Patent Description:
A fluid-ejection device like an inkjet-printing device can include a fluid-ejection die that selectively ejects fluid like inks, binding agents, biological samples, agents, reagents, and so on. The fluid-ejection die may be part of a fluid-ejection die cartridge that also includes a cartridge body to which the die is fluidically attached. For instance, the cartridge may be replaceably insertable into the fluid-ejection device. The cartridge can include a reservoir to hold fluid that the die is to eject, and/or a fluidic connector to fluidically connect the cartridge to a fluid supply external to the cartridge. <CIT> discloses a nozzle plate composed of silicon and an anti-wetting coating comprising silicon dioxide or polymeric substances.

Fluid is specifically ejected through nozzles of an exposed nozzle plate of a fluid-ejection die. The nozzle plate can also be referred to as an orifice plate. The nozzle plate is manufactured from a relatively soft material, such as SU-<NUM> epoxy negative photoresist. The nozzle plate may thus be susceptible to mechanical damage like scratching during usage. Such mechanical damage may occur as a result of contact with media, like paper, during fluid ejection on the media, as well as when the die undergoes cleaning or wiping within the fluid-ejection device at a service station.

The nozzle plate of a fluid-ejection die is further susceptible to fluid puddling and sticking due to the high surface energy of SU-<NUM> epoxy negative photoresist. This is particularly the case with the usage of latex inks, which may dry on the nozzle plate in a manner not unlike latex paint. The die may thus have to undergo frequent servicing to remove dried fluid. Furthermore, the die can suffer from decreased performance if nozzles remain clogged even after aggressive servicing, with a resulting decrease in die life.

Techniques described herein provide for a stamped nanoceramic layer on the exposed fluid-ejection nozzle plate of a fluid-ejection die of a fluid-ejection die cartridge. The nanoceramic layer is a relatively hard layer, and provides the nozzle plate with improved scratch resistance if not anti-scratch properties, inhibiting mechanical damage. The nanoceramic layer is hydrophobic, inhibiting fluid puddling. The nanoceramic layer is relatively slippery, providing the nozzle plate with improved stick resistance if not anti-stick properties, and thus inhibiting fluid sticking.

Stamping the nanoceramic layer on the exposed fluid-ejection nozzle plate of the fluid-ejection die, as opposed to depositing such a nanoceramic layer during die fabrication can be beneficial. The nanoceramic layer may be stamped on the nozzle plate of the die after the fluid-ejection cartridge has been already been assembled, such as after the fabricated die has been attached to the cartridge's body. Stamping may occur just prior to fluid fill of the cartridge in the case in which the cartridge has an internal fluid reservoir.

Stamping the nanoceramic layer on the nozzle plate of the die after assembly of the die cartridge can be more cost effective than depositing the nanoceramic layer during fabrication of the die. Existing manufacturing processes for die fabrication do not have to be altered, avoiding what can be a relatively expensive proposition. Rather, an additional step or act of nanoceramic layer stamping just has to be added after cartridge assembly. Such nanoceramic layer stamping can thus be more easily integrated with existing cartridge manufacture processes.

<FIG> show different examples of a fluid-ejection die cartridge <NUM>. The die cartridge <NUM> may be replaceably insertable into a fluid-ejection die device. The cartridge <NUM> may be an inkjet-printing cartridge for an inkjet-printing device, for instance. The cartridge <NUM> includes a cartridge body <NUM> to which a fluid-ejection die <NUM>, such as an inkjet die, is fluidically attached. The cartridge <NUM> includes a stamped nanoceramic layer on the exposed die <NUM>. The cartridge <NUM> may include other components, too, such as flexible circuits, and so on.

The fluid-ejection die <NUM> is exposed at an exterior surface of the cartridge body <NUM> of the die cartridge <NUM>. The die <NUM> can eject fluid. For instance, the die <NUM> may include fluid-ejection elements, such as firing resistors, which eject fluid from corresponding chambers and through corresponding exposed nozzles between which the chambers are respectively positioned. The die <NUM> may include fluid-ejection elements other than firing resistors in a different implementation.

In the example of <FIG>, the cartridge body <NUM> of the die cartridge <NUM> includes a fluid reservoir <NUM> that can hold an internal supply of fluid, such as latex ink, and that is fluidically coupled to the die <NUM> via a fluidic channel <NUM>. One fluidic channel <NUM> is shown in <FIG>, but there can be more than one channel <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the die <NUM> ejects fluid from the internal fluid supply of the reservoir <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, the cartridge body <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> includes a fluidic connector <NUM> that is fluidically coupled to the die <NUM> via the channel <NUM>. One fluidic channel <NUM> is shown, but there can be more than one channel <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is fluidically connectable to an external supply of fluid, such as latex ink, which the die <NUM> then ejects in <FIG>. In another implementation, the cartridge body <NUM> can include both the reservoir of <FIG> and the connector <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a portion of an example fluid-ejection die cartridge <NUM>, such as the cartridge <NUM> of <FIG>. The cartridge body <NUM>, the fluid-ejection die <NUM>, the stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM>, and the fluidic channel <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> are specifically shown in <FIG>. The fluid-ejection die <NUM> includes a nozzle plate <NUM>, as well as other layers <NUM>. The other layers <NUM> can include chamber layers, a layer including firing elements such as firing resistors, substrate layers, and so on.

The nozzle plate <NUM> of the fluid-ejection die <NUM> is exposed at an external surface of the cartridge body <NUM>. The nozzle plate <NUM> can also be referred to as a nozzle layer or as an orifice plate or layer. The nozzle plate <NUM> includes nozzles <NUM> through which the die <NUM> ejects fluid. The nozzle plate <NUM> may be fabricated from SU-<NUM> epoxy negative photoresist. The nozzle plate <NUM> may be fabricated from other materials in other implementations, however.

The nanoceramic layer <NUM> is stamped on the exposed nozzle plate <NUM> of the fluid-ejection die <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> does not extend over the cartridge body <NUM> to either side of the die <NUM>, but in another implementation may do so. In the example of <FIG>, the stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> does not extend over and into the nozzles <NUM> of the nozzle plate <NUM>, but similarly may do so in another implementation.

In some implementations, the stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> may be comparatively thin, with a thickness of no more than one micron. The stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> can include ceramic nanoparticles, which are a type of nanoparticle that is composed of ceramics, which are generally classified as inorganic, heat-resistant, and nonmetallic solids that can be made of both metallic and nonmetallic compounds. Examples of such ceramic nanoparticles include silica, silica carbide, and titanium oxide nanoparticles.

The stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> may be a layer of anti-graffiti material of hydrocarbon and ceramic ingredients. An example of such an anti-graffiti material is the Nasiol® NL272 nanoceramic vehicle surface protection coating manufactured by Artekya Ltd. , of Istanbul, Turkey. Another example of such an anti-graffiti material is the Nasiol® ZR53 nanoceramic vehicle surface protection coating that is also manufactured by Artekya Ltd.

The stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> may be a layer of hydrophobic and oleophobic anti-graffiti material of hydrophobic polymer and ceramic ingredients. An example of such a hydrophobic and oleophobic anti-graffiti material is the NanoSilc® NS <NUM> coating. This anti-graffiti material is manufactured by Florida CirTech, of Greeley, Colo.

The stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> can be scratch-resistant if not anti-scratch. For example, the nanoceramic layer <NUM> may have a scratch hardness greater than <NUM> in pencil hardness. Pencil hardness is measured along a scale from 6B, indicating maximum pencil softness, to <NUM>, indicating maximum pencil hardness.

The stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> can be stick-resistant if not anti-stick. For example, the nanoceramic layer <NUM> may have a hydrophobicity greater than a <NUM>-degree water contact angle and/or greater than a <NUM>-degree latex ink contact angle, whereas a nozzle plate <NUM> fabricated from SU-<NUM> epoxy negative photoresist has less than a <NUM>-degree water contact angle and/or less than a <NUM>-degree latex ink contact angle. The nanoceramic layer <NUM> may additionally or alternatively have a force of adhesion of less than <NUM> Newtons per <NUM> millimeters as measured by a cellophane tape peel test.

<FIG> shows example stamping of a nanoceramic layer <NUM> on the fluid-ejection die <NUM> of the fluid-ejection die cartridge <NUM>. The stamping process depicted in <FIG> is consistent with the stamping process described in the pending PCT patent application entitled "Uniform print head surface coating," filed on <CIT>. The cartridge body <NUM>, the fluid-ejection die <NUM>, and the stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> are specifically shown in <FIG>.

The assembled fluid-ejection die cartridge <NUM> and a film <NUM> are positioned relative to one another so that the die <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> is located under a nanoceramic layer <NUM> disposed on the film <NUM>. The film <NUM> may be a polyethylene film. Downwards pressure, as indicated by arrows <NUM>, is applied against a stamp <NUM> on the topside of the film <NUM> to stamp a portion of the nanoceramic layer <NUM> onto the die <NUM>. This portion of the nanoceramic layer <NUM> forms the stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> on the die <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an example method <NUM> for assembling the fluid-ejection die cartridge <NUM> having the stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM>. The method <NUM> includes fluidically attaching the fluid-ejection die <NUM> to the cartridge body <NUM> (<NUM>), thus forming the cartridge <NUM>. The die <NUM> is attached to the body <NUM> after both the die <NUM> and the body <NUM> have separately been fabricated. Other components of the cartridge <NUM> may have also already been attached to the body <NUM> before the die <NUM> is attached. The fluid-ejection nozzle plate <NUM> of the die <NUM> remains exposed after attachment of the die <NUM> to the cartridge body <NUM>.

The method <NUM> includes stamping the nanoceramic layer <NUM> on the fluid-ejection die <NUM> (<NUM>), after the die <NUM> has been fluidically attached to the cartridge body <NUM>. The nanoceramic layer <NUM> may be stamped in the manner that has been described with reference to <FIG>. The nanoceramic layer <NUM> is specifically stamped on the exposed nozzle plate <NUM>. Once the nanoceramic layer <NUM> has been stamped on the fluid-ejection die <NUM>, the fluid reservoir <NUM> of the die <NUM> may be filled with fluid, in the case in which the die <NUM> includes such a reservoir <NUM> as in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the example fluid-ejection die cartridge <NUM>. The die cartridge <NUM> includes the cartridge body <NUM> and the fluid-ejection die <NUM>, which is fluidically attached to the cartridge body <NUM> and which can eject fluid. The cartridge <NUM> includes the stamped nanoceramic layer <NUM> on the exposed fluid-ejection nozzle plate <NUM> of the die <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an example fluid-ejection device <NUM>. The fluid-ejection device <NUM> may be an inkjet-printing device. The fluid-ejection device <NUM> includes a motor <NUM> and the fluid-ejection die cartridge <NUM>. The device <NUM> can include other components as well, such as media trays, rollers, processing hardware, communication hardware to communicate with host computing devices or removable data storage media, and so on.

The fluid-ejection die cartridge <NUM> includes the fluid-ejection die <NUM> on which the nanoceramic layer <NUM> has been stamped. The motor <NUM> advances media past the die <NUM>, and the die <NUM> ejects fluid on the media. For example, the die <NUM> may selectively eject ink onto media like sheets of paper to form images on the media.

Claim 1:
A fluid-ejection die cartridge (<NUM>) comprising:
a cartridge body (<NUM>);
a fluid-ejection die (<NUM>) fluidically attached to the cartridge body (<NUM>) to eject fluid; and wherein the fluid-ejection die (<NUM>) comprises a nozzle plate (<NUM>), and
a stamped nanoceramic layer (<NUM>) is disposed on the exposed fluid-ejection nozzle plate (<NUM>) of the die (<NUM>); wherein the nozzle plate (<NUM>) of the die (<NUM>) comprises an SU-<NUM> epoxy negative photoresist nozzle plate.