Inkjet nozzle arrangement with thermal bend actuator capable of differential thermal expansion

• US 7,322,679 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): JACKSON, JUANITA DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US11/764,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20070242103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20, 347/44, 347/47, 347/54, 347/56, 347 61- 65, 347/67, 60527-529, 310306-307, 337139-141
• 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 2/1601 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 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• 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 2002/14435 : Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14475 : characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber
• 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 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 19/073 : Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49083 : Heater type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 : Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 : Contact or terminal manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49401 : Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet

Abstract

A nozzle arrangement is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly, in turn, including an electrical drive circuitry layer and defining an ink inlet channel. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly. The nozzle chamber structure defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. An anchor extends from the substrate assembly. A thermal bend actuator extends from the anchor. The thermal bend actuator includes an active portion electrically coupled to the drive circuitry layer and a passive portion which is electrically isolated from the active portion so that differential thermal expansion between the portions can cause the actuator to bend. A lever arm is coupled to the thermal bend actuator, is pivotally supported by the substrate assembly and terminates in a paddle within the nozzle chamber. Upon receipt of a driving signal from the drive circuitry layer, the thermal bend actuator bends to induce movement of the paddle and ejection of ink in the nozzle chamber through the ink ejection port.

Claims

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

a substrate assembly having an electrical drive circuitry layer and defining an ink inlet channel;

a nozzle chamber structure extending from the substrate assembly and defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber;

an anchor extending from the substrate assembly;

a thermal bend actuator extending from the anchor, and including an active portion electrically coupled to the drive circuitry layer and a passive portion which is electrically isolated from the active portion so that differential thermal expansion between the portions can cause the actuator to bend; and

a lever arm coupled to the thermal bend actuator, pivotally supported by the substrate assembly and terminating in a corrugated paddle within the nozzle chamber so that, upon receipt of a driving signal from the drive circuitry layer, the thermal bend actuator bends to induce movement of the paddle and ejection of ink in the nozzle chamber through the ink ejection port.

2. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lever arm defines a sealing portion which forms part of an ink sealing wall of the nozzle chamber structure.

3. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the paddle is interposed between the ink inlet channel and the ejection port.

4. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nozzle chamber structure defines a protruding rim bounding the ink ejection port.

5. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the nozzle chamber structure further defines a recess positioned about the rim to inhibit ink spread.

6. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nozzle chamber structure is rectangular in plan.

7. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate assembly includes an ink passivation layer positioned on the drive circuitry layer.