Patent ID: 7658482

Claim:
A printhead assembly for an inkjet printer, the printhead assembly comprising: a printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink onto print media; and, a shut off valve having: a valve body defining an ink inlet for connection to an ink supply, an ink outlet connected to the printhead IC, and a valve seat; a valve member biased into sealing engagement with the valve seat to provide a fluid seal between the ink inlet and the ink outlet such that, when unsealed, the array of nozzles on the printhead IC is in fluid communication with the ink supply, and when sealed the array of nozzles on the printhead IC has no fluid communication with the ink supply; and, an actuator for unsealing the valve member from the valve seat upon energizing and re-sealing the valve member to the valve seat when de-energized; wherein, the valve member has a diaphragm, and the ink outlet and the ink inlet are both in fluid communication with one side of the diaphragm, such that unsealing the valve member draws the diaphragm away from the valve seat to lower the fluid pressure in the ink inlet and the ink outlet.