Inkjet printhead integrated circuit
View Patent ↗An inkjet printhead integrated circuit includes a substrate. A drive circuitry layer is positioned on the substrate, the substrate and the drive circuitry layer defining a plurality of ink inlet channels. Nozzle chamber walls and roofs spanning the nozzle chamber walls are positioned on the substrate to define nozzle chambers in fluid communication with respective ink inlet channels, the roofs defining respective ink ejection ports. Ink ejection members are positioned in respective nozzle chambers and are displaceable with respect to the roofs to eject ink from the ink ejection ports. Fulcrum formations are fast with the substrate and each fulcrum formation has an effort formation arranged on one side and a load formation on an opposite side. Each ink ejection member is fast with a respective load formation. Thermal actuators are outside of and associated with respective nozzle chambers and are connected to the drive circuitry layer to move with respect to the substrate on receipt of electrical signals from the drive circuitry layer. Each effort formation is fast with a respective thermal actuator such that reciprocal movement generated by the thermal actuators results in reciprocal movement of the ink ejection members and subsequent ink drop ejection from the ink ejection ports.
1. An inkjet printhead integrated circuit that comprises:
a substrate;
a drive circuitry layer positioned on the substrate, the substrate and the drive circuitry layer defining a plurality of ink inlet channels;
nozzle chamber walls and roofs spanning the nozzle chamber walls are positioned on the substrate to define nozzle chambers in fluid communication with respective ink inlet channels, the roofs defining respective ink ejection ports;
ink ejection members positioned in respective nozzle chambers and displaceable with respect to the roofs to eject ink from the ink ejection ports;
fulcrum formations fast with the substrate, each fulcrum formation having an effort formation arranged on one side and a load formation on an opposite side, each ink ejection member fast with a respective load formation; and
thermal actuators outside of and associated with respective nozzle chambers and connected to the drive circuitry layer to move with respect to the substrate on receipt of electrical signals from the drive circuitry layer, each effort formation being fast with a respective thermal actuator such that reciprocal movement generated by the thermal actuators results in reciprocal movement of the ink ejection members and subsequent ink drop ejection from the ink ejection ports.
2. An inkjet printhead integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1 , in which the load formations define at least one of the walls of respective nozzle chambers.
3. An inkjet printhead integrated circuit as claimed in claim 2 , in which the fulcrum formations are resiliently deformable to permit pivotal movement of the fulcrum formations relative to the substrate.