Patent ID: 9566786
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29K,B29L,B41J

Claim:
1. Droplet deposition apparatus comprising an integrally-formed manifold component and one or more actuator components; wherein said one or more actuator components provide a first array of fluid chambers, each having a piezoelectric actuator element and a nozzle, said piezoelectric actuator element being operable to cause the release in a deposition direction of fluid droplets through said nozzle in response to electrical signals, said first array of fluid chambers extending in an array direction from a first longitudinal end to a second, opposite longitudinal end, said array direction being generally perpendicular to said deposition direction; wherein the manifold component is elongate in said array direction and comprises a first manifold chamber and a second manifold chamber, said first and second manifold chambers extending side-by-side in said array direction and said first manifold chamber being fluidically connected to said second manifold chamber via each of said fluid chambers in said first array; wherein the cross-sectional area of at least one of said first manifold chamber and said second manifold chamber tapers with distance in the array direction; and wherein the cross-sectional shape of said manifold component perpendicular to said array direction varies with distance in the array direction such that the centroid of the cross-section remains a substantially constant distance, in said deposition direction, from said array of fluid chambers over the length of the first array of fluid chambers.