Patent ID: 6045214
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method for making a nozzle plate for an ink jet printer which comprises providing a polymeric film made of a polymeric material layer containing an adhesive layer and protective layer over the adhesive layer, laser ablating ink flow channels, firing chambers, nozzle holes and an ink supply region in the film through the protective layer and adhesive layer to define flow features of the nozzle plate, removing the protective layer from the film, separating individual nozzle plates from the film and attaching the nozzle plates to a semiconductor substrate wherein at least a portion of the polymeric material in the ink supply region of the nozzle plate remains after ablation to thereby reduce debris produced during the ablation step, the remaining polymeric portion being spaced from an unablated region adjacent the ink flow channels a distance sufficient to trap debris before the debris enters the ink flow channels to the firing chambers, having a height which is less than a combined thickness of the polymeric and adhesive layers and being selected from the group consisting of an elongate portion of polymeric material having an ablated portion surrounding the elongate portion which is substantially perpendicular to the ink flow channels, partially ablated spaced elongate fingers which are parallel to and offset from the ink flow channels, and a staggered array of spaced projections of polymeric material adjacent the ink flow channels.