Thermally actuated ink jet printing mechanism having a series of thermal actuator units
First Claim
1. An inkjet nozzle arrangement comprising:
- a nozzle chamber having a fluid ejection port defined in one surface of the chamber;
a paddle vane located within the chamber, the paddle vane being actuated by a thermal actuator for ejecting fluid out of the chamber via the fluid ejection port;
the thermal actuator located externally of the nozzle chamber and attached to the paddle vane, wherein the thermal actuator includes a plurality of separate spaced apart elongate thermal actuator units, which are interconnected at a first end to a substrate and at a second end to a rigid strut member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inkjet nozzle arrangement is disclosed including a nozzle chamber having an fluid ejection nozzle in one surface of the chamber; a paddle vane located within the chamber, the paddle vane being adapted to be actuated by an actuator device for the ejection of fluid out of the chamber via the fluid ejection nozzle; and a thermal actuator device located externally of the nozzle chamber and attached to the paddle vane the thermal actuator device including a plurality of separate spaced apart elongated thermal actuator units. Preferably, the thermal actuator units are interconnected at a first end to a substrate and at a second end to a rigid strut member. The rigid strut member can, in turn, be interconnected to a lever arm having one end attached to the paddle vane. The thermal actuator units can operate upon conductive heating along a conductive trace and the conductive heating includes the generation of a substantial portion of the heat in the area adjacent the first end. The conductive heating trace can include a thinned cross-section adjacent the first end. The heating layers of the thermal actuator units can include substantially either a copper nickel alloy or titanium nitride. The paddle can be constructed from a similar conductive material to portions of the thermal actuator units however it is conductively insulated therefrom.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An inkjet nozzle arrangement comprising:
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a nozzle chamber having a fluid ejection port defined in one surface of the chamber;
a paddle vane located within the chamber, the paddle vane being actuated by a thermal actuator for ejecting fluid out of the chamber via the fluid ejection port;
the thermal actuator located externally of the nozzle chamber and attached to the paddle vane, wherein the thermal actuator includes a plurality of separate spaced apart elongate thermal actuator units, which are interconnected at a first end to a substrate and at a second end to a rigid strut member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A thermal actuator including a series of lever arms attached at one end to a substrate, said thermal actuator being operational as a result of conductive heating of a conductive trace, said conductive trace including a thinned cross-section substantially adjacent said attachment to said substrate.
Specification