Patent ID: 8657429

Claim:
A method of ejecting liquid from a liquid dispenser comprising: providing the liquid dispenser including a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel, and a liquid return channel, the liquid dispensing channel including a first wall, the first wall including a surface, a portion of the first wall defining an outlet opening, the liquid dispensing channel including a second wall opposite the first wall, the second wall of the liquid dispensing channel extending along a portion of the liquid supply channel and along a portion of the liquid return channel; providing a liquid supply passage extending through the second wall in fluid communication with the liquid supply channel; providing a liquid return passage extending through the second wall in fluid communication with the liquid return channel, the liquid return passage overlapping the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the first wall of the liquid dispensing channel; providing a liquid that flows 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; and causing a liquid drop to be ejected from the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel by selectively actuating a diverter member positioned opposite the first wall of the liquid dispensing channel to divert a portion of the flowing liquid through the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.