Patent ID: 8550611

Claim:
A phase change ink reservoir supplying ink to a printhead, the reservoir comprising a heater, the heater further comprising: a first insulating layer including at least one ink supply path opening, the first insulating layer having a uniform thickness at least around the at least one ink supply path opening; a second insulating layer including at least one ink supply path opening that aligns with the at least one ink supply path opening in the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer having a uniform thickness at least around the at least one ink supply path opening; a resistance heating element interposed between the first and the second insulating layers, the resistance heating element being configured to receive electric current and to generate heat, the resistance heating element having an uniform material thickness along a length of the resistance heating element from a first end to a second end of the resistance heating element, a portion of the length of the resistance heating element being formed in a continuous perimeter that completely surrounds and corresponds in shape to an entire perimeter of the at least one ink supply path opening in the first and second insulating layers, the heating element being a configuration from the group comprised of uniform width traces, non uniform width traces, wires, discontinuous film and continuous film.