Printhead nozzle arrangement having interleaved heater elements
View Patent ↗A printhead nozzle arrangement is provided having a wafer defining a chamber for holding ejection fluid, an ejection port supported by a plurality of bridge members which extend from the ejection port to sides of the chamber, and a plurality of heater elements interleaved between the bridge members for causing ejection of fluid held in the chamber through the ejection port.
1. A printhead nozzle arrangement comprising:
a wafer defining a chamber for holding ejection fluid;
an ejection port supported by a plurality of bridge members which extend from the ejection port to sides of the chamber; and
a plurality of heater elements interleaved between the bridge members for causing ejection of fluid held in the chamber through the ejection port.
2. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the heater elements are arranged to be generally circular and comprises a plurality of spaced apart serpentine stations which extend radially inward.
3. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each serpentine station is symmetric and comprises a mirrored pair of serpentine portions.
4. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ends of the heater elements terminate in a pair of vias which are connected to a metal layer of the wafer.
5. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the chamber is generally funnel-shaped and tapers inwardly away from the ejection port.
6. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the wafer further defines a fluid supply inlet at an apex of the tapered chamber, the supply inlet being substantially aligned with the ejection port.
7. A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each bridge member defines a fluid flow guide rail.