Inkjet printhead having multiple-sectioned nozzle actuators

• US 7,101,023 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• 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:
  US11/165,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20050237362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20, 347/44, 347/47, 347/54, 347/56, 347 61- 65, 347 67- 68, 347/70, 60527-529, 310306-307, 337139-141
• 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

An inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles arranged on a substrate is provided. Each ink ejection nozzle comprises an ink chamber, an ink ejection port arranged on the ink chamber and a multiple-sectioned actuator arranged to be displaced relative to the ink chamber so as to cause ejection of ink from the ink ejection port. The actuator is displaced through actuation of at least one section. A first section of the actuator is pivotably mounted to the substrate and is arranged to contact the ink in the ink chamber. A second section of the actuator is coupled between the pivot point of the first section and an anchor arranged on the substrate. The anchor receives an actuation signal for actuating the second section which causes pivoting of the first section.

Claims

1. An inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles arranged on a substrate, each ink ejection nozzle comprising:

an ink chamber;

an ink ejection port arranged on the ink chamber; and

a multiple-sectioned thermal actuator arranged to be displaced relative to the ink chamber so as to cause ejection of ink from the ink ejection port, the thermal actuator being displaced through actuation of at least one section, wherein;

a first section of the thermal actuator is pivotably mounted to the substrate and is arranged to contact the ink in the ink chamber; and

a second section of the thermal actuator is coupled between the pivot point of the first section and an anchor arranged on the substrate, the anchor receiving an actuation signal for actuating the second section which causes pivoting of the first section.

2. A printhead according to claim 1, wherein the actuation signal is an electrical current, and the second section is configured to expand due to self-heating when the electrical current is passed therethrough.

3. A printhead according to claim 1, wherein the ink ejection port is defined in a roof of the ink chamber from which the first section of the actuator is spaced prior to actuation, the first section being displaced relative to the roof upon actuation to cause ejection of ink through the ink ejection port.

4. A printhead according to claim 1, wherein the ink ejection port is defined in the first section of the actuator.

5. A printhead according to claim 4, wherein the first section, and thereby the ink ejection port, is configured to move relative to the ink chamber upon actuation of the second section so as to cause the ink to be ejected from the ink ejection port.

6. A printhead according to claim 1, wherein each ink ejection nozzle further comprises an ink inlet to the ink chamber, the ink inlet being configured so that the ink chamber is refilled with ink upon return of the actuator to a quiescent position after actuation and ejection of the ink through the ink ejection port.

7. A printhead according to claim 1, wherein the first section of the actuator is pivotably mounted to the substrate via a second anchor.