Inkjet nozzle device configured for minimizing satellite droplets
An inkjet nozzle device includes: a firing chamber having a nozzle aperture; and a heating element for generating gas bubbles in the firing chamber so as to eject ink through the nozzle aperture. A non-heating stabilizing bar extends across the nozzle aperture.
1. An inkjet nozzle device comprising:
a firing chamber having a nozzle aperture defined in a roof thereof; and
a heating element for generating gas bubbles in the firing chamber so as to eject ink through the nozzle aperture,
wherein a non-heating stabilizing bar extends continuously across the nozzle aperture, the stabilizing bar being coplanar with the roof of the firing chamber and having a same thickness as the roof.
2. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing bar extends parallel with the heating element.
3. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 2 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the stabilizing bar is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the heating element.
4. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 3 , wherein the nozzle aperture is circular and the stabilizing bar extends across a diameter of the nozzle aperture.
5. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 4 , wherein a width Ws of the stabilizing bar and a diameter d 1 of the nozzle aperture are in a ratio 2≦d 1 /Ws≦10.
6. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 3 , wherein the nozzle aperture is elliptical and the stabilizing bar extends across a major axis of the nozzle aperture.
7. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 6 , wherein a width Ws of the stabilizing bar and a minor axis d 2 of the nozzle aperture are in a ratio 2≦d 2 /Ws≦6.
8. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle aperture comprises a pair of sub-apertures, the sub-apertures being defined symmetrically on either side of the stabilizing bar.
9. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 8 , wherein each sub-aperture is generally D-shaped.
10. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle aperture is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis of the stabilizing bar.
11. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing bar obscures from 10 to 40% of an area of the nozzle aperture.
12. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 1 , wherein a width Wh of the heating element and a width Ws of the stabilizing bar are in a ratio of 0.1≦Ws/Wh≦5.
13. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing bar and the roof are comprised of a same material.
14. The inkjet nozzle device of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is bonded to a floor of the firing chamber.
15. An inkjet printhead comprising a plurality of nozzle devices according to claim 1 .