Nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead which includes a refill actuator

An ink jet printhead which comprises

• a substrate;
• and
• a plurality of nozzle arrangements positioned on the substrate, each nozzle arrangement comprising
• nozzle chamber walls arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber;
• at least one ejection actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber, the, or each, ejection actuator being displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to eject ink from the nozzle chamber and including an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement;
• and
• at least one refilling actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber, the, or each, refilling actuator being displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted on by the ejection actuator, subsequent to the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber, and also including an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement.

A method of ejecting ink from a nozzle arrangement of an ink jet printhead, the nozzle arrangement including a substrate, nozzle chamber walls arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber, at least one ejection actuator that is displaceable between an inoperative and an operative condition to facilitate the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber and at least one refill actuator that is displaceable between an operative condition and an inoperative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted upon by the ejection actuator, the method including the steps of:

• supplying the nozzle chamber with ink;
• activating the, or each, ejection actuator so that ink is ejected from the nozzle chamber;
• and
• activating the, or each, refill actuator at a predetermined time after activation of the, or each, ejection actuator so that ink is directed into said zone to be acted upon again by the, or each, ejection actuator, if required.