Inkjet printhead having dynamic response to pressure changes
An inkjet printhead includes: a rigid elongate manifold having one or more ink supply channels extending along its length, each ink supply channel having a base defining a plurality of ink outlets and a roof comprising an elongate flexible film; and a plurality of printhead chips mounted to the manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more of the ink outlets The flexible film includes a plurality of operatively independent bellows positioned along a length of one or more ink supply channels.
1. An inkjet printhead comprising:
a rigid elongate manifold having one or more ink supply channels extending along its length, each ink supply channel having a base defining a plurality of ink outlets and a roof comprising an elongate flexible film; and
a plurality of printhead chips mounted to the manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more of the ink outlets,
wherein the flexible film comprises a plurality of operatively independent bellows positioned along a length of one or more ink supply channels, the bellows being operatively separated from each other by baffles.
2. The inkjet printhead of claim 1 , wherein each bellows comprises a corrugated region of the flexible film.
3. The inkjet printhead of claim 1 , wherein the baffles extend upwards from a continuous corrugated film so as to divide the film into contiguous and operatively independent bellows.
4. The inkjet printhead of claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate engaged with the manifold and positioned for covering the flexible film, the cover plate having a plurality of vent holes open to atmosphere.
5. The inkjet printhead of claim 1 , wherein the flexible film is comprised of a polymer.
6. The inkjet printhead of claim 1 , wherein each ink supply channel has a manifold port at one longitudinal end and the bellows hang into the ink supply channel from sidewalls thereof.
7. The inkjet printhead of claim 6 , wherein a level of the manifold port corresponds to a level of a lowest part of the bellows hanging into the ink supply channel.
8. An inkjet printhead comprising:
a rigid elongate manifold having one or more ink supply channels extending along its length, each ink supply channel having a base defining a plurality of ink outlets and a roof comprising an elongate flexible film;
a plurality of printhead chips mounted to the manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more of the ink outlets; and
a cover plate engaged with the manifold and positioned for covering the flexible film, the cover plate having a plurality of vent holes open to atmosphere.
wherein the flexible film comprises bellows positioned along a length of one or more ink supply channels.
9. The inkjet printhead of claim 8 , wherein each bellows comprises a corrugated region of the flexible film.
10. The inkjet printhead of claim 9 , wherein baffles extend upwards from a continuous corrugated film so as to divide the film into contiguous and operatively independent bellows.
11. The inkjet printhead of claim 8 , wherein the flexible film is comprised of a polymer.
12. The inkjet printhead of claim 8 , wherein each ink supply channel has a manifold port at one longitudinal end and the bellows hang into the ink supply channel from sidewalls thereof.
13. The inkjet printhead of claim 12 , wherein a level of the manifold port corresponds to a level of a lowest part of the bellows hanging into the ink supply channel.
14. An inkjet printhead comprising:
a rigid elongate manifold having one or more ink supply channels extending along its length, each ink supply channel having a base defining a plurality of ink outlets and a roof comprising an elongate flexible film;
a manifold port at each longitudinal end of each ink supply channel; and
a plurality of printhead chips mounted to the manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more of the ink outlets,
wherein :
the flexible film comprises a plurality of bellows positioned along a length of one or more ink supply channels;
the bellows hang into the ink supply channels; and
a level of the manifold port corresponds to a level of a lowest part of the bellows hanging into the ink supply channel.
15. The inkjet printhead of claim 14 , wherein each bellows comprises a corrugated region of the flexible film.
16. The inkjet printhead of claim 14 , wherein the baffles extend upwards from a continuous corrugated film so as to divide the film into contiguous and operatively independent bellows.
17. The inkjet printhead of claim 14 , further comprising a cover plate engaged with the manifold and positioned for covering the flexible film, the cover plate having a plurality of vent holes open to atmosphere.
18. The inkjet printhead of claim 14 , wherein the flexible film is comprised of a polymer.