Thermally actuated ink jet printing mechanism including a tapered heater element

• US 6,243,113 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, An H.
• Application Number:
  US09/112,768
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 347/54, 347/55, 347/62, 347/20, 347/44
• US Class Current: 347/54
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• 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 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves

Abstract

An inkjet nozzle arrangement includes a nozzle chamber defining assembly which defines a chamber. A fluid ejection nozzle, in communication with the chamber, is arranged in a first surface of the nozzle chamber defining assembly. A thermal actuator device is located externally of the nozzle chamber defining assembly. A paddle vane is located within the chamber and is connected to the actuator device through an actuator access port arranged in a second surface of the nozzle chamber defining assembly. The paddle vane is responsive to the actuator device for ejecting fluid from the chamber via the fluid ejection nozzle.

Claims

1. An ink jet nozzle arrangement comprising:

a nozzle chamber defining means which defines a chamber, a fluid ejection nozzle, in communication with the chamber, being arranged in a first surface of said nozzle chamber defining means;

a thermal actuator device located externally of said nozzle chamber defining means; and

a paddle vane located within said chamber and connected to said actuator device through an actuator access port arranged in a second surface of said nozzle chamber defining means, said paddle vane being responsive to the actuator device for ejecting fluid from said chamber via said fluid ejection nozzle.

2. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermal actuator device includes a lever arm having one end attached to said paddle vane and a second end attached to a substrate.

3. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said thermal actuator device operates upon conductive heating along a conductive trace and said conductive heating being concentrated in a zone adjacent said second end.

4. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said conductive trace includes a region of reduced cross-section adjacent said second end.

5. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermal actuator device includes first and second layers of a material having similar thermal properties such that, upon cooling after deposition of said layers, said two layers act against one another so as to maintain said actuator in a planar orientation.

6. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said layers comprise substantially one of a copper nickel alloy and titanium nitride.

7. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said paddle vane is constructed from a material similar to portions of said thermal actuator device, the paddle vane being conductively insulated from said actuator device.

8. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermal actuator device is constructed from multiple layers utilizing a single mask to etch said multiple layers.

9. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said access port comprises a slot in a periphery of said chamber defining means and said actuator device is reciprocally movable in said slot.

10. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said actuator device includes an end portion which is received in said slot, said end portion having a shape which is complementary to that of the slot and said end portion extending at substantially right angles to said paddle vane.

11. An ink jet nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said paddle vane includes a dished portion substantially in alignment with said fluid ejection nozzle.