Inkjet printer having funnelled distribution to nozzle ICS

1. An inkjet printer comprising:

a plurality of nozzle integrated circuits;

a support member having a plurality of longitudinally extending channels for carrying ink; and

a plurality of ink distribution members via which ink is distributed from the channels of the support member to the nozzles of the nozzle integrated circuits, each ink distribution member incorporating a laminated stack of layers, each layer having apertures for distributing ink from the channels to the nozzles of a respective one of the printhead integrated circuits, the apertures of each layer from the support member to the respective printhead integrated circuit being of successively smaller diameter.

2. A printer according to claim 1 , wherein the support member has a plurality of apertures extending through a wall of the support member arranged so as to direct the ink from the channels to associated nozzles in the nozzle integrated circuits by way of respective ones of the ink distribution members.

3. A printer according to claim 1 , wherein:

the laminated stack comprises at least three layers comprising an upper layer upon which the respective nozzle integrated circuit is mounted, a middle layer and a lower layer which is attached to an upper surface of the support member;

the lower layer includes first distribution apertures arranged to align with respective ones of the apertures in the support member and first distribution channels in an upper surface thereof associated with respective ones of the first distribution apertures, the first distribution apertures having substantially the same diameter as the apertures in the support member;

the middle layer includes second distribution apertures arranged to align with the first distribution channels of the lower layer, the second distribution apertures having a smaller diameter than the first distribution apertures;

the upper layer includes second distribution channels in a lower surface thereof arranged to align with the second distribution apertures of the middle layer and third distribution apertures associated with the second distribution channels, the third distribution apertures having a smaller diameter than the second distribution apertures; and

the associated printhead integrated circuit includes nozzle supply apertures arranged to align with the third distribution apertures of the upper layer and to direct ink to respective ones of the nozzles, the nozzle supply apertures having substantially the same diameter as the third distribution apertures.

4. A printer according to claim 3 , wherein the apertures of the support member have a diameter of the order of millimeters and the nozzle supply apertures of the nozzle integrated circuits have a diameter of the order of micrometers.

5. A printer according to claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of each ink distribution member is attached to the upper surface of the support member by an adhesive material.

6. A printer according to claim 5 , wherein the adhesive material is deposited to form a gasket which surrounds each of the apertures of the support member and each of corresponding apertures formed in the lower surface of the ink distribution member so as to form a seal between the respective apertures.

7. A printer according to claim 6 , wherein:

the apertures of the support member are formed in a row extending across the support member with respect to the longitudinally extending direction of the support member; and

two deposits of the adhesive material are deposited on either side of the row of apertures to provide stability for the mounting arrangement.

8. A printer according to claim 7 , wherein the adhesive material is a curable resin.