초록 ▼

A printhead module includes a printhead body, a nozzle plate and one or more piezoelectric actuators. The printhead body includes one or more pumping chambers, where each pumping chamber includes a receiving end to receive a printing liquid from a printing liquid supply and an ejecting end for eject

A printhead module includes a printhead body, a nozzle plate and one or more piezoelectric actuators. The printhead body includes one or more pumping chambers, where each pumping chamber includes a receiving end to receive a printing liquid from a printing liquid supply and an ejecting end for ejecting the printing liquid from the pumping chamber. The nozzle plate includes one or more nozzles formed through the nozzle plate. Each nozzle can be in fluid communication with a pumping chamber and receive printing liquid from the ejecting end for ejection from the nozzle. The one or more piezoelectric actuators are connected to the nozzle plate. A piezoelectric actuator is positioned over each pumping chamber and includes a piezoelectric material configured to deflect and pressurize the pumping chamber, so as to eject printing liquid from a corresponding nozzle in fluid communication with the ejecting end of the pumping chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A printhead module, comprising: a printhead body including one or more pumping chambers, where each pumping chamber includes a receiving end configured to receive a printing liquid from a printing liquid supply and an ejecting end for ejecting the printing liquid from the pum

What is claimed is: 1. A printhead module, comprising: a printhead body including one or more pumping chambers, where each pumping chamber includes a receiving end configured to receive a printing liquid from a printing liquid supply and an ejecting end for ejecting the printing liquid from the pumping chamber; a nozzle plate including one or more nozzles formed through the nozzle plate, where a nozzle is in fluid communication with each pumping chamber and receives printing liquid from the ejecting end of the pumping chamber for ejection from the nozzle and where the nozzle plate includes one or more regions of reduced thickness and where an inner surface of each such region forms an inner surface of each of the one or more pumping chambers; and one or more piezoelectric actuators connected to the nozzle plate, where a piezoelectric actuator is positioned over each pumping chamber and includes a piezoelectric material configured to deflect and pressurize the pumping chamber, so as to eject printing liquid from a corresponding nozzle that is in fluid communication with the ejecting end of the pumping chamber and where the piezoelectric material is positioned between a first and a second electrode and the first electrode is positioned between the piezoelectric material and an outer surface of one of the regions of reduced thickness of the nozzle plate. 2. The printhead module of claim 1, further comprising: a printing liquid supply assembly, where the printing liquid supply assembly includes a reservoir in fluid communication with the receiving end of the pumping chamber; wherein: the printhead body includes a back face that is substantially parallel to a nozzle face which connects to the nozzle plate; the printing liquid supply assembly is connected to the back face of the printhead body; and the receiving end of the pumping chamber includes an opening on the back face of the printhead body in fluid communication with the reservoir. 3. The printhead module of claim 2, wherein the printhead module includes a plurality of pumping chambers, the printhead module farther comprising: at least one printing liquid channel formed in the back face of the printhead body, the at least one printing liquid channel in fluid communication with openings of a plurality of pumping chambers and with the reservoir, where printing liquid enters the at least one printing liquid channel from the reservoir and is directed into the openings of the plurality of pumping chambers. 4. The printhead module of claim 3, wherein the at least one printing liquid channel includes at least two sides angled toward the openings of the plurality of pumping chambers. 5. A printhead system comprising: a printhead module having a nozzle face and a back face substantially parallel to and opposite the nozzle face, the printhead module including: a printhead body including one or more pumping chambers, where each pumping chamber includes a receiving end configured to receive a printing liquid from a printing liquid supply and an ejecting end for ejecting the printing liquid from the pumping chamber; a nozzle plate including one or more nozzles formed through the nozzle plate, where a nozzle is in fluid communication with each pumping chamber and receives printing liquid from the ejecting end of the pumping chamber for ejection from the nozzle and where the nozzle plate includes one or more regions of reduced thickness and where an inner surface of each such region forms an inner surface of each of the one or more pumping chambers; and one or more piezoelectric actuators connected to the nozzle plate, where a piezoelectric actuator is positioned over each pumping chamber and includes a piezoelectric material configured to deflect and pressurize the pumping chamber, so as to eject printing liquid from a corresponding nozzle that is in fluid communication with the ejecting end of the pumping chamber and where the piezoelectric material is positioned between a first and a second electrode and the first electrode is positioned between the piezoelectric material and an outer surface of one of the regions of reduced thickness of the nozzle plate; and a flexible circuit connected to the nozzle face of the printhead module and electrically coupled to the one or more piezoelectric actuators so as to provide signals to the one or more piezoelectric actuators to selectively pressurize the one or more pumping chambers to fire the one or more corresponding nozzles. 6. A printhead system comprising: a printhead module, including: a printhead body including one or more pumping chambers, where each pumping chamber includes a receiving end configured to receive a printing liquid from a printing liquid supply and an ejecting end for ejecting the printing liquid from the pumping chamber; a nozzle plate including one or more nozzles formed through the nozzle plate, where a nozzle is in fluid communication with each pumping chamber and receives printing liquid from the ejecting end of the pumping chamber for ejection from the nozzle and where the nozzle plate includes one or more regions of reduced thickness and where an inner surface of each such region forms an inner surface of each of the one or more pumping chambers; one or more piezoelectric actuators connected to the nozzle plate, where a piezoelectric actuator is positioned over each pumping chamber and includes a piezoelectric material configured to deflect and pressurize the pumping chamber, so as to eject printing liquid from a corresponding nozzle that is in fluid communication with the ejecting end of the pumping chamber and where the piezoelectric material is positioned between a first and a second electrode and the first electrode is positioned between the piezoelectric material and an outer surface of one of the regions of reduced thickness of the nozzle plate; and a cap attached to the nozzle plate and including one or more apertures connecting to the one or more nozzles formed through the nozzle plate, where the cap is configured to cover the one or more piezoelectric actuators while providing sufficient clearance for the piezoelectric material included in the one or more actuators to deflect when actuated. 7. The printhead system of claim 6, where the cap further comprises one or more vias coated with an electrically conductive layer connecting an exterior face of the cap to the one or more piezoelectric actuators, the printhead system further comprising: a flexible circuit connected to the exterior face of the cap of the printhead module and electrically coupled to the one or more piezoelectric actuators by the one or more vias so as to provide signals to the one or more piezoelectric actuators to selectively pressurize the one or more pumping chambers to fire the one or more corresponding nozzles. 8. The printhead system of claim 6, where the printhead module further comprises: a printing liquid supply assembly, where the printing liquid supply assembly includes a reservoir in fluid communication with the receiving end of the pumping chamber; wherein: the printhead body includes a back face that is substantially parallel to a nozzle face which connects to the nozzle plate; the printing liquid supply assembly is connected to the back face of the printhead body; and the receiving end of the pumping chamber includes an opening on the back face of the printhead body in fluid communication with the reservoir. 9. The printhead system of claim 8, where the printhead module includes a plurality of pumping chambers, the printhead module further comprising: at least one printing liquid channel formed in the back face of the printhead body, the at least one printing liquid channel in fluid communication with openings of a plurality of pumping chambers and with the reservoir, where printing liquid enters the at least one printing liquid channel from the reservoir and is directed into the openings of the plurality of pumping chambers. 10. The printhead system of claim 9, where the at least one printing liquid channel includes at least two sides angled toward the openings of the plurality of pumping chambers. 11. A printhead system comprising: a printhead module, including: a printhead body including one or more pumping chambers, where each pumping chamber includes a receiving end configured to receive a printing liquid from a printing liquid supply and an ejecting end for ejecting the printing liquid from the pumping chamber; a nozzle plate including one or more nozzles formed through the nozzle plate, where a nozzle is in fluid communication with each pumping chamber and receives printing liquid from the ejecting end of the pumping chamber for ejection from the nozzle; one or more piezoelectric actuators connected to the nozzle plate, where a piezoelectric actuator is positioned over each pumping chamber and includes a piezoelectric material configured to deflect and pressurize the pumping chamber, so as to eject printing liquid from a corresponding nozzle that is in fluid communication with the ejecting end of the pumping chamber; a cap attached to the nozzle plate and including one or more apertures connecting to the one or more nozzles formed through the nozzle plate, where the cap is configured to cover the one or more piezoelectric actuators while providing sufficient clearance for the piezoelectric material included in the one or more actuators to deflect when actuated, where the cap further comprises one or more vias coated with an electrically conductive layer connecting an exterior face of the cap to the one or more piezoelectric actuators; and a flexible circuit connected to the exterior face of the cap of the printhead module and electrically coupled to the one or more piezoelectric actuators by the one or more vias so as to provide signals to the one or more piezoelectric actuators to selectively pressurize the one or more pumping chambers to fire the one or more corresponding nozzles.