PRINTHEAD PROVIDED WITH INDIVIDUAL NOZZLE ENCLOSURES
A unit cell, a plurality of which make up a printhead, includes a substrate including an ink inlet passage; a chamber defined by chamber sidewalls and a nozzle plate defining an aperture for ejection of ink from the chamber, the chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and a nozzle enclosure comprising enclosure sidewalls and a roof defining an opening for ejection of ink, the nozzle enclosure surrounding the aperture such that ink ejected from the aperture is directed to the opening of the nozzle enclosure, thereby isolating the aperture from an adjacent aperture of an adjacent unit cell. The opening has a greater diameter than the aperture.
1 . A printhead comprising a plurality of unit cells, at least one of the plurality of unit cells comprising:
a substrate including an ink inlet passage;
a chamber defined by chamber sidewalls and a nozzle plate defining an aperture for ejection of ink from the chamber, the chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and
a nozzle enclosure comprising enclosure sidewalls and a roof defining an opening for ejection of ink, the nozzle enclosure surrounding the aperture such that ink ejected from the aperture is directed to the opening of the nozzle enclosure, thereby isolating the aperture from an adjacent aperture of an adjacent unit cell, wherein
the opening has a greater diameter than the aperture.
2 . The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure sidewalls abut or are integrally formed with the at least part of the nozzle plate.
3 . The printhead of claim 1 , including a plurality of formations about the aperture, the formations assisting to isolate the aperture from the adjacent aperture.
4 . The printhead of claim 3 , wherein the nozzle enclosure also surrounds the formations.
5 . The printhead of claim 3 , wherein the formations each have a hydrophobic surface.
6 . The printhead of claim 3 , wherein the formations include at least a rim about the aperture.
7 . The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the roof is spaced apart from the at least part of the nozzle plate.
8 . The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the roof opening is spaced apart from and aligned with the nozzle aperture, thereby allowing ejected ink droplets to pass therethrough onto the print medium.
9 . The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure sidewalls extend from a perimeter region of the roof.
10 . The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes a heater element.
11 . The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the printhead has a nozzle density sufficient to print at up to 1600 dpi.