Printhead assembly using a fluidic seal for sealing a nozzle chamber

• US 20050078149A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Granted Patent: US 7,267,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/40
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1645 thin film formation by spincoating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/165 Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14435 Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14443 Nozzle guard

Abstract

A printer includes a printhead having a plurality of ink jet nozzle assemblies. The nozzle assemblies include a substrate; a nozzle displaceably arranged relative to the substrate, the nozzle defining a nozzle opening such that, in use, upon displacement of the nozzle relative to the substrate, ink is ejected through the opening; and an inhibiting means arranged intermediate the substrate and the nozzle for inhibiting leakage of ink from around a periphery of the nozzle.

Claims

1. A printer including a printhead having a plurality of ink jet nozzle assemblies, at least one nozzle assembly including:

a substrate;

a nozzle displaceably arranged relative to the substrate, the nozzle defining a nozzle opening such that, in use, upon displacement of the nozzle relative to the substrate, ink is ejected through the opening; and

an inhibiting means arranged intermediate the substrate and the nozzle for inhibiting leakage of ink from around a periphery of the nozzle.

2. The printer of claim 1 in which the at least one nozzle assembly includes a crown portion defining the nozzle opening and a skirt portion depending from the crown portion, the skirt portion, together with the inhibiting means, defining an ink chamber with which the nozzle opening is in fluid communication.

3. The printer of claim 2 in which an ink supply channel is defined through the substrate to be in communication, via an aperture in the substrate, with the chamber, the inhibiting means being arranged about the aperture.

4. The printer of claim 2 in which the inhibiting means is arranged externally of the skirt portion of the nozzle.

5. The printer of claim 4 in which the inhibiting means includes a wiper portion extending inwardly towards an external surface of the skirt portion of the nozzle.

6. The printer of claim 1 in which the inhibiting means is fabricated by deposition and etching techniques.

7. The printer of claim 1 in which the inhibiting means is of a ceramic material.