Inkjet printhead having nozzle arrangements with hydrophobically treated actuators and nozzles

• US 7,753,486 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• 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:
  US12/164,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20080259122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 347/47, 347/54, 347/56, 347/65
• US Class Current: 347/47
• 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 2/1626 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 2/1645 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 2002/14435 Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14443 Nozzle guard
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing

Abstract

Provided is an inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each arrangement includes a wafer substrate defining a nozzle and an ink chamber underneath the nozzle with an ink supply channel leading to said chamber, as well as a paddle arranged in the chamber. Each arrangement also includes an actuator arrangement positioned on the substrate and configured to actuate the paddle to eject ink from the nozzle, wherein the actuator and nozzle are hydrophobically treated to prevent ejected ink from wicking after ejection.

Claims

1. An inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrangements each comprising:

a wafer substrate defining a nozzle and an ink chamber underneath the nozzle with an ink supply channel leading to said chamber;

a paddle arranged in the chamber; and

an actuator positioned on the substrate and configured to actuate the paddle to eject ink from the nozzle, wherein the actuator and nozzle are hydrophobically treated to prevent ejected ink from wicking after ejection.

2. The printhead of claim 1, wherein the actuator arm interconnects with the paddle by means of a slot located in one wall of the nozzle chamber, the slot being dimensioned such that surface tension characteristics retain ink within the nozzle chamber.

3. The printhead of claim 2, wherein a pit is provided around the slot, the pit including a ledge with the pit and ledge interacting to minimize ink wicking along the actuator arm.

4. The printhead of claim 1, wherein the nozzle includes a rim to assist in minimizing ink wicking across a top of the nozzle chamber.