Patent ID: 8382254

Claim:
A liquid dispenser comprising: an array of liquid dispensing elements positioned on a substrate, each liquid dispensing element including: a liquid dispensing channel positioned on the substrate, the liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening positioned on a wall opposite the substrate; a diverter member associated with the liquid dispensing channel; a liquid return channel positioned on the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid dispensing channel; a liquid supply channel positioned on the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid dispensing channel; a liquid supply passage extending through the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid supply channel; a liquid return passage extending through the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid return channel; a liquid manifold including a liquid supply duct and a liquid return duct, the liquid supply duct being in fluid communication with each liquid supply passage of each liquid dispensing element, the liquid return duct being in fluid communication with each liquid return passage of each liquid dispensing element; a liquid supply that provides liquid that flows from the liquid supply duct of the liquid manifold through each liquid dispensing element to the liquid return duct of the liquid manifold, each diverter member being selectively activated to divert a portion of the liquid flowing through the associated liquid dispensing channel through the outlet opening of the associated liquid dispensing channel to dispense a drop of the liquid, wherein the liquid provided by the liquid supply is provided under pressure sufficient to cause the liquid to serve as the primary motive force for liquid ejection through the outlet opening.