Inkjet printhead with inlet priming feature
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorKia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inkjet printhead with an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle and an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle; a plurality of ink inlets in fluid communication with the ink chambers; and, at least one priming feature extending through each of the ink inlets; such that, the surface tension of an ink meniscus at the ink inlet acts to draw the ink out of the inlet and partially along the flow path toward the ink chambers. By introducing a priming feature into the plane of the inlet aperture, the surface tension in the ink meniscus can be redirected to pull the ink along the intend flow path rather than push it back into the inlet.
Claims12
An inkjet printhead comprising:
- an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle and an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle;
- a plurality of ink inlets in fluid communication with the ink chambers;
- and,
- at least one priming feature extending through each of the ink inlets;
- such that,
- the surface tension of an ink meniscus at the ink inlet acts to draw the ink out of the inlet and partially along the flow path toward the ink chambers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.