Droplet Deposition Apparatus and Method for Manufacturing the Same

摘要

A droplet deposition apparatus, such as an inkjet printhead, that includes an integrally-formed manifold component and one or more actuator components; these actuator components provide an first array of fluid chambers, each of which has a piezoelectric actuator element and a nozzle, with this piezoelectric actuator element being able to cause the release in a deposition direction of fluid droplets through the nozzle in response to electrical signals; the first array of fluid chambers extends in an array direction from a first longitudinal end to a second, opposite longitudinal end, this array direction being perpendicular to the deposition direction; in addition, the manifold component is elongate in the array direction and includes a first and second manifold chambers, with these manifold chambers extending side-by-side in the array direction and the first manifold chamber being fluidically connected to the second manifold chamber via each of the fluid chambers in the first array; the cross-sectional area of at least one of these manifold chambers is tapered with distance in the array direction, for example to improve purging of the chambers during start-up; the cross-sectional shape of the integrally-formed manifold component perpendicular to the array direction varies with distance in the array direction such that the centroid of the cross-section remains a substantially constant distance, in said deposition direction, from said array of fluid chambers over the length of the first array of fluid chambers, with the integrally-formed manifold component thus being essentially self-stiffening.

主权项

1. Droplet deposition apparatus comprising an integrally-formed manifold component and one or more actuator components;
wherein said one or more actuator components provide a first array of fluid chambers, each having a piezoelectric actuator element and a nozzle, said piezoelectric actuator element being operable to cause the release in a deposition direction of fluid droplets through said nozzle in response to electrical signals, said first array of fluid chambers extending in an array direction from a first longitudinal end to a second, opposite longitudinal end, said array direction being generally perpendicular to said deposition direction; wherein the manifold component is elongate in said array direction and comprises a first manifold chamber and a second manifold chamber, said first and second manifold chambers extending side-by-side in said array direction and said first manifold chamber being fluidically connected to said second manifold chamber via each of said fluid chambers in said first array; wherein the cross-sectional area of at least one of said first manifold chamber and said second manifold chamber tapers with distance in the array direction; and wherein the cross-sectional shape of said manifold component perpendicular to said array direction varies with distance in the array direction such that the centroid of the cross-section remains a substantially constant distance, in said deposition direction, from said array of fluid chambers over the length of the first array of fluid chambers.