Ink jet printing assembly with printhead modules and ink delivery member

1. An ink-jet printing assembly that comprises

an elongate U-channel member assembly;

an elongate ink delivery member positioned on a floor of the U-channel member assembly and defining at least one longitudinally extending ink delivery channel and a series of holes in fluid communication with the, or each respective ink delivery channel; and

a plurality of micro-electromechanical inkjet printing modules with ink inlets and printhead integrated circuits mounted in the U-channel member assembly such that the ink inlets are in fluid communication with respective holes.

2. An ink-jet printing assembly as claimed in claim 1 , in which the U-channel member assembly includes a channel member of a metal having a co-efficient of thermal expansion similar to that of silicon.

3. An ink-jet printing assembly as claimed in claim 2 , in which the channel member is of a nickel iron alloy.

4. An ink jet printing assembly as claimed in claim 2 , in which the channel member is of a resiliently flexible metal and is configured so that sidewalls of the channel member bear against the micro-electromechanical inkjet printing modules to retain the modules in an operative position.

5. An ink-jet printing assembly as claimed in claim 1 , in which the elongate ink delivery member is an elastomeric ink delivery extrusion.

6. An ink-jet printing assembly as claimed in claim 5 , in which the openings defined by the delivery member are laser ablations.

7. An ink-jet printing assembly as claimed in claim 6 , in which the ink inlets of the modules are defined by annular formations that engage the ink delivery member in a sealing manner.