Patent ID: 6154239
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet printing element, comprising:(a) a body comprising a ceramic composite material, said body defining a base and a plurality of independent fluid containment compartments formed on the base, each compartment having at least one inlet orifice and at least one outlet orifice;(b) a substantially planar piezoelectric transducer comprising a piezoelectric element having opposed first and second surfaces and a plurality of first electrodes fixedly arranged on said first surface and a second electrode fixedly arranged on said second surface, said piezoelectric element being formed of piezoelectric material having a functionally gradient d-coefficient selected so that the piezoelectric element bends in response to an applied voltage to said first and second electrodes which produces an electric field in the piezoelectric element; said piezoelectric transducer enclosing said independent fluid containment compartments, said piezoelectric transducer being fixedly arranged on said open independent fluid containment compartments such that each of said plurality of first electrodes and a portion of said second electrode are operably associated with respective independent fluid containment compartments;(c) a source of fluid composition in fluid communication with each one of said inlet orifices of each one of said independent fluid containment compartments; said source being arranged for channeling said fluid composition through an inlet orifice of said at least one of said plurality of independent fluid containment compartments; and,(d) a source of power operably associated with each one of said first electrodes and said second electrode such that energizing any one of said plurality of first electrodes and said second electrode associated with any one of said independent fluid containment compartments enables said fluid composition to flow through said outlet orifice of one of said one independent fluid containment compartment.