Micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanism that incorporates lever actuation
View Patent ↗A micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanism for a printer includes a substrate that defines an ink inlet. A drive circuitry layer is positioned on the substrate. An elongate thermal bend actuator is connected at a fixed end to the drive circuitry layer and is configured to be displaced reciprocally with respect to the substrate on receipt of a signal from the drive circuitry layer. An ink ejection member spans the ink inlet and is operatively connected to the bend actuator to be reciprocally displaceable with respect to the substrate upon reciprocal displacement of the bend actuator. A motion transfer structure is interposed between the actuator and the ink ejection member to transfer movement of the actuator to the ink ejection member. A nozzle chamber structure is positioned on the substrate and defines an ink chamber in which the ink ejection member is positioned and a region in which the bend actuator is positioned, such that the motion transfer structure is interposed between the ink chamber and the region. The nozzle chamber structure further defines an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the ink chamber such that said reciprocal movement of the ink ejection member serves to eject ink from the ink ejection port.
1. A micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanism for a printer, the ink ejection mechanism comprising:
a substrate that defines an ink inlet;
a drive circuitry layer positioned on the substrate;
an elongate thermal bend actuator connected at a fixed end to the drive circuitry layer and configured to be displaced reciprocally with respect to the substrate on receipt of a signal from the drive circuitry layer;
an ink ejection member that spans the ink inlet and is operatively connected to the bend actuator to be reciprocally displaceable with respect to the substrate upon reciprocal displacement of the bend actuator;
a motion transfer structure interposed between the actuator and the ink ejection member to transfer movement of the actuator to the ink ejection member; and
a nozzle chamber structure positioned on the substrate and defining an ink chamber in which the ink ejection member is positioned and a region in which the bend actuator is positioned, such that the motion transfer structure is interposed between the ink chamber and said region, the nozzle chamber structure further defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the ink chamber such that said reciprocal movement of the ink ejection member serves to eject ink from the ink ejection port.
2. A micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , in which the motion transfer structure is in the form of a lever structure with an effort portion being connected to the bend actuator and a work portion being connected to the ink ejection member.
3. A micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanism as claimed in claim 2 , in which a base extends from the substrate, the lever structure being mounted on the base.
4. A micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanism as claimed in claim 3 , in which the lever structure is connected to the nozzle chamber structure with opposed torsion members.
5. A micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanism as claimed in claim 4 , in which the nozzle chamber structure, the lever structure and the torsion members together define a roof structure that defines the ink ejection port and also overlies the thermal bend actuator.
6. A micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanism as claimed in claim 5 , in which the roof structure defines a raised rim surrounding the ink ejection port.
7. A micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanism as claimed in claim 6 , in which a plurality of radially extending recesses is defined in the roof structure about the rim to contain radial ink flow as a result of ink escaping past the nozzle rim.