Fluid chamber configuration within an inkjet printhead
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorKia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inkjet printer has a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. Each nozzle includes a paddle (5) located in a chamber (2) which is moveable in a forward direction between a rest state and an ejection state, for ejecting fluid from the chamber through an outlet port (11) as it moves from the rest state to the ejection state. The paddle (5) is positioned to substantially close an inlet port (3) when in the rest state and the paddle (5) and the inlet port (3) define an aperture (16) between themselves. The paddle (5) includes means (12) to reduce fluid flow through the aperture (16) toward the inlet port (3) as the paddle (5) moves from the rest state to the ejection state.
Claims17
A printer including an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles, each nozzle including:
- a fluid chamber having:
- a fluid outlet port in a wall of the chamber;
- a fluid inlet port in a wall of the chamber;
- a paddle located in the chamber between the fluid outlet port and the fluid inlet port and having a front surface and a rear surface and moveable in a forward direction between a rest position and an ejection position, for ejecting fluid from the chamber through the outlet port as it moves from the rest position to the ejection position;
- at least one aperture between the paddle and the chamber wall or walls when the paddle is at the rest position, the ejection position and positions there between, such that fluid may flow between the front and rear of the paddle via the at least one aperture;
- and,
- wherein the surface of the wall or walls of the chamber adjacent to the at least one aperture are configured to reduce fluid flow through the at least one aperture toward the inlet port as the paddle moves from the rest position to the ejection position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.