Printhead nozzle arrangement with a roof structure having a nozzle rim supported by a series of struts
US7604323B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 2008 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2028 |
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 nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement has a substrate with a layer of drive circuitry, the substrate defining an ink chamber with an ink supply channel etched through the substrate. The roof structure has a roof layer over the chamber which includes a nozzle rim, actuators, and a series of struts. The nozzle rim is positioned about an ejection port defined in the roof layer above the chamber. The actuators are radially spaced about, and displaceable with respect to, the nozzle rim, with each actuator configured to thermally expand upon receiving current from the drive circuitry. This expansion moves the actuators into the chamber to increase a fluid pressure inside the chamber to eject a drop of ink via the ejection port. The struts are interspersed between the actuators to support the nozzle rim to the roof layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.