Spray device for ink-jet printer having a multilayer membrane for ejecting ink

A spray device for an ink-jet printer, comprising:

• a substrate;
• a pair of electrodes placed on said substrate;
• a heating resistor placed on said substrate between said pair of electrodes;
• a heating chamber barriers placed over said pair of electrodes;
• a heating chamber formed over said heating resistor and between said heating chamber barriers, said heating chamber having a first width;
• a plurality of flexible membrane layers placed over the combination of said heating chamber barriers and said heating chamber, sealing in said heating chamber;
• ink barriers placed over said plurality of flexible membrane layers;
• an ink channel formed between said ink barriers and adjacent to said plurality of flexible membrane layers, said ink channel having a second width;
• and
• a nozzle plate formed over said ink barriers and having an opening narrower than said second width.

A spray device for an ink-jet printer, comprising:

• a substrate;
• a pair of electrodes placed on said substrate;
• a heating resistor placed on said substrate between said pair of electrodes;
• a protective layer formed over said heating resistor and said pair of electrodes;
• a plurality of flexible membrane layers placed over the combination of said protective layer and said heating chamber, sealing in said heating chamber while only covering portions of said protective layer adjacent to said heating chamber;
• working fluid disposed within said heating chamber, said working fluid expands and contracts respectively in response to the application and removal of heat from said heating resistor, causing said plurality of flexible membrane layers to flex in an upward direction and contract in a downward direction with respect to said heating chamber;
• a pair of ink barriers placed to the left and the right of said plurality of flexible membrane layers over portions of said protective layer not covered by said plurality of flexible membrane layers;
• and
• an ink channel formed between the combination of said ink barriers and said plurality of flexible membrane layers and a top cover, said ink channel being filled with ink, said ink channel forming an opening at one of said right or said left of said plurality of flexible membrane layers between one of said pair of ink barriers and said top cover, allowing ink to expel from said spray device in a direction transverse from said direction said plurality of flexible membrane layers expand and contract upon application of heat to said heating resistors.