Monolithic thermal ink jet printhead with integral nozzle and ink feed

A thermal ink jet printhead of the type having an orifice plate mounted on a thin film substrate and characterized by extended lifetimes of resistive heater elements therein, comprising:

• a. a flexible suspended beam containing a resistive heater element and extending from one side of an ink reservoir to another within said substrate, and
• b. electrical connections extending to each side of said resistive heater element, whereby the suspended beam in ink within said reservoir allows the ink to cool said resistive heater element and to absorb cavitational forces produced by the ejection of ink from said orifice plate, to thereby increase printhead lifetime.

A thermal ink jet printhead characterized by the precise alignment of an orifice plate mounted on top a thin film substrate and comprising:

• a. a resistive heater element located within said substrate and having electrical conductors connected thereto for providing pulses to said resistive heater element during an ink jet printing operation,
• b. a metal orifice layer plated on said thin film substrate and extending upwardly and inwardly above said resistive heater element and having a convergent orifice opening above said resistive heater element which is self aligned with respect to said resistive heater element, and
• c. said resistive heater element being mounted on a flexible suspended beam extending from one side of an ink reservoir to another and aligned with said opening in said orifice plate, whereby the flow of ink is readily accessible from said reservoir to both sides of said resistive heater element during an ink jet printing operation, and the suspension of said heater resistor within said reservoir allows the ink to both cool said resistor and absorb cavitational forces produced by ink ejected from said orifice plate, thereby decreasing resistor wear and increasing printhead lifetime.