IP Library Granted Patent US 7,914,122
Granted Patent B2
US 7,914,122 · App. 12/422,949 · Granted Mar 29, 2011

Inkjet printhead nozzle arrangement with movement transfer mechanism

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,914,122
App. No.
12/422,949
Granted
Mar 29, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement comprises a substrate incorporating drive circuitry and defining an ink inlet channel; side walls extending from the substrate; a roof fast with the side walls and defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with an ink chamber defined by the roof, the side walls, and the substrate, the ink chamber being in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel; an ink ejection member interposed between the ink inlet channel and the ink ejection port such that reciprocal movement of the ink ejection member causes ejection of ink from the ink ejection port; an actuator connected to the drive circuitry at a fixed end and having a free end reciprocally displaceable with respect to the substrate on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry; and a motion transmitting structure interposed between the free end of the actuator and the ink ejection member. The motion transmitting structure has an effort formation, a lever arm formation, and a load formation interconnecting the effort formation and the lever arm formation. The effort formation is adapted to engage with the free end of the actuator arm, and the lever arm formation is adapted to engage with the ink ejection member.

Claims (18)

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

a substrate incorporating drive circuitry and defining an ink inlet channel;

side walls extending from the substrate;

a roof fast with the side walls and defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with an ink chamber defined by the roof, the side walls, and the substrate, the ink chamber being in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel;

an ink ejection member interposed between the ink inlet channel and the ink ejection port such that reciprocal movement of the ink ejection member causes ejection of ink from the ink ejection port;

an actuator connected to the drive circuitry at a fixed end and having a free end reciprocally displaceable with respect to the substrate on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry; and

a motion transmitting structure interposed between the free end of the actuator and the ink ejection member, the motion transmitting structure having an effort formation, a lever arm formation, and a load formation interconnecting the effort formation and the lever arm formation, wherein

the effort formation is adapted to engage with the free end of the actuator arm, and

the lever arm formation is adapted to engage with the ink ejection member.

2. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the substrate is comprised of:

a silicon wafer substrate;

an electrical drive circuitry layer positioned on the silicon wafer substrate; and

an ink passivation layer positioned on the electrical drive circuitry layer.

3. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the electrical drive circuitry layer comprises CMOS drive circuitry to provide current to the actuator upon receipt of an enabling signal from a microprocessor.

4. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ink inlet channel is substantially aligned with the ink ejection port.

5. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a thermal bend actuator which can bend upon heating with an electrical current to act on the movement transfer mechanism.

6. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising an anchor extending from the support and to which the fixed end of the thermal bend actuator is attached.

7. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the ink ejection member is in the form of a paddle located within the ink chamber, the paddle substantially spanning the ink chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2012
From: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LIMITED AND CLAMATE PTY LIMITED
To: ZAMTEC LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028520/0409 →