IP Library Granted Patent US 7,168,789
Granted Patent B2
US 7,168,789 · App. 11/084,753 · Granted Jan 30, 2007

Printer with ink printhead nozzle arrangement having thermal bend actuator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,168,789
App. No.
11/084,753
Granted
Jan 30, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A printer has a printhead comprising an array of nozzles. A nozzle arrangement has an ink chamber formed in a wafer substrate and one wall of the chamber having at least one flexible portion. The ink ejection port is formed centrally on the wall with a rim surrounding it. The wall is adapted to move independently of the rim such that upon heating of the flexible portion of the wall, the wall bends into the ink chamber forcing ink therein out through the ejection port.

Claims (11)

1. A printer comprising a housing, a print media feed path through the housing and at least one ink jet printhead for printing onto print media disposed on said feed path, the printhead including an array of nozzle arrangements, at least one 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 and outside said ink ejection port;

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; 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 bend into said ink chamber upon heating of the at least one flexible pardon of the wall.

2. The printer according to claim 1 wherein a heating element is located in conductive contact with each flexible portion of the wall.

3. The printer according to claim 2 wherein the heating element is serpentine in shape to allow for unhindered expansion of the flexible wall portion.

4. The printer according to claim 1 wherein an ink inlet channel formed in said wafer substrate and is in communication with said ink chamber.

5. The printer according to claim 4 wherein the ink inlet channel enters into said ink chamber opposite the said wall.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 25, 2014
From: ZAMTEC LIMITED
To: MEMJET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 033244/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2012
From: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LIMITED AND CLAMATE PTY LIMITED
To: ZAMTEC LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028549/0182 →