# US 7,744,196 B2 · Nozzle arrangement having annulus shaped heater elements

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,744,196 B2
- Document ID: US7744196B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/480,684
- Filed: 2009-06-09
- Published: 2009-10-01
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2002-11-23
- Assignees: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
- Inventors: Kia Silverbrook
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744196B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/14427: {Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators}
- B41J 2/04518: {reducing costs}
- B41J 2/0452: {reducing demand in current or voltage}
- B41J 2/04555: {detecting current}
- B41J 2/0457: {Power supply level being detected or varied}
- B41J 2/0458: {controlling heads based on heating elements forming bubbles}
- B41J 2/04588: {using a specific waveform}
- B41J 2/1404: {Geometrical characteristics}
- B41J 2/14072: {Electrical connections, e.g. details on electrodes, connecting the chip to the outside...}
- B41J 2/1408: {Structure dealing with thermal variations, e.g. cooling device, thermal coefficients of materials}
- B41J 2/1412: {Shape}
- B41J 2/155: for line printing
- B41J 2/1601: {Production of bubble jet print heads (B41J2/1606, B41J2/162 take precedence)}
- B41J 2/1603: {of the front shooter type}
- B41J 2/1623: {bonding and adhesion}
- B41J 2/1626: {etching}
- B41J 2/1628: {dry etching}
- B41J 2/1631: {photolithography}
- B41J 2/1635: {dividing the wafer into individual chips}
- B41J 2/1639: {sacrificial molding}
- B41J 2/1642: {thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]}
- B41J 2/1646: {thin film formation by sputtering}
- B41J 2002/14475: {characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber}
- B41J 2002/14491: {Electrical connection}
- B41J 2202/11: characterised by specific geometrical characteristics
- B41J 2202/19: Assembling head units
- B41J 2202/20: Modules
- B41J 2202/21: Line printing
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. Each heater element is shaped to define at least one broken annulus, in turn, comprising said at least one arcuate portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nozzle arrangement for ejecting ink, the nozzle arrangement comprising:
a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage;
a nozzle chamber structure extending from said substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage, and defining an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected; and
a pair of parallel heater elements extending from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and which can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture,
wherein each heater element is shaped to define at least one broken annulus, in turn, comprising at least one arcuate portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heater element is shaped to define a plurality of concentric broken annuli comprising any one of three and five broken annuli.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein each adjacent pair of broken annuli is interconnected by a respective pair of parallel arms.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heater elements include legs embedded within the nozzle chamber structure and terminate in feet embedded within the substrate assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nozzle chamber structure defines a protruding rim bounding the aperture and an endless ink collection well surrounding the aperture.