Ink jet nozzle with thermally operable linear expansion actuation mechanism

• US 6,927,786 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• 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): Stephens, Juanita D.
• Application Number:
  US10/698,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20050073554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20, 347/44, 347/47, 347/54, 347/56, 347/63, 347/65, 347/67, 60527-529
• US Class Current: 347/54
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1601 Production of bubble jet print heads B41J2/1606, B41J2/162 take precedence
• 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 2/1629 wet 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 2/1637 molding
• 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 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1645 thin film formation by spincoating
• 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 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 : Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 : Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14346 : Ejection by pressure produced by thermal deformation of ink chamber, e.g. buckling
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14435 : Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14459 : Matrix arrangement of the pressure chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14475 : characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/15 : Moving nozzle or nozzle plate
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 : Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 : Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 : using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• 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 including a nozzle chamber for holding ink, and a dynamic structure having: a lever arm; and an operative portion in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. The dynamic structure is mounted for rotational movement above a pivot axis with respect to the nozzle chamber upon actuation. An actuator extends between the lever arm and an anchor point, and has a predetermined length in a quiescent state prior to actuation. Upon actuation, the length of the actuator changes such that the actuator applies a force between the lever arm and the anchor to cause rotational movement of the dynamic structure, which in turn causes ejection of the ink from a fluid ejection port.

Claims

1. A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead, the nozzle arrangement including:

(a) a nozzle chamber for holding ink;

(b) a dynamic structure having;

a lever arm; and

an operative portion in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber, the dynamic structure being mounted for rotational movement about a pivot axis with respect to the nozzle chamber upon actuation;

(c) a fluid ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber for allowing ejection of ink upon movement of the dynamic structure relative to the nozzle chamber during actuation;

(d) an actuator extending between the lever arm and an anchor point, and having a predetermined length in a quiescent state prior to actuation;

the nozzle arrangement being configured such that, upon actuation, the length of the actuator changes such that the actuator applies a force between the lever arm and the anchor to cause rotational movement of the dynamic structure, which in turn causes ejection of the ink from the fluid ejection port.

2. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fluid ejection port is formed in a roof portion that at least partially defines the nozzle chamber, the nozzle arrangement being configured such that, upon actuation, the operative portion of the dynamic structure is moved relative to the fluid ejection port, thereby causing ejection of the ink from the fluid ejection port.

3. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 1, in which:

the operative portion of the actuator defines a roof portion that at least partially defines the nozzle chamber; and

the fluid ejection port is formed in the roof portion;

wherein the nozzle arrangement is configured such that, upon actuation, the roof portion, and thereby the fluid ejection port, are moved relative to the nozzle chamber, thereby causing the ink to be ejected from the fluid ejection port.

4. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 1, configured such that, upon return of the actuator to a quiescent position after actuation and ejection of the ink through the fluid ejection port, the nozzle chamber is refilled with the ink via an inlet channel.

5. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the nozzle chamber is refilled with ink from the inlet channel due to a reduction in pressure within the nozzle chamber caused by surface tension of a concave ink meniscus across the fluid ejection port after ink ejection.

6. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a thermal actuator.

7. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises at least one active beam that is resistively heatable by means of an electric current, thereby to generate the force by way of thermal expansion.

8. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 1, further including a lever arm support connected between a substrate and the lever arm.