Nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer with multiple actuator devices

• US 7,533,967 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, McAvoy, Gregory John
• Primary Examiner(s): Do; An H
• Application Number:
  US11/706,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 347/54, 347/56, 347/65
• US Class Current: 347/56
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16 Production of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• 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 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• 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 2002/14475 characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/15 Moving nozzle or nozzle plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 : Assembling formed circuit to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 : Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 : Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49156 : with selective destruction of conductive paths
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49401 : Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet

Abstract

A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer includes a wafer that defines an ink supply channel and a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel. A drive circuitry layer is positioned on the wafer. A plurality of actuator devices is positioned on the wafer and the drive circuitry layer to cover the nozzle chamber. An ink ejection port defining means defines an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. The plurality of thermal actuator devices is radially positioned around the ink ejection port and is electrically coupled to the drive circuitry layer so that, upon actuation, the actuator devices bend into the nozzle chamber to cause ink therein to pass through the ink ejection port.

Claims

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

a wafer defining an ink supply channel, and a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel;

a drive circuitry layer positioned on the wafer;

a plurality of actuator devices positioned on the wafer and the drive circuitry layer to cover the nozzle chamber; and

an ink ejection port defining means for defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber, the plurality of thermal actuator devices being radially positioned around the ink ejection port and being electrically coupled to the drive circuitry layer so that, upon actuation, the actuator devices bend into the nozzle chamber to cause ink therein to pass through the ink ejection port.

2. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ink ejection port defining means comprises a circular rim defining the ink ejection port and which is supported by a plurality of radially extending supports which are interleaved with the actuator devices.

3. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radially extending supports define ink flow guide rails to restrain ink wicking on the actuator devices.

4. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each actuator device has a petal or leaf formation.

5. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each actuator device comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer and an internal serpentine conductive core which is electrically coupled to the drive circuitry layer.

6. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nozzle chamber tapers inwardly away from the ink ejection port.

7. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ink ejection port is aligned with the ink supply channel.