Method and apparatus for forming a nozzle in an element for an ink jet print head

Abstract

A method of forming a nozzle in a nozzle element for an ink jet print head, wherein material is removed from the nozzle element by means of a laser to form the nozzle. A mask is irradiated with a laser beam in such manner that at least one sub-beam is passed through the mask, whereafter the material is removed by means of the sub-beam. Inhomogeneity of the laser beam is compensated for by using, for each nozzle laser, radiation originating from different parts of the laser beam, whereby the nozzle is formed with an “average” laser beam.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of forming a nozzle in an element for an ink jet print head, wherein material is removed from said element by the use of a laser to form the nozzle, which comprises 
 irradiating a mask with a laser beam whereby a sub-beam is passed through the mask,    said material being removed by means of the sub-beam,    wherein the laser beam is moved with respect to the mask in a direction substantially parallel to the mask so that the sub-beam during the removal of the material originates from a series of different parts of the laser beam, said series extending in the said direction.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the series forms a contiguous row.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the series extends over substantially the entire width of the beam in the said direction.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the laser beam is moved with respect to the mask at a substantially constant speed.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mask and the element are moved while the laser beam is stationary.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sub-beam is imaged on the element by a means of a lens.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two sub-beams are passed through the mask.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein more nozzles are formed in the element than there are sub-beams passed through the mask.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a laser beam is used in such a manner that a projection of the laser beam on the mask has a longitudinal direction, the projection being limited in the longitudinal direction by substantially parallel lines.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for forming a nozzle element containing a plurality of substantially identical nozzles and used for an ink jet print head which comprises 
 a mask,    a laser means for irradiating the mask whereby a sub-beam is passed therethrough to remove material from said nozzle element to form the nozzle therein, wherein    means are provided for moving the laser beam with respect to the mask in a direction substantially parallel to the mask so that the sub-beam, during the removal of the material, originates from a series of different parts of the laser, said series extending in the said direction.    
     
     
         11 . An ink jet print head produced by the method of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         12 . An ink jet printer provided with the ink jet print head of claim  10 .