Micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangement with non-wicking roof structure for an inkjet printhead
US7438391B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 27, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 27, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49401
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate defining an inverted pyramidal ink chamber with an ink supply channel leading through the substrate, the substrate having a layer of drive circuitry. The arrangement also includes a roof structure connected to the drive circuitry layer and covering the ink chamber, the roof structure defining a fluid ejection nozzle rim above said chamber in addition to ink flow guide rails to minimize wicking along the nozzle rim according to surface tension effects of ink in the chamber. Also included is a plurality of actuators displaceable with respect to, and radially spaced about, the nozzle rim, and in between, the guide rails, each actuator having a serpentine heater element configured to thermally expand upon receiving current from the drive circuitry thereby moving said actuators into the chamber operatively increasing a fluid pressure inside the chamber to eject a drop of ink via the ejection nozzle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.