Printhead with redundant nozzle chamber inlets for minimizing effects of blockages
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorsGregory John McAvoy, Matthew Taylor Worsman, Kia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printhead comprising a plurality of inkjet nozzle assemblies is provided. Each nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle chamber formed on a substrate. The nozzle chamber comprises a roof spaced apart from the substrate and sidewalls extending between the roof and the substrate. The nozzle chamber has an ink ejection opening defined in the roof, a first ink inlet defined in one of the sidewalls, and a second ink inlet defined in a floor of the nozzle chamber. Each ink inlet is in fluid communication with a common ink reservoir. The nozzle assembly further comprises an actuator for ejection of ink through the ink ejection opening.
Claims15
A printhead comprising a plurality of inkjet nozzle assemblies, each nozzle assembly comprising:
- a nozzle chamber formed on a substrate, said nozzle chamber comprising a roof spaced apart from said substrate and sidewalls extending between said roof and said substrate, said nozzle chamber having an ink ejection opening defined in said roof, a first ink inlet defined in one of said sidewalls, and a second ink inlet defined in a floor of the nozzle chamber, each ink inlet being in fluid communication with a common ink reservoir;
- and
- an actuator for ejection of ink through said ink ejection opening,
- wherein said nozzle chambers are arranged in rows, each row of nozzle chambers having an associated ink conduit extending longitudinally adjacent said row, said ink conduit being defined between said nozzle plate and said substrate.
An inkjet nozzle assembly comprising:
- a nozzle chamber formed on a substrate, said nozzle chamber comprising a roof spaced apart from said substrate and sidewalls extending between said roof and said substrate, said nozzle chamber having an ink ejection opening defined in said roof, a first ink inlet defined in one of said sidewalls, and a second ink inlet defined in a floor of the nozzle chamber, each ink inlet being in fluid communication with a common ink reservoir;
- and
- an actuator for ejection of ink through said ink ejection opening, wherein said nozzle chambers are arranged in rows, each row of nozzle chambers having an associated ink conduit extending longitudinally adjacent said row, said ink conduit being defined between said nozzle plate and said substrate.
A printhead integrated circuit comprising
- a substrate;
- a plurality of inkjet nozzle assemblies formed on said substrate, each nozzle assembly comprising:
- a nozzle chamber formed on a substrate, said nozzle chamber comprising a roof spaced apart from said substrate and sidewalls extending between said roof and said substrate, said nozzle chamber having an ink ejection opening defined in said roof, a first ink inlet defined in one of said sidewalls, and a second ink inlet defined in a floor of the nozzle chamber, each ink inlet being in fluid communication with a common ink reservoir;
- and
- an actuator for ejection of ink through said ink ejection opening;
- and
- drive circuitry electrically connected to each of said actuators,
- wherein said nozzle chambers are arranged in rows, each row of nozzle chambers having an associated ink conduit extending longitudinally adjacent said row, said ink conduit being defined between said nozzle plate and said substrate.
An inkjet printer comprising:
- an ink reservoir;
- and
- a printhead in fluid communication with said at least one ink reservoir, said printhead comprising a plurality of inkjet nozzle assemblies, each nozzle assembly comprising:
- a nozzle chamber formed on a substrate, said nozzle chamber comprising a roof spaced apart from said substrate and sidewalls extending between said roof and said substrate, said nozzle chamber having an ink ejection opening defined in said roof, a first ink inlet defined in one of said sidewalls, and a second ink inlet defined in a floor of the nozzle chamber, each ink inlet being in fluid communication with the ink reservoir;
- and
- an actuator for ejection of ink through said ink ejection opening, wherein said nozzle chambers are arranged in rows, each row of nozzle chambers having an associated ink conduit extending longitudinally adjacent said row, said ink conduit being defined between said nozzle plate and said substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.