Ink jet mechanism with thermoelastic bend actuator having conductive and resistive beams
First Claim
1. An ink jet nozzle assembly including a nozzle chamber having a nozzle, the chamber including a movable portion configured for movement to effect ejection of ink from the chamber via said nozzle, the assembly further including an actuator attached to or formed integrally with the movable portion, the actuator having an electrically conductive portion and an electrically resistive portion such that upon passing a current through both said portions, said actuator is caused to deform elastically to effect said movement of said movable portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ink jet printer uses a planar thermoelastic bend actuator to eject ink from a nozzle chamber. The thermal actuator includes a lower planar surface constructed from a highly conductive material such as a semiconductor metal layer interconnected to an upper planar surface constructed from an electrically resistive material such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), such that, upon passing a current between the planar surfaces, the thermal actuator is caused to bend towards an ink ejection port so as to thereby cause ejection of ink from the ink ejection port. The actuator is attached to a substrate and further includes a stiff paddle portion which increases the degree of bending of the actuator near the point where it is attached to the substrate. The surfaces are further coated with a passivation material as required.
7 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. An ink jet nozzle assembly including a nozzle chamber having a nozzle, the chamber including a movable portion configured for movement to effect ejection of ink from the chamber via said nozzle, the assembly further including an actuator attached to or formed integrally with the movable portion, the actuator having an electrically conductive portion and an electrically resistive portion such that upon passing a current through both said portions, said actuator is caused to deform elastically to effect said movement of said movable portion.
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4. An ink jet nozzle assembly including:
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a nozzle chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and a nozzle through which ink from the chamber can be ejected;
a chamber including a fixed portion and a movable portion, relative movement between the fixed portion and the movable portion in an ejection phase reducing an effective volume of the chamber, and alternate movement in a refill phase enlarging the effective volume of the chamber; and
a thermal actuator to eject ink from said nozzle chamber via said nozzle, said thermal actuator comprising a lower planar surface constructed from a highly electrically conductive material interconnected to an upper planar surface constructed from an electrically resistive material such that upon passing a current between said planar surfaces, said thermal actuator is caused to bend so as to effect movement of said movable portion and cause ink to be ejected through said nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification