Thermal ink jet with thin nozzle plate
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorKia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inkjet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles (46) and one or more heater elements (10) corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid (11) in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. The printhead includes a structure (2) which is less than 10 microns thick, on which the nozzles are incorporated.
Claims47
An ink jet printhead comprising:
- a structure being less than 5 microns thick;
- a plurality of nozzles incorporated on the structure;
- and
- at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, wherein
- each element is arranged for being in thermal contact with a bubble forming liquid, and
- each element is configured to heat at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein thereby to cause the ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that element.
The printhead of claim 45 wherein the structure and the walls are integrally formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
A printer system incorporating a printhead, the printhead comprising:
- a structure being less than 5 microns thick;
- a plurality of nozzles incorporated on the structure;
- and
- at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, wherein
- each element is arranged for being in thermal contact with a bubble forming liquid, and
- each element is configured to heat at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein thereby to cause the ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that element.
The system of claim 46 wherein the structure and the walls are integrally formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
A method of ejecting a drop of a bubble forming liquid from a printhead, the printhead comprising a plurality of nozzles and at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the printhead, the printhead having a structure which is less than 5 microns thick and which incorporates said nozzles thereon;
- heating at least one element corresponding to a said nozzle so as to heat at least part of the bubble forming liquid which is in thermal contact with the at least one heated element to a temperature above the boiling point of the bubble forming liquid;
- generating a gas bubble in the bubble forming liquid by said step of heating;
- and
- causing the drop of bubble forming liquid to be ejected through the nozzle corresponding to the at least one heated element by said step of generating a gas bubble.
The method of claim 47 wherein the step of providing the printhead includes integrally forming the structure and the walls by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
An ink jet printhead comprising:
- a structure being less than 10 microns thick;
- a plurality of nozzles incorporated on the structure;
- at least one wall corresponding to each nozzle, the at least one wall being integrally formed with, and extending from, the structure and forming a circumferential perimeter that together with the structure defines a chamber in communication with the respective nozzle for receiving a bubble forming liquid;
- and
- at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, wherein
- each element is arranged for being in thermal contact with the bubble forming liquid, and
- each element is configured to heat at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein thereby to cause the ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that element.
A printer system incorporating a printhead, the printhead comprising:
- a structure being less than 10 microns thick;
- a plurality of nozzles incorporated on the structure
- at least one wall corresponding to each nozzle, the at least one wall being integrally formed with, and extending from, the structure and forming a circumferential perimeter that together with the structure defines a chamber in communication with the respective nozzle for receiving a bubble forming liquid;
- and
- at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, wherein
- each element is arranged for being in thermal contact with the bubble forming liquid, and
- each element is configured to heat at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein thereby to cause the ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that element.
A method of ejecting a drop of a bubble forming liquid from a printhead, the printhead comprising a structure being less than 10 microns thick;
- a plurality of nozzles incorporated on the structure;
- at least one wall corresponding to each nozzle, the at least one wall being integrally formed with, and extending from, the structure and forming a circumferential perimeter that together with the structure defines a chamber in communication with the respective nozzle for receiving the bubble forming liquid;
- and at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the printhead;
- heating at least one element corresponding to a said nozzle so as to heat at least part of a bubble forming liquid which is in thermal contact with the at least one heated element to a temperature above the boiling point of the bubble forming liquid;
- generating a gas bubble in the bubble forming liquid by said step of heating;
- and
- causing the drop of bubble forming liquid to be ejected through the nozzle corresponding to the at least one heated element by said step of generating a gas bubble.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.