US 7,325,901 B2
Ink jet nozzle arrangement incorporating mechanically coupled bend actuator arms
Kia Silverbrook, Balmain (Australia)
Assigned to Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd, Balmain, New South Wales (Australia)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/585,964.
Application 11/585964 is a continuation of application No. 11/250457, filed on Oct. 17, 2005, granted, now 7,147,297.
Application 11/250457 is a continuation of application No. 10/636257, filed on Aug. 08, 2003, granted, now 6,997,534.
Application 10/636257 is a continuation of application No. 09/575175, filed on May 23, 2000, granted, now 6,629,745.
Claims priority of application No. PQ1309 (AU), filed on Jun. 30, 1999.
Prior Publication US 2007/0035584 A1, Feb. 15, 2007
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B41J 2/155 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 347—42  [347/20; 347/40] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ink jet nozzle arrangement for ejecting ink, the ink jet nozzle arrangement comprising:
a substrate that defines an ink inlet;
integrated circuitry positioned on the substrate;
a nozzle structure positioned on the substrate and defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber from which ink can be ejected; and
an elongate actuator having a fixed end fast with respect to the substrate and a free end extending into the nozzle chamber, the actuator comprising a pair of mechanically coupled and electrically isolated arms extending along the substrate with one of the arms being interposed between the other arm and the substrate, the interposed arm being electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry;
wherein the actuator is configured so that when the interposed arm receives an electrical signal from the integrated circuitry, the actuator experiences differential thermal expansion and bends to induce movement of its free end and thereby eject ink in the nozzle chamber from the ink ejection port.