INKJET NOZZLE ASSEMBLY WITH DROP DIRECTIONALITY CONTROL VIA INDEPENDENTLY ACTUABLE ROOF PADDLES

摘要

Abstract An inkjet nozzle assembly having: a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the nozzle chamber including a floor and a roof having a nozzle opening defined therein; and a plurality of moveable 5 paddles defining part of the roof. The plurality of paddles are actuable to cause ejection of an ink droplet from the nozzle opening. Each paddle includes a thermal bend actuator, and each actuator is independently controllable via respective drive circuitry such that a direction of droplet ejection from the nozzle opening is controllable by independent movement of each paddle.