Inkjet printhead nozzle arrangement with actuator arm slot protection barrier

• US 7,735,968 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Do; An H
• Application Number:
  US12/422,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 347/54, 347/56, 347/65
• US Class Current: 347/54
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04528 aiming at warming up the head
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04541 Specific driving circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04543 Block driving
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04553 detecting ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04563 detecting head temperature; Ink temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04585 controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04588 using a specific waveform
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04591 Width of the driving signal being adjusted
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04596 Non-ejecting pulses
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• 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 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• 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 2002/14419 : Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 : Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49346 : Rocket or jet device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49401 : Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet

Abstract

A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead comprises a substrate defining an ink supply channel; a nozzle chamber structure mounted on the substrate, the nozzle chamber structure defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel and a nozzle rim defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber, the nozzle chamber structure further defining a slot in a first side wall thereof; a post, provided outside of the nozzle chamber, extending from the substrate; and a thermal actuator mechanism including an actuator arm extending from the post and through the slot to terminate freely in the nozzle chamber. The actuator arm comprises a slot protection barrier extending substantially orthogonally therefrom, the slot protection barrier positioned adjacent to the first side wall and spaced therefrom to define an ink holding area between the slot protection barrier and the first side wall.

Claims

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

a substrate defining an ink supply channel;

a nozzle chamber structure mounted on the substrate, the nozzle chamber structure defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel and a nozzle rim defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber, the nozzle chamber structure further defining a slot in a first side wall thereof;

a post, provided outside of the nozzle chamber, extending from the substrate; and

a thermal actuator mechanism comprising an actuator arm extending from the post and through the slot to terminate freely in the nozzle chamber,

wherein the actuator arm comprises a slot protection barrier extending substantially orthogonally therefrom, the slot protection barrier positioned adjacent to the first side wall and spaced therefrom to define an ink holding area between the slot protection barrier and the first side wall.

2. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a paddle that terminates the actuator arm within the nozzle chamber.

3. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the end paddle is circular in plan.