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Inkjet printhead with spillage pits

  • US 7,556,351 B2
  • Filed: 02/15/2007
  • Issued: 07/07/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A printhead for an inkjet printer, the printhead comprisinga wafer assembly defining a plurality of spaced apart groups of ink supply channels and a plurality of groups of ink ejection nozzle arrangements in fluid communication with respective ink supply channel groups, each ink ejection nozzle arrangement comprising:

  • a nozzle chamber structure mounted to the wafer assembly, and defining a nozzle chamber for receiving ink from an ink supply channel and an ink ejection port through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected;

    an anchor extending from the wafer assembly in a location external to the nozzle chamber; and

    an elongate thermal actuator mechanism extending from the anchor and into the nozzle chamber, the thermal actuator mechanism comprising an elongate arm which terminates in a free end within the nozzle chamber and a pair of layers of conductive material located on either side of the elongate arm, one of the layers being connected to a current supply so that the free end of the arm can be moved to eject ink in the nozzle chamber through the ink ejection port as a result of differential thermal expansion;

    wherein a pit is defined adjacent each nozzle chamber structure for catching ink and thereby impeding spilt ink from spreading across the printhead.

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