Ink jet mechanism with thermoelastic bend actuator having conductive and resistive beams

摘要

An ink jet printer uses a planar thermoelastic bend actuator to eject ink from a nozzle chamber. The thermal actuator includes a lower planar surface constructed from a highly conductive material such as a semiconductor metal layer interconnected to an upper planar surface constructed from an electrically resistive material such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), such that, upon passing a current between the planar surfaces, the thermal actuator is caused to bend towards an ink ejection port so as to thereby cause ejection of ink from the ink ejection port. The actuator is attached to a substrate and further includes a stiff paddle portion which increases the degree of bending of the actuator near the point where it is attached to the substrate. The surfaces are further coated with a passivation material as required.