Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for ejecting ink includes a substrate defining an ink supply passage; a first endless wall extending from the substrate and bounding the ink supply passage; an elongate actuator operatively anchored at a fixed end to the substrate and at a location external to the confines of the first endless wall, the actuator configured to reciprocally bend towards and away from the substrate on receipt of an electrical current; and a cover terminating a free end of the actuator, the cover defining a second endless wall suspended from the cover within the confines of the first endless wall to define an ink chamber with the first endless wall, the cover further defining an ink ejection port through which ink in the ink chamber is ejected. The reciprocal bending of the actuator towards and away from the substrate varies a volume of the ink chamber and effects ejection of ink from the ink chamber through the ink ejection port.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet channel; a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel, the nozzle chamber including an ink ejection port defined through a roof of the nozzle chamber, and a pivotal wall formed as part of one sidewall of the nozzle chamber; a paddle attached to the pivotal wall in a cantilevered manner, and extending into the nozzle chamber; a pair of anchors extending from the substrate assembly, a first anchor of the pair connected to a positive electrical contact and a second anchor of the pair connected to a negative electrical contact; and a thermal expansion actuator forming a bridge between the pair of anchors and the pivotal wall, the thermal expansion actuator having two arms each respectively attached to each of the pair of anchors, the thermal expansion actuator further having a bridge portion bridging the two arm.

Abstract: A thermal bend actuator comprising: (a) a pair of electrical contacts positioned at one end of the actuator; (b) an active beam connected to the electrical contacts and extending longitudinally away from the contacts, the active beam defining a bent current flow path between the contacts; and (c) a passive beam fused to the active beam. When a current is passed through the active beam, the active beam heats and expands relative to the passive beam, resulting in bending of the actuator. The active beam comprises a resistive heating bar having a relatively smaller cross-sectional area than any other part of the current flow path. Heating of the active beam is concentrated in the heating bar.

Abstract: An inkjet nozzle assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof. The roof has a nozzle opening defined therein, and a moving portion moveable towards the floor. The assembly further comprises a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening. A first active beam of the actuator defines at least part of an exterior surface of the roof.

Abstract: The invention provides a printhead assembly for a printer which prints onto a moving web that follows a path. A full width printhead located across the path of the printer. The printhead is a color printhead which is at least as wide as the web. The printhead is supplied with a number of different inks which are remote from the printhead and which are supplied to the printhead through tubes. In some embodiments the printhead is retained by a rail which is located across the path and along which the printhead slides into and out of a printing position.

Abstract: A heater chip has a substrate and at least one die, made of silicon, and a bond non-adhesively attaching them. The substrate, thick enough to resist bowing, has ink supply vias from back to front surfaces. The die has ink flow vias from back to front surfaces and circuitry including heater elements adjacent the front surface interspersed with ink flow vias. The at least one die is superimposed on the substrate such that ink supply vias of the substrate align with ink flow vias of the die and portions of substrate front surface and die back surface are aligned, disposed adjacent and facing one another. The bond formed between substrate and die facing surface portions is hermetic and equal in strength to a Si—O bond. By separate processing of carrier and device wafers, size and features of substrate and die can be tailored to provide a desired heater chip construction.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead comprising: an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle and a thermal actuator for generating vapor bubbles to eject ink through the nozzle; wherein, the thermal actuator has a pair of contacts and at least two parallel current paths between the contacts, each of the current paths having a plurality of heater elements for nucleating a vapor bubble.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical integrated circuit device comprises a substrate; drive circuitry positioned on the substrate; and a plurality of elongate actuators. Each actuator comprises a fixed end portion fast with the substrate, a free end portion that is spaced from the substrate, and a heating circuit that is connected to the drive circuitry to heat the actuator. A portion of the actuator is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion such that the material is capable of performing work by thermal expansion. The heating circuit is positioned to generate differential thermal expansion and contraction when heated and cooled to cause reciprocal displacement of the free end portion of the actuator. Each actuator is a laminated structure having a first metal layer and a dielectric layer, the first metal layer being interposed between the dielectric layer and the substrate and defining the heating circuit.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead comprising: a substrate; a plurality of chambers supported by the substrate for receiving therewithin bubble forming liquid; a nozzle aperture formed in a surface of each chamber; a beam suspended within each chamber, the beam comprising at least one respective heater element. The at least one respective heater element heats at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein, thereby causing ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle aperture corresponding to the heater element.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. Each heater element is shaped to define at least one broken annulus, in turn, comprising said at least one arcuate portion.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer comprises a wafer assembly defining a plurality of spaced apart groups of ink supply channels and a plurality of groups of ink ejection nozzle arrangements. Each ink ejection nozzle arrangement comprises a nozzle chamber structure mounted to the wafer assembly. Each ink ejection nozzle arrangement further comprises an anchor extending from the wafer assembly in a location external to the nozzle chamber; and an elongate thermal actuator mechanism extending from the anchor and into the nozzle chamber. The thermal actuator mechanism comprises an elongate arm which terminates in a free end within the nozzle chamber, and a pair of layers of conductive material located on either side of the elongate arm. One of the layers is connected to a current supply for causing a differential thermal expansion in the elongate thermal actuator mechanism. A pit is defined adjacent each nozzle chamber structure for catching ink.

Abstract: Disclosed are colorant compounds of the formula wherein R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each, independently of the others, is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, and wherein R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each can be joined to a phenyl moiety to form a ring, each R?a, R?b, and R?c, independently of the others, is a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a nitrile group, a nitro group, an amide group, or a sulfonamide group, z1, z2, and z3 each, independently of the others, is an integer of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, n is an integer representing the number of carbon atoms in each repeat alkylene oxide unit, x is an integer representing the number of repeat alkylene oxide units, D is an anion, and g is the charge on the anion, wherein said colorant has no more than one —OH, —SH, or primary or secondary amino group per molecule.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for ejecting ink comprises a substrate assembly defining an ink supply passage and incorporating a drive circuitry layer; a heater positioned on the substrate assembly, the heater having a pair of heater elements connected to electrical contacts, which electrical contacts are electrically coupled to the drive circuitry layer; and a nozzle chamber structure extending from said heater to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply passage and in which the heater element is located, the nozzle chamber structure defining an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected when current is supplied from the drive circuitry layer to the heater element. The electrical contacts each have an enlarged cross-sectional area relative to the cross-section area of the heater element. A first heater element of the pair of heater elements has a surface area larger than that of the second heater element of the pair of heater elements.

Abstract: Disclosed are colorant compounds of the formula wherein R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each, independently of the others, is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, and wherein R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each can be joined to a phenyl moiety to form a ring, each R?a, R?b, and R?c, independently of the others, is a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a nitrile group, a nitro group, an amide group, or a sulfonamide group, z1, z2, and z3 each, independently of the others, is an integer of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, n is an integer representing the number of carbon atoms in each repeat alkylene oxide unit, x is an integer representing the number of repeat alkylene oxide units, D is an anion, and g is the charge on the anion, wherein said colorant has no more than one —OH, —SH, or primary or secondary amino group per molecule.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement ejects ink through apertures that each have an externally projecting peripheral rim. The nozzle arrangement has a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage and including heater element drive circuitry, a nozzle chamber structure formed on the substrate assembly, the nozzle chamber structure defining nozzle chambers in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage and apertures through which ink in each of the nozzle chambers can be ejected, and heater elements positioned between the drive circuitry and the apertures. The heater elements are connected to the drive circuitry and are individually supplied with current to eject ink from one of the apertures respectively.

Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising a substrate defining a plurality of ink inlets; a plurality of nozzle assemblies positioned on the substrate, each nozzle assembly defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with a respective ink inlet and a nozzle opening from which ink is ejected; and a plurality of endless containment walls extending from the substrate. Each endless containment wall surrounds a group of nozzle assemblies and defines a containment chamber to contain leakage ink from the group of nozzle assemblies therewithin.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has a plurality of nozzles and a bubble forming chamber corresponding to each nozzle. The bubble forming chamber of each nozzle has at least one side wall and at least one heater element suspended within each of the bubble forming chambers respectively. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through an ejection aperture in each nozzle, to effect printing. The heater element is spaced from the side wall of the bubble forming chamber by between 0.1 microns and 20 microns. The nucleation and growth of a gas bubble causes the pressure pulse that ejects ink from the nozzle aperture. By laterally enclosing the bubble with at least one of the side walls of the chamber, most of the pressure is dissipated by ejecting ink through the nozzle.

Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit comprising a substrate having a plurality of nozzle assemblies. A nozzle plate has a plurality of nozzles openings defined therein and each nozzle opening corresponds to a respective nozzle assembly. Each nozzle assembly havs a respective nozzle chamber and a heater element positioned in the nozzle chamber. Each heater element is suspended in the nozzle chamber and parallel with a plane of the nozzle plate. The integrated circuit includes drive circuitry for controlling actuation of the heater elements. Each heater element includes solid material having a thickness of at least 0.25 microns and a mass of less than 10 nanograms.

Abstract: The current invention provides for a nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer. The nozzle arrangement includes a wafer substrate defining an ink supply channel therethrough, with side wall portions and a top wall portion arranged on the wafer substrate to define a nozzle chamber for operatively receiving ink, said top wall portion defining an ink ejection port and a plurality of etchant holes therein of sufficient diameter such that surface tension effects restrict ink being ejected from the chamber via the etchant holes. The nozzle arrangement also includes a thermal actuator cantilevered on the wafer substrate so that the actuator partitions the nozzle chamber, the actuator having a heater layer which produces thermal expansion of said actuator upon activation, thereby ejecting ink from the nozzle chamber via the ejection port.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead and a method of manufacturing the same. The inkjet printhead may include a substrate in which a manifold to supply ink is formed in a lower portion of the substrate and a plurality of ink feed holes connected to the manifold are formed in an upper portion of the substrate, feed hole guides that are formed on inner sidewalls of the ink feed holes to define lengths of the ink feed holes, a chamber layer stacked on the substrate, the chamber layer including a plurality of ink chambers connected to the ink feed holes, a plurality of heaters to heat ink inside the ink chambers to generate bubbles, and a nozzle layer stacked on the chamber layer, the nozzle layer including a plurality of nozzles, the ink being ejectable through the nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead that has an array of ink ejection nozzles, an array of chambers adapted to store ink for ejection through each of the nozzles respectively, a plurality of ink inlet channels for feeding ink the array of chambers, and a plurality of actuators, one of the actuators being positioned in each of the chambers respectively for ejecting drops of ink through the nozzle. A plurality elongate ink feed channels is connected to the ink inlet channels. Each of the ink inlet channels is long and narrow relative to the dimensions of the chamber such that ink in said chamber is restricted from flowing out during ink drop ejection by viscous drag generated by the ink inlet channel. This enhances the droplet ejection efficiency as less of the pressure pulse generated by the actuator is lost to ink back flow.

Abstract: An ink jet print head substrate capable of precisely blowing fuse element to store data reliably is provided. An ink jet print head incorporating such a substrate and an ink jet printing apparatus are also provided. The interlayer insulating film formed over the fuse element is made of a material that has a lower melting point than the material of the fuse element and which forms a cavity therein by heat produced when the fuse elements is blown.

Abstract: Fluid ejection actuators, micro-fluid ejection heads, and methods relating thereto. One such fluid ejection actuator is provided by a conductive layer adjacent a substrate. The conductive layer has a substantially non-conductive portion. The substantially non-conductive portion includes a portion of the conductive layer which has been treated to have low conductivity properties. A resistive layer is adjacent the conductive layer. The substantially non-conductive portion of the conductive layer substantially defines the fluid ejection actuator.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical integrated circuit includes a substrate. Drive circuitry is positioned on the substrate. The device includes a plurality of elongate actuators. Each actuator includes a fixed end portion fast with the substrate. A free end portion is spaced from the substrate. A heating circuit is connected to the drive circuitry to heat the actuator. At least a portion of the actuator is of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is such that the material is capable of thermal expansion to do work. The heating circuit is positioned to generate differential thermal expansion and contraction when heated and subsequently cooled to cause reciprocal displacement of the free end portion of the actuator. Each actuator is a laminated structure having a first metal layer and a dielectric layer. The first metal layer is interposed between the dielectric layer and the substrate and defines the heating circuit.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead.

Abstract: The landing precision of ink drops is improved to improve the image quality and increase the printing speed. An inkjet print head ejects ink supplied from an ink supply port from a plurality of ejection ports respectively connecting to ink paths having different flow resistances by using energy generated by a plurality of electrothermal transducer elements respectively corresponding to the plurality of the ejection ports, wherein each of the plurality of the ejection ports connected to the ink paths having a low ink flow resistance is arranged so that the center of each of the plurality of the ejection ports is positioned farther away from the ink supply port to the center of the corresponding electrothermal transducer element than each of the plurality of the ejection ports connected to the ink paths having a high ink flow resistance.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head is provided that is adapted, when the ejection of comparatively small ink droplets by one print head is required, to not only increase a printing speed and a printing resolution but also to prevent the occurrence of cavitation. The liquid ejection head includes: nozzles, for which heaters are formed to generate thermal energy used to eject ink; and bubble generation chambers, for which ejection ports are formed for ejecting ink upon the application of thermal energy provided by the heaters. Further, a partition wall is formed in each bubble generation chamber at a position opposite the ejection port.

Abstract: An ink jet print head substrate capable of precisely blowing fuse element to store data reliably is provided. An ink jet print head incorporating such a substrate and an ink jet printing apparatus are also provided. The interlayer insulating film formed over the fuse element is made of a material that has a lower melting point than the material of the fuse element and which forms a cavity therein by heat produced when the fuse elements is blown.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device that has a firing chamber from which heated fluid is ejected, a heating element that heats fluid in the firing chamber and drive circuitry for the heating element. At least part of the drive circuitry is positioned within 60 microns of the heating element.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head is provided with one heat generating member in each of ink flow paths, and the discharge port thereof is arranged on the extended line extending in the normal direction from the center of the main surface of the heat generating member to the surface of the substrate. Then, on the surface of the substrate, non-bubbling area is provided on the center within the projected area having the discharge port projected thereon. Bubble brought to the boil by the heat generating member pushes out ink from the discharge port by the pressure exerted by the bubble, while being communicated with the outside. With the structure thus arranged, it is made possible to enhance the precision of discharge direction of the liquid droplet discharged from the discharge port.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles 3 and one or more heater elements 10 corresponding to each nozzle 3. Each heater element 10 is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid 11 in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble 12 therein. The generation of the bubble 12 causes the ejection of a drop 16 of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through an ejection aperture 5 in each nozzle 3, to effect printing. The heat energy difference between an ejected drop of the ejectable liquid and an equivalent volume of the ejectable liquid supplied to the nozzle to replace the ejected drop, is substantially equal to the electrical energy required by the heater and the drive circuitry to eject the drop. Using this configuration, the printhead is thermally isolated in that it dissipates heat without the need for an additional heat sinking system. This allows the spacing between nozzles to be decreased thereby improving nozzle density and print quality.

Abstract: A cavitation structure for a print head has a first dielectric layer overlying at least a first portion of a substrate. A second dielectric layer has a first portion overlying at least a second portion of the substrate and a second portion, different from the first portion of the second dielectric layer, overlying at least a portion of the first dielectric layer. A cavitation layer has a first portion in contact with the first dielectric layer and a second portion in lateral contact with the second portion of the second dielectric layer. A third dielectric layer is disposed on only the first portion of the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink ejection arrangements. Each arrangement includes a silicon wafer having an ink channel etched therethrough, with ink operatively supplied to a first surface of the wafer via said channel to an ink ejection chamber located along the surface of the wafer. Each arrangement also includes an external actuator arranged on the wafer, and a paddle inside the chamber and attached to the actuator which is activated so as to compress a portion of the ink within the chamber against a sidewall of said chamber to eject ink from the chamber. The chamber defines an arcuate profile shaped to guide the paddle on an arcuate path.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a plurality of nozzles each including an ejection outlet for ejecting a droplet, an ejection energy generating element, disposed at a position opposing the ejection outlet, for generating energy for ejecting a droplet, a pressure chamber provided with the ejection energy generating element and fluidly communicating with the ejection outlet, and a supply passage for supplying the liquid to the pressure chamber, wherein the nozzles include a first nozzle and a second nozzle which are connected with respective ones of the supply passages having lengths different from each other, wherein the first nozzle and the second nozzle are, disposed at one end portion with respect to a widthwise direction of an elongated supply chamber for supplying the liquid to the first nozzle, wherein the supply passage for the first nozzle extends in a direction perpendicular to a direction of liquid ejection from the ejection outlet and fluidly communicates with the supply chamber, and wherein the supp

Abstract: An ink jet printhead comprises a plurality of nozzles each having a nozzle aperture; a bubble forming chamber corresponding to each of the nozzles respectively; an ejectable liquid inlet for establishing fluid communication between the nozzle aperture and an ejectable liquid supply, the ejectable liquid inlet and the nozzle aperture being aligned such that they have a common central axis; and a heater element disposed in each of the bubble forming chambers. Each heater element has two bubble nucleation regions suspended within the bubble forming chamber in a plane parallel to that of the nozzle aperture. The two bubble nucleation regions are laterally offset from the central axis, such that the lateral offset of one of the bubble nucleation regions is equal and opposite to the lateral offset of the other bubble nucleation region.

Abstract: Provided are a printing head and an inkjet printing apparatus, which eject liquid droplets without leaving behind any bubble in each nozzle, thus having an enhanced durability. An ejection port of the printing head includes a first ejection port part communicating with the atmosphere and a second ejection port part having a cross-section orthogonal to an ejection direction being larger than a cross-section of the first ejection port part orthogonal to the ejection direction, and being formed between the energy effect chamber and the first ejection port part. In addition, the second ejection port part is formed to be eccentric to an electrothermal transducing element in an ink supply direction in which ink is supplied from an ink supplying port to the bubbling chamber.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead and a source of fluid. The printhead includes a nozzle. The fluid is under pressure sufficient to eject a column of the fluid through the nozzle. The fluid has a temperature. An asymmetric thermal modulator is associated with the nozzle and includes a structure that transiently lowers the temperature of a first portion of the fluid as the fluid is ejected through the nozzle and a structure that transiently raises the temperature of a second portion of the fluid as the fluid is ejected through the nozzle.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of heater elements each for heating an ejectable liquid to cause ejection of a drop of the ejectable liquid from a respective one of the nozzles. Each heater element is configured such that the energy required to be applied thereto to cause ejection of the drop is less than the energy required to heat a volume of the ejectable liquid equal to the volume of the drop to a temperature less than 40 degrees Celsius above ambient temperature.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device having a first fluid feed source having a first fluid feed source edge in communication with a substrate surface, first firing resistors disposed along the first fluid feed source and configured to respond to a first current to heat fluid provided by the first fluid feed source, and a reference conductor. The reference conductor is configured to conduct the first current from the first firing resistors, wherein the reference conductor is disposed between the first fluid feed source edge and the first firing resistors.

Abstract: A fuse element can be reliably blown and data that corresponds to whether or not the fuse element has been blown can be stored with high reliability. A resistor element is provided in a circuit through which an electric current flows to blow the fuse element in the ink jet printing head. The resistor element adjusts the electric current so that, in the process of blowing the fuse element, the current continues to flow for a predetermined duration even after a maximum current has passed through the fuse element. The predetermined duration is longer than a period from a time point when the electric current rises to a time point when the electric current reaches the maximum current.

Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate that defines a plurality of ink inlet channels. A drive circuitry layer is positioned on the substrate. A plurality of nozzle arrangements is positioned on the support. Each nozzle arrangement includes a wall portion bounding a respective ink inlet channel. A crown portion defines an outlet through which ink can be ejected. A skirt portion depends from the crown portion so that the crown, skirt and wall portions define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the respective ink inlet channel and the outlet. An elongate actuator is connected to the crown portion at one end and anchored to the substrate at an opposite end, to receive electrical signals from the drive circuitry. The actuator is configured so that, on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry layer, the actuator is displaced towards and away from the substrate to reduce and subsequently enlarge the nozzle chamber so that ink is ejected from the outlet.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead with an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle, an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle, an inlet opening allowing ink to refill the chamber and a filter structure at the inlet opening; wherein, the filter structure has rows of obstructions extending transverse to the flow direction through the opening, the obstructions in each row being spaced such that they are out of registration with the obstructions in an adjacent row with respect to the flow direction. Filtering the ink as it enters the chamber removes the contaminants and bubbles but it also retards ink flow into the chamber. The present invention uses a filter structure that has rows of obstructions in the flow path. The rows are offset with respect to each other to induce turbulence. This has a minimal effect on the nozzle refill rate but the air bubbles or other contaminants are likely to be retained by the obstructions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid discharge apparatus adapted for discharging inks from discharge holes, which includes a control unit for controlling a discharge control unit, wherein the control unit controls the discharge control unit in such a manner that pulse current delivered to one of a pair of heating resistors is caused to be reference, and pulse current is delivered to the other heating resistor in the state where timing is shifted in a time of the range within 20% of supply time of pulse current serving as reference with respect to supply timing of pulse current serving as reference. Thus, it is possible to suppress unevenness or variation of impact positions of ink droplets discharged in the state where discharge direction has been changed. As a result, deterioration of picture quality resulting from color tone unevenness and/or white stripe, etc. is prevented. Thus, print operation can be performed at excellent picture quality.

Abstract: A thermal inkjet printhead with a heater element disposed in each of the bubble forming chambers wherein, the heater element has a protective surface coating that is less than 0.1 ?m thick while still being capable of ejecting more than 1 billion drops without failure. Removing most or all of the protective coatings from the heater reduces or eliminates the thermal insulation between the heater and the ink. Nucleating a bubble in the ink chamber requires a much shorter pulse of less energy thereby improving printhead efficiency.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle, a droplet stem anchor and an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle. During use, the ink ejected from the nozzle is attached to the droplet stem anchor by an ink stem until the stem breaks so that the ejected ink forms a separate drop.

Abstract: A printer system is provided having a printhead including nozzles with bubble forming chambers, a heater element(s) disposed in each chamber configured for thermal contact with a bubble forming liquid, and drive circuitry corresponding to the nozzles for controlling operation of the heater elements via electrodes, such that the heater element forms a gas bubble in the liquid that causes drop ejection from the nozzle. Parts of the drive circuitry is disposed on opposing sides of the chambers. The heater element has a bubble nucleation section of smaller cross section than the rest of the heater element where the bubble nucleation section and the rest of the heater element are co-planar and remain co-planar when the heater element is heated. An actuation energy of less than 500 nanojoules is required to be applied to each heater element to heat it sufficiently to form the bubble.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead comprising a plurality of micro-electromechanical ink ejection nozzles is provided. Each nozzle comprises a nozzle chamber positioned on a substrate, and actuators and associated coupling structures for ejecting ink from the chamber. The nozzle chamber has a static nozzle section and an active nozzle section. The static section has static walls extending from the substrate and the active section has a roof wall defining an ink ejection port and an active wall depending from the roof wall about the static walls. The roof and active walls are displaceable relative to the static walls so as to change a volume of the chamber. This causes ink in the chamber to be ejected from the port. The actuators are arranged to displace the roof and active walls with substantially rectilinear movement, via the coupling structures, on receipt of an actuating signal from drive circuitry on the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid ejection head capable of performing a stable ejection operation at high speed even when thermal expansion of a valve supporting member occurs during liquid ejection. This is because the liquid ejection head allows the thermal expansion to influence supported valves only to a small extent, and a highly accurate and stable adhesion state to be obtained. To this end, first holes, second holes and slits are provided in the valve supporting member.

Abstract: A thermal inkjet printhead with heater elements formed from a self passivating transition metal nitride, but it oxidizes readily. By introducing an additive that allows the metal nitride to self passivate, the heater element forms a surface oxide layer, where the oxide has a low diffusion coefficient for oxygen so as to provide a barrier to further oxidation. With enhanced oxidation resistance, coatings to protect the heater from oxidative failure become unnecessary and the energy needed to form a bubble is reduced.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead comprising: an array of nozzles; a plurality of actuators for ejecting ink through the nozzles such that a bulb of ink attached to a droplet stem forms prior to drop separation when the stem breaks; a plurality of droplet stem anchors positioned between adjacent actuators; wherein during use, the adjacent actuators eject ink simultaneously and the droplet stem anchors combine the ink simultaneously ejected by the adjacent nozzles into a single drop.