Patent ID: 6907656
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: B41J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing thermal heads, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface, and a plurality of pairs of heaters disposed on the first surface so that the heaters of each pair of heaters are disposed in confronting, spaced-apart relation to one another; mounting integrated circuits on the electrodes to provide a plurality of pairs of integrated circuits so that the integrated circuits of each pair are disposed in confronting, spaced-apart relation to one another; encapsulating the integrated circuits and the space between each pair of the integrated circuits with a resin; forming grooves in one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate to provide at least first and second groups of separating lines so that the separating lines of the first group are disposed between respective pairs of the heaters and the second group of separating lines are disposed in the space between respective pairs of the integrated circuits; and cutting the substrate along the first group of separating lines formed by the grooves and along the second group of separating lines formed by the grooves and through the encapsulating resin to provide individual ones of the thermal heads each having one of the heaters, at least one of the integrated circuits for providing a drive signal to drive the heater, and a sealing element formed by the resin for protecting the integrated circuit.