jet printhead initially comprises bonding a nozzle plate (14) to the ink ejection end of the printhead (16). A mask (12) is then secured in contact with the nozzle plate (14), the mask having a plurality of apertures (15) each defining a respective nozzle exit. Laser radiation applied to the mask exposes the areas defined by the apertures to ablate the plate material between the nozzle exits on the external surface of the plate and corresponding nozzle inlets on the opposite surface of the plate. The assembly comprising the printhead (16), plate (14) and mask (12) is rocked during the exposure step to increase the area of the nozzle inlet relative to its outlet. Also, prior to the nozzle formation step, one or more ink troughs (22) may be provided for supplying an external source of ink for each nozzle. The ink troughs (22), which may be formed using laser ablation techniques similar to those used in the formation of the nozzles, facilitate a continuous, positive flow of ink through the nozzles.</p> |
