Nozzle arrangement with pairs of actuators
View Patent ↗A nozzle arrangement is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet channel and an endless static wall located about the ink inlet channel. A roof structure defines an endless movable wall arranged to move along said static wall and, together with the substrate assembly, defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel. The roof structure further defines an ink ejection port in fluid communication with said nozzle chamber. One or more oppositely disposed pairs of actuator assemblies are mounted to the substrate assembly and extend inwardly to couple to the roof structure so that, upon actuation, the actuator assemblies can move the roof structure in a substantially rectilinear manner to vary the volume of the nozzle chamber and eject ink therein through the ink ejection port.
1. A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead, the nozzle arrangement comprising:
a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet channel and an endless static wall located about the ink inlet channel;
a roof structure defining an endless movable wall arranged to move along said static wall, towards and away from the substrate, and, together with the substrate assembly, defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel; the roof structure further defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with said nozzle chamber; and
one or more oppositely disposed pairs of actuator assemblies mounted to the substrate assembly and extending inwardly to couple to the roof structure so that, upon actuation, the actuator assemblies can move the roof structure in a substantially rectilinear manner to vary the volume of the nozzle chamber and eject ink therein through the ink ejection port.
2. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a quartet of actuator assemblies with two pairs of actuator assemblies being orthogonally arranged with respect to each other.
3. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , comprising one pair of actuator assemblies.
4. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said movable wall surrounds said static wall.
5. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ink inlet channel is constricted in a region proximate the nozzle chamber.
6. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each actuator assembly is a thermal bend actuator assembly.
7. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the substrate assembly comprises:
a silicon wafer substrate;
an electrical drive circuitry layer positioned on the silicon wafer substrate and electrically coupled to the thermal bend actuator assemblies; and
an ink passivation layer positioned on the electrical drive circuitry layer from which the static wall extends.
8. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the roof structure further defines a raised rim bounding the ink ejection port and a surrounding well in which ink spatter from the raised rim can collect.