Inkjet printer having enclosed actuators

• US 6,863,378 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Raquel Yvette
• Application Number:
  US10/683,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 347/54, 347/68, 347/69, 347/70, 347/71, 347/72, 347/50, 347/40, 347/20, 347/44, 347/47, 347/27, 347/63, 399/261, 310328-330, 298/901
• US Class Current: 347/54
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04528 aiming at warming up the head
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04541 Specific driving circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04543 Block driving
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04553 detecting ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04563 detecting head temperature; Ink temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04585 controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04588 using a specific waveform
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04591 Width of the driving signal being adjusted
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04596 Non-ejecting pulses
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry 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 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 : Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 : Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49346 : Rocket or jet device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49401 : Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet

Abstract

An inkjet printer includes a printing mechanism that defines a printing path through which media can be fed so that the printing mechanism can carry out a printing operation on the media. The printing mechanism has a printhead assembly that includes a pagewidth printhead with printhead chips that are operatively positioned with respect to the printing path to span the printing path. Each printhead chip has a wafer substrate. Drive circuitry is positioned on the wafer substrate. A plurality of nozzle arrangements is positioned on the wafer substrate. Each nozzle arrangement has nozzle chamber walls that define a nozzle chamber. A micro-electromechanical actuator is mounted on the substrate to be connected to the drive circuitry and operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber so that, on receipt of a signal from the drive circuitry, the actuator can act to eject ink from the nozzle chamber. A protective covering shell is positioned on the substrate and defines an enclosure in which the actuator is positioned. A feed mechanism for feeding media through the printing path is included.

Claims

1. An inkjet printer that comprises

a printing mechanism that defines a printing path through which media can be fed so that the printing mechanism can carry out a printing operation on the media, the printing mechanism having a printhead assembly that comprises

a pagewidth printhead with at least one printhead chip that is operatively positioned with respect to the printing path to span the printing path, the, or each printhead chip comprising

a wafer substrate;

drive circuitry positioned on the wafer substrate; and

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

nozzle chamber walls that define a nozzle chamber;

a micro-electromechanical actuator that is mounted on the substrate to be connected to the drive circuitry and operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber so that, on receipt of a signal from the drive circuitry, the actuator can act to eject ink from the nozzle chamber; and

a protective covering shell positioned on the substrate and defining an enclosure in which the actuator is positioned; and

a feed mechanism for feeding media through the printing path.

2. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1, in which each nozzle arrangement includes a roof wall that defines an ink ejection port, the micro-electromechanical actuator having an actuating portion that deflects on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry and an ink displacement member that is positioned on the actuating portion to extend into the nozzle chamber, so that, when the actuating portion receives the electrical signal, the ink displacement member is driven towards the ink ejection port to eject ink from the ink ejection port.

3. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 2, in which each actuating portion includes a resistive heating circuit and a material that is capable of thermal expansion to an extent sufficient to perform work, the material being positioned so that, upon receipt of the electrical signal, the circuit is heated resistively and the actuating portion undergoes differential thermal expansion to deflect and thus drive the ink displacement member towards the ink ejection port.

4. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1, in which the printhead assembly includes an ink distribution assembly that is mounted on the printhead to distribute ink to the printhead, the ink distribution assembly including at least one ink storage chamber and a manifold interposed between the at least one ink storage chamber and the printhead.

5. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 4, in which a baffle unit defines the at least one ink storage chamber, the baffle unit including a plurality of baffles positioned in the at least one ink storage chamber to inhibit excessive movement of ink in the at least one ink storage chamber when the inkjet printer is transported.

6. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1, which includes a media supply assembly and a platen assembly, both the media supply assembly and the printhead assembly being mounted on the platen assembly, with the media supply assembly being positioned upstream of the printhead assembly, the feed mechanism also being mounted on the platen assembly and configured to feed media from the media supply assembly over the platen assembly so that the printhead assembly can carry out the printing operation on the media.

7. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 6, in which the media supply assembly includes a print roll former around which a roll of print media is stored, the print roll former being hollow and an ink supply being housed by the print roll former.