Nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead which includes a refill actuator
First Claim
1. A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead, the nozzle arrangement comprisinga substrate;
- nozzle chamber walls arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber;
at least one micro-electromechanical ejection actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber, the, or each, ejection actuator being displaceable, upon receipt of an electrical signal, between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to eject ink from the nozzle chamber; and
at least one micro-electromechanical refilling actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber, the, or each, refilling actuator being displaceable, upon receipt of an electrical signal, between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted on by the ejection actuator, subsequent to the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead includes a substrate. Nozzle chamber walls are arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber. An ejection actuator is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to eject ink from the nozzle chamber. The ejection actuator includes an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement. A refilling actuator is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted on by the ejection actuator, subsequent to the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber. The refill actuator includes an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement.
6 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead, the nozzle arrangement comprising
a substrate; -
nozzle chamber walls arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber;
at least one micro-electromechanical ejection actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber, the, or each, ejection actuator being displaceable, upon receipt of an electrical signal, between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to eject ink from the nozzle chamber; and
at least one micro-electromechanical refilling actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber, the, or each, refilling actuator being displaceable, upon receipt of an electrical signal, between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted on by the ejection actuator, subsequent to the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An ink jet printhead which comprises a substrate;
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a plurality of nozzle arrangements positioned on the substrate, each nozzle arrangement comprising nozzle chamber walls arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber;
at least one micro-electromechanical ejection actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber, the, or each, ejection actuator being displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to eject ink from the nozzle chamber; and
at least one micro-electromechanical refilling actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber, the, or each, refilling actuator being displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted on by the ejection actuator, subsequent to the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber.
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12. A method of ejecting ink from a nozzle arrangement of an ink jet printhead, the nozzle arrangement including a substrate, nozzle chamber walls arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber, at least one micro-electromechanical ejection actuator that is displaceable between an inoperative and an operative condition to facilitate the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber and at least one micro-electromechanical refill actuator that is displaceable between an operative condition and an inoperative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted upon by the ejection actuator, the method including the steps of:
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supplying the nozzle chamber with ink;
activating the, or each, ejection actuator so that ink is ejected from the nozzle chamber; and
activating the, or each, refill actuator at a predetermined time after activation of the, or each, ejection actuator so that ink is directed into said zone to be acted upon again by the, or each, ejection actuator, if required. - View Dependent Claims (13)
activating the, or each, ejection actuator so that the, or each, ejection actuator is displaced from its inoperative condition to its operative condition;
de-activating the, or each, ejection actuator so that the, or each, ejection actuator returns to its inoperative condition; and
activating the, or each, refill actuator subsequent to the, or each, ejection actuator returning to its inoperative condition.
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Specification