Patent ID: 8057016

Claim:
A micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangement that comprises a substrate; a drive circuitry layer arranged on the substrate, the substrate and drive circuitry layer defining an ink inlet channel; a static ink ejection structure positioned about the ink inlet channel; an active roof structure arranged on the substrate and, together with the static ink ejection structure defining an ink chamber and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the chamber, the active roof structure being displaceable with respect to the static ink ejection structure such that ink is ejected from the ink ejection port; at least one pair of thermal actuators connected to the drive circuitry layer and oppositely oriented with respect to the roof structures; at least one pair of coupling structures operatively linking respective thermal actuators and the roof structure, each coupling structure having a connecting member connected to the thermal actuator and a tongue and rod assembly located on the substrate, said assembly configured to convert an arcuate displacement of the connecting member under influence of the thermal actuator into linear displacement of the roof structure towards the substrate.