IP Library Granted Patent US 7,669,971
Granted Patent B2
US 7,669,971 · App. 12/117,614 · Granted Mar 2, 2010

Inkjet printer with low nozzle to chamber cross-section ratio

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,669,971
App. No.
12/117,614
Granted
Mar 2, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate defining an ink chamber with an ink ejection port and ink holes for receiving ink from an ink reservoir, and a magnetic actuation device arranged in the chamber and actuatable via an external pulsed magnetic field to eject ink via the ink ejection port. The arrangement also includes a blocking mechanism arranged in the chamber and configured to operatively block movement of the actuation device to prevent ejection of ink from the chamber.

Claims (10)

1. A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead, said nozzle arrangement comprising:

a substrate defining an ink chamber with an ink ejection port and ink holes for receiving ink from an ink reservoir;

a magnetic actuation device arranged in the chamber and actuatable via an external pulsed magnetic field to eject ink via the ink ejection port; and

a blocking mechanism arranged in the chamber and configured to operatively block movement of the actuation device to prevent ejection of ink from the chamber.

2. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic actuation device includes a magnetic soft core surrounded by a nitride coating so that the device includes an end protuberance.

3. The nozzle arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the blocking mechanism includes a thermal actuator having a copper resistive circuit with two arms through which a current is operatively passed thereby causing said arms to be heated.

4. The nozzle arrangement of claim 3 , wherein one arm is of a serpentine nature and is encased in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, thereby increasing the degree of expansion upon heating, said serpentine arm configured to expand with the PTFE portions by means of a concertain-like movement.

5. The nozzle arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the blocking mechanism is located in a cavity in a side wall of the chamber so that the serpentine arm of the blocking mechanism receives ink flow for cooling purposes.

6. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes a nozzle plate manufactured from a boron doped epitaxial layer on a silicon wafer which has been back etched to the point of the epitaxial layer, said epitaxial layer etched utilizing a mask so as to form the nozzle rim and the ejection port.

7. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1 , which is manufactured according to micro-electromechanical manufacturing system (MEMS) techniques.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2012
From: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LIMITED AND CLAMATE PTY LIMITED
To: ZAMTEC LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028581/0721 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2008
From: SILVERBROOK, KIA
To: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 020922/0652 →