Micro-electromechanical fluid ejection device with guided actuator movement

A micro-electromechanical fluid ejection device that comprises

• a substrate that defines a fluid inlet channel and incorporates a wafer and drive circuitry positioned on the wafer;
• nozzle chamber walls that extend from the substrate and bound the fluid inlet channel to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the fluid inlet channel and a fluid ejection port;
• an elongate actuator that is connected at one end to the drive circuitry, an opposite end of the actuator being displaceable towards and away from the substrate on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry, the actuator including an interconnect portion that defines a transversely extending face and is received through a complementary opening defined in the walls and a fluid ejection member that is fast with said face, the interconnect portion and said opening being shaped so that movement of the fluid ejection member is controlled;
• and,
• the interconnect portion including a block member that is fast with the actuator arm, and a pair of opposed, transversely extending members fast with the block member and defining the transversely extending face, the walls defining slotted openings to accommodate the block member and the transversely extending members so that fluid outflow through the openings is minimized.