Patent ID: 6676250
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B26D,B41J,G01D

Abstract:
An ink supply arrangement for a printhead of a print engine, the printhead comprising an array of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) ink ejection devices mounted on a first surface of a wafer and a plurality of ink supply passages, each passage extending through the wafer from an opposed surface of the wafer to a respective ink ejection device, with the ink ejection devices being arranged in groups, the ink supply arrangement includinga block of silicon material, the block having a first surface mounted on said opposed surface of the wafer, the block having a plurality of channels defined therein, each channel running along said first surface of the block and opening out, along at least part of the length of the channel, into said first surface of the block such that a plurality of said passages open out through said opposed surface into each channel; and a plurality of ink supply conduits defined in the block, at least a respective one of said conduits opening out into each channel, each conduit extending through the block and opening out into a second surface of the block.