Inkjet printhead nozzle having wall actuator
View Patent ↗An ink jet printhead nozzle arrangement having an ink chamber formed in a wafer substrate and one wall of said chamber having at least one flexible portion. The ink ejection port is formed substantially centrally on the wall with a rim surrounding it. The wall is adapted to move independently of said rim such that upon actuation of the at least one flexible portion of the wall, the wall moves into said ink chamber forcing ink therein out through the said ejection port.
1. An ink jet printhead nozzle arrangement comprising:
a wafer substrate
an ink chamber formed therein;
an ink ejection port formed by a substantially centrally located rim on a wall of said chamber; and
at least one flexible portion located on said wall;
whereby the wall is adapted to move independently of said rim such that upon actuation the at least one flexible portion moves the wall into said ink chamber forcing ink therein, out through the said ink ejection port.
wherein the wall is configured to bend into the ink chamber away from the centre of the ink chamber; and
wherein the said at least one flexible portion of said wall is made from material having a thermal expansion suitable to cause the wall to move into said ink chamber upon uneven heating of the at least one flexible portion of the wall.
2. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein a heating a thermal in conductive contact with each flexible portion of the wall.
3. The arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the heating element is serpentine in shape to allow for unhindered expansion of the flexible wall portion.
4. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein an ink inlet channel formed in said wafer substrate and is in communication with said ink chamber.
5. The arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the ink inlet channel enters into said ink chamber opposite the said wall.