Bend actuator direct ink supply ink jet printing mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead, the nozzle arrangement including:
- a wafer substrate having an ink channel defined through the wafer substrate;
wall portions, which are formed on the wafer substrate and which define a nozzle chamber and an ink ejection port, the wall portions being formed so that the nozzle chamber can be supplied with ink via the ink channel; and
an actuator that is positioned within the nozzle chamber, between the ink ejection port and the ink channel, the actuator having a bottom surface and a top surface facing the ink ejection port, and the actuator comprising a heater positioned within an expansion material which expands up on heating the actuator being such that the bottom surface heats to a greater extent than the top surface so that, on operation of the heater, the expansion material at the bottom surface expands to a greater extent than the expansion material at the top surface resulting in displacement of the actuator towards the ink ejection port, and an ejection of ink.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ink jet nozzle arrangement includes a nozzle chamber having an ink ejection port for the ejection of ink. An actuator is located in the nozzle chamber. The actuator includes a heater encased within an expansive layer such that, upon activation, the actuator is caused to bend towards the ink ejection port to eject ink from said nozzle chamber.
24 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead, the nozzle arrangement including:
-
a wafer substrate having an ink channel defined through the wafer substrate;
wall portions, which are formed on the wafer substrate and which define a nozzle chamber and an ink ejection port, the wall portions being formed so that the nozzle chamber can be supplied with ink via the ink channel; and
an actuator that is positioned within the nozzle chamber, between the ink ejection port and the ink channel, the actuator having a bottom surface and a top surface facing the ink ejection port, and the actuator comprising a heater positioned within an expansion material which expands up on heating the actuator being such that the bottom surface heats to a greater extent than the top surface so that, on operation of the heater, the expansion material at the bottom surface expands to a greater extent than the expansion material at the top surface resulting in displacement of the actuator towards the ink ejection port, and an ejection of ink. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification