1. A printhead substrate comprising:
an electrothermal transducer;
a temperature detection element configured to detect a temperature of the electrothermal transducer; and
a pair of electrodes provided at two ends of the temperature detection element,
wherein the temperature detection element and the pair of electrodes are arranged on an insulating member on a substrate,
wherein the printhead substrate further comprises a member arranged on the insulating member in a position away from the pair of electrodes, and made of the same material as the pair of electrodes, and
wherein an upper surface of a first portion of the insulating member between the pair of electrodes and the member is located lower than an upper surface of a second portion of the insulating member which is in contact with the temperature detection element.
2. A printhead comprising:
the printhead substrate defined in claim 1; and
an orifice configured to discharge a printing material in response to driving of the electrothermal transducer of the printhead substrate.
3. A printing apparatus comprising the printhead defined in claim 2.
4. The printhead substrate according to claim 1, wherein the electrothermal transducer is formed on a second insulating member on the temperature detection element,
wherein the electrothermal transducer includes a second metal member formed on the second insulating member, and
wherein a step amount on a lower surface of the second metal member is not more than 40 nm.
5. The printhead substrate according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of a conductive film forming the temperature detection element is from 10 nm to 40 nm.
6. The printhead substrate according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detection element has a meander shape in a planar view.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for forming shaped heads on distal ends of stems connected at proximal ends to an upper side of a generally flat substrate, the process comprising:
placing the substrate on top of a resilient sheet; and
applying heat and pressure to the distal ends of the stems by means of a heated coining surface to cause softening of a portion of the distal ends of the stems and the formation of shaped heads on the distal ends of the stems.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein a forming sheet is placed intermediate between the heated coining surface and the distal ends of the stems prior to applying heat and pressure to the distal ends of the stems.
3. The process of claim 2 where the heated coining surface is at a temperature between 165\xb0 C. and 180\xb0 C. when applied to the distal ends of the stems.
4. The process of claim 3 wherein the heated coining surface is applied to the forming sheet for between 0.9 and 5 seconds.
5. The process of claim 4 wherein the substrate is allowed to cool and the forming sheet is then removed from the distal ends of the stems.
6. The process of claim 3 wherein the heated coining surface is applied to the forming sheet for between 0.5 and 5 seconds.
7. A process for manufacturing hooks on a hook plate with an array of upstanding stems, the process comprising:
placing a resilient layer beneath the hook plate; and
applying a heated coining surface against the tops of the array of upstanding stems to create enlarged heads on the upstanding stems.
8. The process of claim 7 wherein the resilient layer is made from the same material as the work-piece.
9. The process of claim 6 wherein the resilient layer is a silicon foam.
10. A process for manufacturing hooks on a hook plate with an array of upstanding stems, the hook plate having a first area of a first thickness and the hook plate having a second area of a second thickness less than the first thickness, the process comprising:
placing a first resilient piece of a third thickness beneath the first area;
placing a second resilient piece of a fourth thickness beneath the second area; and
applying a heated coining surface against the tops of the array of upstanding stems to create enlarged heads on the upstanding stems.
11. The process of claim 10 wherein the third thickness and the fourth thickness are the same.
12. The process of claim 11 wherein the first resilient piece and the second resilient piece are made from a silicon foam.
13. The process of claim 10 wherein the fourth thickness is greater than the third thickness.
14. The process of claim 12 wherein the first resilient piece is a part of the hook plate.
15. The process of claim 14 wherein the second resilient piece is a part of the hook plate.
16. The process of claim 15 wherein the first resilient piece and second resilient piece are connected.
17. A process for manufacturing hooks on a hook plate with an array of upstanding stems, the process comprising:
applying a heated coining surface against a forming sheet which in turn is located against the tops of the array of upstanding stems to create enlarged heads on tops of the upstanding stems.
18. The process of claim 17, wherein the stems are connected at proximal ends thereof to an upper side of a substrate, and said process further comprises the step of placing said substrate on top of a resilient sheet.
19. The process of claim 17, further comprising the step of:
removing the hook plate and forming sheet together from the coining surface, allowing the work-piece and forming sheet to cool, and removing the forming sheet from the enlarged heads.
20. The process of claim 17 wherein the heated coining surface is at a temperature between 165\xb0 C. and 180\xb0 C.
21. The process of claim 20 wherein the heated coining surface is applied against the forming sheet for between 0.9 and 5 seconds.
22. The process of claim 20 wherein the heated coining surface is applied against the forming sheet for between 0.5 and 5 seconds.
23. A process for manufacturing hooks on a hook plate with an array of upstanding stems using a coining plate, the process comprising:
inserting a forming sheet between the coining plate and the tops of the array of upstanding stems;
coining the hooks on the tops of the upstanding stems; and
removing the coining plate from contact with the forming sheet.
24. The process of claim 23, in which the coining plate is heated and pressed against the forming sheet which in turn presses against the tops of the array of upstanding stems to create enlarged heads on tops of the upstanding stems.
25. The process of claim 23, further comprising the step of:
allowing the hook plate and forming sheet to cool, and removing the forming sheet from the upstanding stems.
26. The process of claim 23, wherein the forming sheet is made of a non-woven, spun web.
27. A forming sheet for use in the process of claim 2, the forming sheet manufactured from one of the following materials: steel; aluminum; paper; fibre reinforced teflon; and teflon.
28. A method of molding a hook plate bearing hooks, comprising:
injection-molding a hook plate bearing an upstanding array of stems;
ejecting the hook plate;
placing a forming sheet on top of the array of stems;
placing the hook plate on a resilient layer;
coining heads on the tops of the stems;
allowing the hook plate and forming sheet to cool; and
removing the forming sheet.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the resilient layer is an integral part of the hook plate.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein the forming sheet is manufactured from one of the following materials: steel; aluminum; paper; fibre reinforced teflon; and teflon.
31. A process for manufacturing hooks on a hook plate with an array of upstanding stems, the process comprising:
applying a generally flat heated coining surface against the tops of the array of upstanding stems to create enlarged heads on tops of the upstanding stems.
32. The process of claim 31, said process further comprising the step of placing said hook plate on top of a resilient sheet before said step of applying a generally heated coining surface.
33. A process for manufacturing hooks on a hook plate with an array of upstanding stems, the process comprising:
placing a forming sheet on top of the array of stems;
applying a generally flat heated coining surface against the forming sheet to create enlarged heads on tops of the upstanding stems.
34. A process for manufacturing hooks on a hook plate with an array of upstanding stems using a coining plate, the process comprising:
placing said hook plate on top of a resilient sheet; and
coining the hooks on the tops of the upstanding stems.
35. A method for forming enlarged heads on distal ends of heat-deformable stems of a work piece, the method comprising:
providing a work piece having an upper substantially planar surface from which the stems on which the heads are to be formed extend;
providing a resilient layer dimensioned to underlie the piece and having an upper surface shaped to provide support substantially across an underside of the piece;
positioning the piece and layer in a coining apparatus with the upper surface of the resilient layer positioned to provide said support to the underside of the piece; and
pressing a heated surface of the coining apparatus against the distal ends of the stems to form the heads.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the piece comprises an injection-molded plastic.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein said surface of the coining apparatus is heated to a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the plastic and a temperature 30\xb0 C. greater than the melting temperature of the plastic.
38. The method of claim 36, wherein said surface of the coining apparatus is heated so as to provide a temperature to the stems between the melting temperature of the plastic and a temperature 30\xb0 C. greater than the melting temperature of the plastic.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein said surface of the coining apparatus is heated so as to provide a temperature to the stems between a temperature 10\xb0 C. greater than the melting temperature of the plastic and a temperature 30\xb0 C. greater than the melting temperature of the plastic, particularly to provide a temperature to the stems about 15\xb0 C. greater than the melting temperature of the plastic.
40. The method of any of claim 36, wherein the plastic comprises a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and nylon.
41. The method of any of claim 35, wherein the stems, prior to formation of the heads extend from said upper planar surface to a height of up to about 1.5 mm and the diameter of the stems is up to about 1 mm.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein said height is between about 0.5 mm and about 1.5 mm, and said diameter is between about 0.1 mm and 1 mm; or wherein said height is between about 0.3 mm and about 1.5 mm, and said diameter is between about 0.3 mm and 0.9 mm; or wherein said height is between about 0.5 mm and about 1.5 mm, and said diameter is between about 0.3 mm and 0.9 mm; or said height is between about 0.6 mm and about 1.4 mm, and said diameter is between about 0.35 mm and 0.8 mm; or said height is between about 0:7 mm and about 1.3 mm, and said diameter is between about 0.4 mm and 0.7 mm; or said height is between about 0.8 mm and about 1.2 mm, and said diameter is between about 0.45 mm and 0.65 mm; or said height is between about 0.9 mm and about 1.1 mm, and said diameter is between about 0.5 mm and 0.6 mm.
43. The method of claim 41, wherein the ratio of the height to the diameter is between about 31 and 11, or between about 2.51 and 1.51, or is about 21.
44. The method of claim 42, wherein said height is about 1 mm and said diameter is about 0.55 mm.
45. The method of any of claim 35, said stems have a density on said upper surface of the piece of up to about 2300 stems per square inch, or between 25 and 2000 stems per square inch, or between about 25 and 1500 stems per square inch, or between about 25 and 1250 stems per square inch, or between about 25 and 1000 stems per square inch, or between about 25 and 800 stems per square inch.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein said density is between about 50 and 400 stems per square inch.
47. The method of any of claim 35, wherein said stems have a density on said upper surface of between about 150 and about 300 stems per square inch, and particularly between about 200 and 250 stems per square inch, and said heads are formed to a size and shape suitable for engagement of loops of a hook and loop fastening system.
48. The method of claim 41, wherein subsequent to the formation of the heads, the stems have a height of between about 50 percent and about 90 percent the height prior to formation of the heads.
49. The method of claim 41, wherein subsequent to the formation of the heads, the stems have a height of between about 60 percent and about 80 percent the height prior to formation of the heads, and particularly a height of about 70 percent said height prior to formation of the heads.
50. The method of claim 35, wherein the distance between upper surface of the piece and the underside of the piece is between about 0.5 mm and 8 mm; or between about 1 mm and 7 mm; or between about 2 mm and about 6 mm; or between about 2 mm and 5 mm; or between about 2 and about 4 mm; or about 3 and about 3.5 mm.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein said distance relative to the height of the stems prior to formation of the heads is between about 1 and about 25; or between about 1 and about 20; or between about 1 and 15; or between about 2 and about 10; or between about 2 and about 5; or between about 3 and about 4; or about 3.5.
52. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of interposing a forming sheet between the stems and the heated surface of the coining apparatus prior to pressing the heated surface against the distal ends of the stems, wherein sheet has a surface in abutment with the stems, which surface is of a material that substantially precludes adhesion of the sheet to the stems.
53. The method of claim 52, wherein the forming sheet has a thickness of between 0.1 mm and about 0.5 mm, or between about 0.125 mm and 0.25 mm.
54. The method of claim 51, wherein the forming sheet comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of polyester, nylon, glass fiber reinforced teflon, and teflon.
55. The method of claim 35, wherein the work piece has a base layer and the resilient layer is, at room temperature, relatively flexible with respect to the base layer of the work piece.
56. The method of claim 35, wherein the resilient layer has the resilience of silicon foam or of \u215c inch polyethylene foam having a density of 2 pounds per cubic foot.
57. The method of claim 35, wherein the resilient layer comprises silicon foam or polyethylene foam.
58. The method of claim 35, wherein the resilient layer has a thickness of between about \xbc inch and about \xbd inch, or about \u215c inch.
59. An injection-molded plastic work piece comprising:
a layer of substantially constant cross section and a thickness of between about 1 and 8 mm; and
a plurality of stems extending generally transversely from a major upper surface of the layer, and molded integrally therewith in a single injection-molding step; and wherein:
the stems have a height of less than or equal to about 1.5 mm and a diameter of between about 0.3 mm and 0.9 mm; and
the stems have a density on said upper surface of between 100 and 2300 stems per square inch.
60. The work piece of claim 59, wherein the surface has an area of at least twenty-five square inches.
61. The work piece of claim 59, wherein the area is between about 25 and about 1300 square inches, or between about 100 square inches and about 900 square inches, or between about 144 and about 576 square inches.
62. The work piece of claim 59, wherein the stems have a density of between about 50 and 400 stems per square inch, or have a density of between about 100 and 300 stems per square inch, or have a density of between about 150 and 300 stems per square inch, or have a density of between about 200 and 300 stems per square inch, or have a density of between about 200 and 250 stems per square inch, or between 25 and 2000 stems per square inch, or between about 25 and 1500 stems per square inch, or between about 25 and 1250 stems per square inch, or between about 25 and 1000 stems per square inch, or between about 25 and 800 stems per square inch, or between about 50 and 400 stems per square inch, or between about 150 and about 300 stems per square inch, and particularly between about 200 and 250 stems per square inch.
63. The injection-molded piece of claim 59, wherein said layer is substantially planar.
64. The injection molded piece of claim 59, wherein said plastic comprises a plastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and nylon.
65. The injection molded piece of claim 64, wherein said plastic is polypropylene having a melting temperature of about 160\xb0 C., the layer is a planar layer of substantially constant thickness of about 3 mm and about 4 mm, the stems have a height between about 0.7 mm and 1.2 mm, a diameter of between about 0.5 and 0.6 mm, and the stems have a density between about 200 and 250 stems per square inch.
66. The injection molded piece of claim 59, wherein distal ends of the stems have been permanently deformed by the application of energy to form enlarged heads for engagement of loops of a hook and loop attachment system, and the stems have a height of up to about 13 mm.
67. The injection molded piece of claim 59, wherein the ratio of the area of the face of the layer from which the stems extend to the thickness of the layer bearing the stems is between about 29,000 and about 185,000, or between about 110,000 and 127,000, and wherein the maximum cross dimension of the base is about 50 inches, or about 40 inches, or about 30 inches, or about 20 inches or about 12 inches.
68. The injection molded piece claim 59, wherein said layer of the base is generally planar, of substantially constant cross section, and is in the shape of a polygon, particularly a rectangle, or a regular polygon, particularly a square or a hexagon.
69. The injection molded piece of claim 59, wherein the ratio of the area of the face of the layer from which the stems extend to the thickness of the layer bearing the stems is between about 29,000 and about 185,000, or between about 110,000 and 127,000, and wherein the maximum cross dimension of the base is about 50 inches, or about 40 inches, or about 30 inches, or about 20 inches or about 12 inches.
70. The injection molded piece of claim 59, wherein said layer of the base is generally planar, of substantially constant cross section, and is in the shape of a polygon, particularly a rectangle, or a regular polygon, particularly a square or a hexagon.
71. A method of manufacturing a piece having a base layer from which extends a plurality of stems, the method comprising:
providing a two-part mold which parts together define a cavity in the shape of the piece, wherein the piece is as defined by any of claims 59 to 65 and 69 and 70;
filling the mold cavity by injecting molten plastic thereinto;
partially cooling the plastic, or permitting the plastic to partially cool, to a temperature where the material has achieved shape stability.
72. An anchor sheet comprising:
a sheet with a first and second surface;
the sheet being made of a polypropylene and having a thickness of between 0.031 inches and 0.75 inches; and
the first surface bearing hooks, the hooks having stems with shaped heads on distal ends thereof and being attached to said sheet at proximal ends thereof, said hooks being formed by a process including the steps of:
placing said sheet on top of a resilient sheet; and
applying heat and pressure to the distal ends of the stems by means of a heated coining surface to cause softening of a portion of the distal ends of the stems and the formation of shaped heads on the distal ends of the stems.
73. A method for forming enlarged heads on distal ends of heat-deformable stems of a work piece, the method comprising:
providing an injection-molded work piece having a sheet with first and second surfaces facing in opposite outward directions, the first surface having a plurality of the stems integrally molded thereon and upstanding therefrom;
deforming the distal ends of the stems upstanding on a portion of the first surface by pressing an energy source against the stems thereon to form the enlarged heads; and
positioning a resilient layer with respect to a portion of the second surface opposite the portion of the first surface in opposing relation to the energy source to provide support for the work piece as the energy source is pressed against the stems.