Printhead assembly for re-directing ink droplets
View Patent ↗A printhead assembly includes a printhead, in turn, including a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. A nozzle guard is formed from hydrophobic photoresist and is mounted to the printhead. The nozzle guard defines a plurality of channels located in register with respective nozzles so that droplets of ink from the nozzles can be bounced off internal walls of the channels during printing.
1. A printhead assembly comprising:
a printhead including a plurality of ink ejection nozzles;
a nozzle guard formed from hydrophobic material, mounted to the printhead and defining a plurality of channels located in register with respective nozzles so that droplets of ink from the nozzles can be bounced off internal walls of the channels during printing, wherein each channel has a parabolic profile.
2. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each parabolic apex is located proximal the corresponding nozzle.
3. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the nozzles are configured to bounce droplets of ink off opposite sides of their respective channels prior to hitting a target print zone.
4. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said hydrophobic material is hydrophobic photoresist.