IP Library Granted Patent US 7,938,507
Granted Patent B2
US 7,938,507 · App. 12/560,416 · Granted May 10, 2011

Printhead nozzle arrangement with radially disposed actuators

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,938,507
App. No.
12/560,416
Granted
May 10, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate with a layer of drive circuitry, the substrate defining an ink chamber with an ink supply channel etched through the substrate; and a roof structure having a roof layer over the chamber. The roof structure includes a nozzle rim positioned around an ejection port defined in the roof layer above the chamber; a plurality of actuators radially spaced about, and displaceable with respect to, the nozzle rim, each actuator having an internal copper core for receiving therethrough a current, each actuator configured to thermally expand into the chamber upon receiving the current; and a series of struts interspersed between the actuators to support the nozzle rim with respect to the roof layer.

Claims (12)

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

a substrate with a layer of drive circuitry, the substrate defining an ink chamber with an ink supply channel etched through the substrate;

a roof structure having a roof layer over the chamber, the roof structure comprises:

a nozzle rim positioned around an ejection port defined in the roof layer above the chamber;

a plurality of actuators radially spaced about, and displaceable with respect to, the nozzle rim, each actuator having an internal copper core for receiving therethrough a current, each actuator configured to thermally expand into the chamber upon receiving the current; and

a series of struts interspersed between the actuators to support the nozzle rim with respect to the roof layer.

2. The roof structure of claim 1 , wherein the actuators are constructed from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion such that the actuators can perform work during thermal expansion.

3. The roof structure of claim 1 , wherein the substrate defines a number of vias through which the drive circuitry is connected to the actuators.

4. The roof structure of claim 3 , wherein the actuators are manufactured from a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material and have internal serpentine copper cores connected to the drive circuitry via the vias.

5. The roof structure of claim 1 , wherein the struts include both metal and PTFE portions.

6. The roof structure of claim 1 , wherein the ink chamber is an inverted pyramidal ink chamber with a vertex thereof terminating at the ink supply channel.

7. The roof structure of claim 1 , wherein the ink supply channel is created by means of a deep silicon back etch of the substrate utilizing a plasma etcher.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 25, 2014
From: ZAMTEC LIMITED
To: MEMJET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 033244/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2012
From: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LIMITED AND CLAMATE PTY LIMITED
To: ZAMTEC LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028523/0738 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2009
From: SILVERBROOK, KIA; MCAVOY, GREGORY JOHN
To: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 023236/0718 →