Patent ID: 8740364

Claim:
A method of ejecting liquid from a liquid dispenser comprising: A. providing an array of liquid dispensing elements positioned on a substrate, each liquid dispensing element including: 1. a liquid dispensing channel positioned on the substrate, the liquid dispensing channel including: a. an outlet opening positioned on a wall opposite the substrate; and b. a diverter member associated with the liquid dispensing channel; 2. a liquid return channel positioned on the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid dispensing channel; 3. a liquid supply channel positioned on the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid dispensing channel; 4. a liquid supply passage extending through the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid supply channel; and 5. a liquid return passage extending through the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid return channel, the liquid return passage including a porous member; B. providing a liquid during a drop dispensing operation that flows continuously from the liquid supply passage through the liquid supply channel, through the liquid dispensing channel, through the liquid return channel to the liquid return passage of each liquid dispensing element of the array of liquid dispensing elements; and C. causing a liquid drop to be ejected from the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel of at least one of the liquid dispensing elements of the array of liquid dispensing elements by selectively actuating the diverter member of the at least one liquid dispensing element to divert a portion of the flowing liquid through the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel of the at least one liquid dispensing element.