IP Library Granted Patent US 7,971,969
Granted Patent B2
US 7,971,969 · App. 12/710,278 · Granted Jul 5, 2011

Printhead nozzle arrangement having ink ejecting actuators annularly arranged around ink ejection port

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,971,969
App. No.
12/710,278
Granted
Jul 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A printhead for an inkjet printer includes a wafer defining a plurality of nozzle chambers and a plurality of ink supply channel in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzle chambers for supplying the plurality of nozzle chambers with ink; an ink ejection port associated with each nozzle chamber; and a plurality of actuators associated with each nozzle chamber, the plurality of actuators each including a petal formation. A plurality of petal formations are arranged around an ink ejection port of each nozzle chamber to annularly surround the ink ejection port. Each actuator is operable to displace a respective petal formation into the nozzle chamber.

Claims (10)

1. A printhead for an inkjet printer, the printhead comprising:

a wafer defining a plurality of nozzle chambers and a plurality of ink supply channel in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzle chambers for supplying the plurality of nozzle chambers with ink;

an ink ejection port associated with each nozzle chamber; and

a plurality of actuators associated with each nozzle chamber, the plurality of actuators each including a petal formation, wherein

a plurality of petal formations are arranged around an ink ejection port of each nozzle chamber to annularly surround the ink ejection port, and

each actuator is operable to displace a respective petal formation into the nozzle chamber.

2. A printhead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each actuator comprises an electrically conductive heater element formed in a layer of a plastics material, the heater element being positioned in the plastics material to cause uneven heating, and thereby uneven expansion, of the plastics material, whereby the actuator is displaced into the nozzle chamber.

3. A printhead as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each heater element is formed in a serpentine arrangement in the plastics material.

4. A printhead as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the plastics material is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer, and the heater element is an internal serpentine copper core formed in the PTFE layer.

5. A printhead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein bridges extend radially from a rim defining the ink ejection ports and between adjacent actuators.

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 028524/0486 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2010
From: SILVERBROOK, KIA; MCAVOY, GREGORY JOHN
To: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 023972/0274 →