Inkjet nozzle arrangement with annular heater element
US7513607B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 2008 |
| Grant date | Apr 7, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2202/20
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This invention provides for an inkjet printhead having an array of micro-electromechanical nozzles arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes side walls located on a wafer substrate with a roof layer deposited on said walls to define an ink chamber, with the roof layer defining a nozzle aperture. The nozzle arrangement also includes an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the ink chamber with printing fluid. Further includes is at least one heater element having a mass of less than 10 nanograms suspended between the side walls in the chamber, so that when electrical actuation energy of less than 500 nanojoules is applied to the heater element, a vapour bubble is formed in the fluid leading to a pressure increase in the chamber thereby ejecting the fluid via the nozzle aperture. The heater element has an annular shape with a point of collapse of the bubble near a centre thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.