Flexible wall driven inkjet printhead nozzle
View Patent ↗An ink jet printhead nozzle arrangement having an ink chamber and a flexible wall forming one of the walls of said chamber. The ink ejection port is formed substantially centrally on the flexible wall with a rim surrounding it. The flexible wall is adapted to move independently of said rim such that upon actuation the flexible wall moves into said ink chamber forcing ink therein out through the said ejection port.
1. A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead suitable for fabrication by MEMS techniques, the nozzle arrangement comprising:
an ink chamber;
a flexible wall forming wall of said chamber and forming part of an ink ejection surface of the printhead; and
an ink ejection port formed by a substantially centrally located rim on said flexible wall, whereby the flexible wall is adapted to move independently of said rim such that upon thermal actuation the flexible wall moves into said ink chamber forcing ink therein out through said ejection port.
2. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the flexible wall is configured to bend into the ink chamber away from the centre of the ink chamber.
3. The arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the flexible wall has at least a portion thereof which is made from material having a thermal expansion suitable to cause the flexible wall to move into said ink chamber upon uneven heating of the at least a portion of the flexible wall.
4. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein an ink inlet channel is in communication with said ink chamber.
5. The arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the ink inlet channel entersj into said ink chamber opposite the flexible wall.