Nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead that includes a coiled actuator

• US 6,488,360 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• 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:
  US09/900,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20, 347/44, 347/47, 347/54, 347/48
• 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 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead includes a substrate. An actuator is positioned on the substrate to facilitate the ejection of ink from a nozzle chamber of the nozzle arrangement. The actuator includes an elongate, flexible, curved actuator arm having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end being fixed to the substrate. An actuating mechanism is operatively arranged with respect to the actuator arm to straighten the actuator arm at least partially when activated such that the outer end is displaced to an extent sufficient to perform work.

Claims

1. A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead, the nozzle arrangement comprising

a substrate;

and

an actuator that is positioned on the substrate to facilitate the ejection of ink from a nozzle chamber of the nozzle arrangement, the actuator comprising

an elongate, flexible, curved actuator arm having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end being fixed to the substrate; and

an actuating mechanism that is operatively arranged with respect to the actuator arm to straighten the actuator arm at least partially when activated such that the outer end is displaced to an extent sufficient to perform work.

2. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, which is the product of an integrated circuit fabrication technique.

3. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 2, which is in the form of a micro electro-mechanical device.

4. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 2, in which the substrate includes a wafer substrate and a drive circuitry layer positioned in the wafer substrate.

5. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which the actuator arm is curved to define a coil.

6. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 5, in which the actuator arm is coiled through at least 360 degrees.

7. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which the actuating mechanism includes a conductive heater element that is fixed to an inner side of the actuator arm and is connected to drive circuitry in the drive circuitry layer, the heater element being capable of being resistively heated when an electrical current from the drive circuitry layer is set up in the heater element, the heater element being capable of expansion when so heated, so that, when the heater element expands, the actuator arm is partially straightened so that the outer end of the actuator arm is displaced to perform work.

8. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which the actuator arm is substantially of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is such that, when heated, subsequent expansion of the material is sufficient to perform work, the actuating mechanism including a conductive heater element which is positioned in the actuator arm at or proximate an inner side of the actuator arm so that an inner longitudinal portion of the actuator arm is heated to a greater extent that an outer longitudinal portion of the actuator arm resulting in greater expansion of said inner longitudinal portion with a subsequent partial straightening of said actuator arm so that the outer end of the actuator arm is displaced to perform work.

9. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which a paddle is mounted on the outer end of the actuator arm and is positioned in the nozzle chamber to eject ink from the nozzle chamber.

10. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the substrate defines an inlet for the nozzle chamber, so that ink can be supplied to the nozzle chamber.

11. An ink jet printhead which comprises

a substrate;

and

a plurality of nozzle arrangements positioned on the substrate, each nozzle arrangement comprising

an actuator to facilitate the ejection of ink from a nozzle chamber of the nozzle arrangement, the actuator comprising

an elongate, flexible, curved actuator arm having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end being fixed to the substrate; and

an actuating mechanism that is operatively arranged with respect to the actuator arm to straighten the actuator arm at least partially when activated such that the outer end is displaced to an extent sufficient to perform work.