IP Library Granted Patent US 7,562,963
Granted Patent B2
US 7,562,963 · App. 12/116,960 · Granted Jul 21, 2009

Pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly with nozzle arrangements having actuator arms configured to be in thermal balance when in a quiescent state

Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,562,963
App. No.
12/116,960
Granted
Jul 21, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly having a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes walls defining an ink chamber having an ink supply channel and an ink ejection port. The ink ejection port includes an ink spreading prevention rim. Each nozzle arrangement also includes a thermal actuator mechanism configured to operatively eject ink from the chamber via the ejection port. The actuator mechanism includes an actuator arm having two layers which are formed from a resiliently flexible conductive material. The arm includes the two layers surrounding a central material layer so that said two layers are in thermal balance with the arm in a quiescent state.

Claims (9)

1. A pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly having a plurality of nozzle arrangements each comprising:

walls defining an ink chamber having an ink supply channel and an ink ejection port having an ink spreading prevention rim; and

a thermal actuator mechanism configured to operatively eject ink from the chamber via the ejection port, wherein the mechanism includes an actuator arm having two layers which are formed from a conductive, resiliently flexible material, said layers surrounding a central material layer so that said two layers are in thermal balance with the arm in a quiescent state.

2. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ink spreading prevention rim defines a pit for preventing ink from flowing across a surface of the ink jet printhead and affecting operation of said printhead.

3. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermal actuator mechanism includes an end paddle attached to an actuator arm which pivots at a post proximate the ink chamber.

4. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material includes titanium nitride.

5. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator mechanism is actuated by electrical heating of one layer of the actuator arm to provide thermal bending to eject ink from the ink chamber.

6. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , which is manufactured according to micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) techniques.

7. The pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly of claim 6 , wherein the nozzle rim and ink spread prevention rim are formed via a chemical mechanical planarization technique.

Assignments (3)
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 18, 2012
From: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LIMITED AND CLAMATE PTY LIMITED
To: ZAMTEC LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028578/0058 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2008
From: SILVERBROOK, KIA
To: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 020916/0424 →
Priority Claims (1)
AU PP6545 · Oct 16, 1998 · national
Continuity (6)
Continuation 1147859100 · Jul 3, 2006
Continuation 1129863600 · Dec 12, 2005
Continuation 1094940600 · Sep 27, 2004
Continuation 1064223400 · Aug 18, 2003
Continuation 0942289300 · Oct 19, 1999
Related Publication 20080211879A1 · Sep 4, 2008