Patent ID: 6863378

Claim:
An inkjet printer that comprises a printing mechanism that defines a printing path through which media can be fed so that the printing mechanism can carry out a printing operation on the media, the printing mechanism having a printhead assembly that comprises a pagewidth printhead with at least one printhead chip that is operatively positioned with respect to the printing path to span the printing path, the, or each printhead chip comprising a wafer substrate; drive circuitry positioned on the wafer substrate; and a plurality of nozzle arrangements positioned on the wafer substrate, each nozzle arrangement comprising nozzle chamber walls that define a nozzle chamber; a micro-electromechanical actuator that is mounted on the substrate to be connected to the drive circuitry and operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber so that, on receipt of a signal from the drive circuitry, the actuator can act to eject ink from the nozzle chamber; and a protective covering shell positioned on the substrate and defining an enclosure in which the actuator is positioned; and a feed mechanism for feeding media through the printing path.