INK JET PRINTHEAD WITH INK CONTAINMENT FORMATIONS
An ink jet printhead includes a substrate assembly. A plurality of nozzle assemblies is arranged on the substrate assembly. Each nozzle assembly includes a nozzle defining a nozzle opening in fluid communication with a nozzle chamber. A lever arm extends from the nozzle. An actuator is coupled to the lever arm and, upon actuation, causes the lever arm to move the nozzle so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out though the nozzle opening. At least one ink containment formation extends from the substrate assembly and surrounds at least one of the nozzle assemblies to contain leaked ink therein.
1 . An ink jet printhead comprising:
a substrate assembly;
a plurality of nozzle assemblies arranged on the substrate assembly, each nozzle assembly comprising:
a nozzle defining a nozzle opening in fluid communication with a nozzle chamber,
a lever arm extending from the nozzle, and
an actuator coupled to the lever arm and which, upon actuation, causes the lever arm to move the nozzle so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out though the nozzle opening; and
at least one ink containment formation extending from the substrate assembly and surrounding at least one of the nozzle assemblies to contain leaked ink therein.
2 . An ink jet printhead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said containment formation includes an endless wall surrounding a single nozzle assembly.
3 . An ink jet printhead as claimed in claim 2 , in which each nozzle arrangement has the ability to detect the presence of leaked ink contained therein and provide feedback to a processor controlling the actuation of the nozzle arrangement.
4 . An ink jet printhead as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said containment formation further includes another endless wall surrounding another single nozzle assembly, the endless walls sharing a common wall portion.
5 . An ink jet printhead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said containment formation includes an endless wall surrounding a group of nozzle assemblies.
6 . An ink jet printhead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes an anchor extending from the substrate assembly and a thermal bend portion extending from the anchor, the thermal bend portion being connected to a CMOS passivation layer of the substrate assembly via conductive pads on which the anchor is mounted.
7 . An ink jet printhead as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the thermal bend portion includes a first active beam and a second passive beam both including conductive ceramic material, both beams having their first ends anchored to the anchor and their opposed ends connected to the lever arm.