Patent ID: 6338548
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A micro electro-mechanical device comprising;a fluid chamber for containing a fluid, the fluid chamber having a first chamber wall having a substantially straight peripheral edge portion, an outlet aperture in the chamber wall for allowing exit of fluid from the chamber, an actuator aperture defined partly by said edge portion of the chamber wall, an actuator extending into said chamber through the actuator aperture and being moveable to dispense fluid from the chamber through the outlet aperture, a second wall carried by the actuator and covering at least a part of said actuator aperture, the second wall being substantially planar and moveable relative to the edge portion of the chamber wall when the actuator moves to dispense fluid from the chamber and wherein, when the actuator moves in the chamber to dispense fluid from the chamber, the second wall moves in closely spaced apart relationship with respect to the edge portion so that a meniscus is formed between the edge portion and second wall by fluid within the chamber thereby creating a seal between the edge portion and the second wall.