Patent ID: 7794055

Claim:
An inkjet nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber for containing ink, said nozzle chamber having: a floor, a roof having a moving portion, a nozzle opening defined in the moving portion of the roof and an ink inlet, wherein the moving portion of the roof comprises a thermal bend actuator having a plurality of cantilever beams, said thermal actuator comprising: an upper active beam for connection to drive circuitry, said first beam being defined by a tortuous beam element, said tortuous beam element comprising a plurality of contiguous beam members; and a lower passive beam in contact with ink contained in the nozzle chamber, said passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first element expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein the plurality of contiguous beam members comprises a plurality of longer beam members extending along a longitudinal axis of the first beam, and at least one shorter beam member extending across a transverse axis of the first beam and interconnecting longer beam members.