Iris motion ink jet printing mechanism

Abstract

A nozzle arrangement is provided which utilizes a series of actuators to produce an “iris motion effect” thereby causing the ejection of ink from a nozzle chamber. The effect is produced by a series of vanes actuated by thermal actuators arranged around an ink ejection port. The vanes pressurize the volume around the ink ejection port thereby causing the ejection of ink. The thermal actuators, each has an expanding, flexible arm, and a rigid arm. The flexible arms include a conductive heater material encased within an expansion material such as polytetrafluoroethylene having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The heater material is constructed so as to concertina upon expansion and can be of a serpentine form.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.