Inkjet printhead having convex wall bubble chamber

• US 6,719,405 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Printing LLC
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Powers, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brooke, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US10/396,623
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 347/56, 347/62, 347/63, 347/65
• US Class Current: 347/62
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1404 Geometrical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14387 Front shooter

Abstract

In an inkjet printhead, a substantially rectangular heater element has a length and width dimension defining an aspect ratio of more than about 2.0. A bubble chamber with a curved or convex wall portion partially surrounds the heater element. A radius of an arc defining the convex wall portion is greater than one-half the width dimension while less than one-half the length dimension and none of the convex wall portion overlies a periphery of the heater element. An ink ejection orifice exists through a thickness of a nozzle plate covering the bubble chamber and resides above the heater element. Additionally, the bubble chamber may have a rectangular wall portion connected to the convex wall portion and either portion may occupy a terminal end of the bubble chamber. Preferred length and width dimensions include 35 and 13 or 40 and 10 microns with a radius of about 16 microns.

Claims

1. An inkjet printhead, comprising:

a substantially rectangular heater element having a periphery with a length and width dimension such that an aspect ratio of said length dimension to said width dimension is greater than about 2.0;

a bubble chamber having a convex wall portion partially surrounding said heater element, said convex wall portion having an arc with a radius that is greater than about 0.5 said width dimension and less than about 0.5 said length dimension and none of said convex wall portion overlies said periphery of said heater element; and

a nozzle plate having a thickness with an orifice therein, an ink ejection side of said orifice being directly above said heater element.

2. The inkjet printhead of claim 1, further including an ink flow channel connected to said bubble chamber wherein said heater element extends into a portion of said ink flow channel.

3. The inkjet printhead of claim 1, wherein said bubble chamber further includes a rectangular wall portion fluidly connected to said convex wall portion.

4. The inkjet printhead of claim 3, wherein said rectangular wall portion has a corner region with a chamfer cut or fillet.

5. The inkjet printhead of claim 1, wherein said length dimension is about 35 microns, said width dimension is about 13 microns and said radius is about 16 microns.

6. The inkjet printhead of claim 1, wherein said length dimension is about 40 microns, said width dimension is about 10 microns and said radius is about 16 microns.

7. An inkjet printhead, comprising:

an ink via with a longitudinal extent;

a substantially rectangular heater element having a periphery with a length and width dimension such that an aspect ratio of said length dimension to said width dimension is greater than about 2.0, said width dimension being substantially parallel to said longitudinal extent;

a substantially straight ink flow channel fluidly connecting said heater element to said ink via, said ink flow channel having a primary direction of ink flow defined by two substantially parallel ink flow walls that are substantially parallel to said length dimension and substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal extent;

a bubble chamber fluidly connected to said ink flow channel, said bubble chamber having a curved wall portion partially surrounding said heater element, said curved wall portion having a radius of an arc that is greater than about 0.5 said width dimension and less than said length dimension and none of said curved wall portion overlies said periphery of said heater element; and

a nozzle plate having a thickness with an orifice therein, an ink ejection side of said orifice being directly above said heater element.

8. The inkjet printhead of claim 7, wherein said aspect ratio is greater than about 2.5.

9. The inkjet printhead of claim 8, wherein said length dimension is about 35 microns, said width dimension is about 13 microns and said radius is about 16 microns.

10. The inkjet printhead of claim 7, wherein said aspect ratio is about 4.0.

11. The inkjet printhead of claim 10, wherein said length dimension is about 40 microns, said width dimension is about 10 microns and said radius is about 16 microns.

12. The inkjet printhead of claim 7, wherein said bubble chamber is formed said nozzle plate.

13. The inkjet printhead of claim 7, wherein said ink flow channel is formed in said nozzle plate.

14. The inkjet printhead of claim 7, wherein said ink ejection side of said orifice has a diameter of one of about 11 and 14 microns.

15. The inkjet printhead of claim 7, wherein said orifice has a frustum conical shape.

16. The inkjet printhead of claim 7, further including a supply of ink.

17. An inkjet printhead, comprising:

an ink via with a longitudinal extent;

a plurality of substantially rectangular heater elements each having a length and width dimension and a heater surface such that an aspect ratio of said length dimension to said width dimension is greater than about 2.5, said width dimension being substantially parallel to said longitudinal extent;

a plurality of substantially straight ink flow channels each fluidly connecting a single heater element of said plurality of heater elements to said ink via, said each ink flow channel having a primary direction of ink flow defined by two substantially parallel ink flow walls that are substantially parallel to said length dimension and substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal extent;

a plurality of bubble chambers each fluidly connected to a single ink flow channel of said plurality of ink flow channels, said each bubble chamber having a plurality of walls rising above said heater surface with both a convex wall portion and a rectangular wall portion that substantially surrounds said heater surface, said convex wall portion having a radius of an arc that is greater than about 0.5 said width dimension and less than about 0.5 said length dimension; and

a nozzle plate having a plurality of orifices, each said orifice being above a portion of a single heater element of said plurality of heater elements.

18. The inkjet printhead of claim 17, wherein said convex wall portion resides on a terminal end of said bubble chamber.

19. The inkjet printhead of claim 17, wherein said rectangular wall portion resides on a terminal end of said bubble chamber.

20. The inkjet printhead of claim 19, wherein said rectangular wall portion has a chamfer cut in a corner region thereof.