Ink jet printer mechanism with colinear nozzle and inlet

摘要

An ink jet nozzle assembly includes a nozzle chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and a nozzle through which ink from the chamber can be ejected. The chamber includes a fixed portion and a movable portion. Relative movement between the fixed portion and the movable portion in an ejection phase reduces an effective volume of the chamber. Alternate movement in a refill phase enlarges the effective volume of the chamber. The inlet is positioned directly behind the nozzle and is dimensioned relative to the nozzle such that ink is ejected preferentially from the chamber through the nozzle in the ejection phase and ink is drawn preferentially into the chamber through the inlet in the refill phase.