Patent ID: 6439695
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead, the nozzle arrangement comprisinga chip wafer substrate that incorporates drive circuitry; a roof wall, side walls and a floor that define a nozzle chamber; and an actuator that is arranged on the substrate for facilitating the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber of the nozzle arrangement, the actuator comprising at least one micro-electromachanical actuating member that is mounted on the substrate and is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber to define at least part of one of the roof wall, floor and side walls of the nozzle chamber, the, or each, actuating member being connected to the drive cicuitry layer to be heated when an electrical signal is received from the drive circuitry layer, and the, or each, actuating member being at least partially made up of a material that is capable of expansion to an extent sufficient to perform work when heated and being configured so that, upon such heating, the, or each, actuating member undergoes deformation as a result of such expansion to be displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to reduce a volume of the nozzle chamber so that ink is ejected from the nozzle chamber; and an actuating mechanism for displacing the, or each, actuating member between the inoperative and operative conditions.