Liquid drop ejection using dual feed ejector
A liquid ejector includes a structure defining a plurality of chambers with one of the chambers including a first and second surface. The first surface includes a nozzle orifice. A drop forming mechanism is located on the second surface of the chamber opposite the nozzle orifice. First and second liquid feed channels are in fluid communication with the chamber. First and second segments of a segmented liquid inlet are in fluid communication with the first and second liquid feed channels, respectively. The first and second segments of the segmented liquid inlet are also in fluid communication with another one of the plurality of chambers. Liquid is provided to the chamber through the first and second liquid feed channels from the segmented liquid inlet. A drop of the liquid is ejected through the nozzle orifice of the chamber by operating the drop forming mechanism.
1. A method of ejecting liquid comprising:
providing a liquid ejector including:
a structure defining a plurality of chambers, one of the plurality of chambers including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface including a nozzle orifice;
a drop forming mechanism located on the second surface of the chamber opposite the nozzle orifice;
a first liquid feed channel and a second liquid feed channel being in fluid communication with the chamber; and
a segmented liquid inlet, a first segment of the liquid inlet being in fluid communication with the first liquid feed channel, and a second segment of the liquid inlet being in fluid communication with the second liquid feed channel, the first segment of the liquid inlet also being in fluid communication with another one of the plurality of chambers, the second segment of the liquid inlet also being in fluid communication with another one of the plurality of chambers, and wherein for a given chamber of the array of chambers one of the first segment of the liquid inlet and the second segment of the liquid inlet is directly in line with the chamber and the other of the first segment of the liquid inlet and the second segment of the liquid inlet is offset from the chamber;
providing a liquid to the chamber through the first liquid feed channel and the second liquid feed channel from the segmented liquid inlet; and
ejecting a drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber by operating the associated drop forming mechanism.
2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein ejecting the drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber by operating the drop forming mechanism includes:
sending an electrical pulse to the drop forming mechanism along an electrical lead disposed between neighboring segments of the segmented inlet.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
refilling the chamber by providing liquid to the chamber through the first ink feed channel and the second ink feed channel from the segmented inlet after ejecting the drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein refilling the chamber comprises refilling the chamber from opposite sides of the chamber.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein refilling the chamber further comprising:
providing a liquid-air interface that includes a symmetric curvature relative to the chamber; and
using the symmetric curvature to enhance a pressure differential during refilling.
6. The method of claim 1 , the liquid ejector further comprising:
providing a post in one of the chamber, the first ink feed channel, the second ink feed channel, or in combinations thereof to restrict the amount and momentum of liquid flow away from the chamber after ejecting a drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber.
7. The method of claim 1 , the drop being a first drop, further comprising:
ejecting a second drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of another chamber by operating the associated drop forming mechanism after ejecting the drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first drop and the second drop are directed toward different pixel locations on a recording medium.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first drop and the second drop are directed toward a same pixel location on a recording medium.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first drop has a different size when compared to the second drop.
11. The method of claim 1 , the drop forming mechanism comprising a resistive heating element, wherein ejecting the drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber by operating the drop forming mechanism includes forming a bubble over the resistive heating element.
12. A method of ejecting liquid comprising:
providing a liquid ejector including:
a structure defining a plurality of chambers, one of the plurality of chambers including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface including a nozzle orifice;
a drop forming mechanism located on the second surface of the chamber opposite the nozzle orifice;
a first liquid feed channel and a second liquid feed channel being in fluid communication with the chamber; and
a segmented liquid inlet, a first segment of the liquid inlet being in fluid communication with the first liquid feed channel, and a second segment of the liquid inlet being in fluid communication with the second liquid feed channel, the first segment of the liquid inlet also being in fluid communication with another one of the plurality of chambers, the second segment of the liquid inlet also being in fluid communication with another one of the plurality of chambers;
providing a liquid to the chamber through the first liquid feed channel and the second liquid feed channel from the segmented liquid inlet; and
ejecting a drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber by operating the associated drop forming mechanism;
providing a controller;
providing a data source; and
providing an electrical pulse source, wherein ejecting the drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber by operating the drop forming mechanism includes:
sending a signal from the data source to the controller;
sending a command from the controller to the electrical pulse source in response to the signal; and
sending an electrical pulse to the drop forming mechanism in response to the command, and wherein sending the electrical pulse to the drop forming mechanism includes conducting the electrical pulse along an electrical lead disposed between neighboring segments of the segmented inlet.
13. The method of claim 12 , the liquid ejector further comprising:
providing a post in one of the chambers, the first ink feed channel, the second ink feed channel, or in combinations thereof to restrict the amount and momentum of liquid flow away from the chamber after ejecting a drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
refilling the chamber from opposite sides by providing liquid to the chamber through the first ink feed channel and the second ink feed channel from the segmented inlet after ejecting the drop of the liquid through the nozzle orifice of the chamber.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein refilling the chamber further comprising:
providing a liquid-air interface that includes a symmetric curvature relative to the chamber; and
using the symmetric curvature to enhance a pressure differential during refilling.
16. A liquid ejector comprising:
a structure defining a plurality of chambers, each of the chambers having a nozzle orifice;
a drop forming mechanism located in each chamber;
first and second liquid feed channels being in fluid communication with each chamber; and
a segmented inlet, a first segment of the liquid inlet being in fluid communication with the first liquid feed channel which is in fluid communication with one of the chambers, and a second segment of the liquid inlet being in fluid communication with the second liquid feed channel which is in fluid communication with one of the chambers, the first segment of the liquid inlet and the second segment of the liquid inlet being positioned offset relative to each other as viewed from a plane perpendicular to the nozzle orifice, the first segment of the liquid inlet also being in fluid communication with another one of the plurality of chambers, the second segment of the liquid inlet also being in fluid communication with another one of the plurality of chambers, wherein the first segment of the liquid inlet and the second segment of the liquid inlet are each as wide as a plurality of adjacent chambers.
17. The liquid ejector of claim 16 , wherein the width of the first segment of the liquid inlet is ≦4 adjacent chambers and the width of the first segment of the liquid inlet is ≧2 adjacent chambers.
18. The liquid ejector of claim 17 , wherein the width of the second segment of the liquid inlet is ≦4 adjacent chambers and the width of the second segment of the liquid inlet is ≧2 adjacent chambers.
19. The liquid ejector of claim 16 , wherein the second segment of the liquid inlet has a larger cross-sectional area than first segment of the liquid inlet.
20. The liquid ejector of claim 16 , wherein for a given chamber of the plurality of chambers one of the first segment of the liquid inlet and the second segment of the liquid inlet is directly in line with the chamber and the other of the first segment of the liquid inlet and the second segment of the liquid inlet is offset from the chamber.