Thermoelastic bend actuator ink jet printing mechanism

摘要

This patent describes an ink jet printer including an actuated paddle for the movement and ejection of liquid within a chamber. The paddle includes a hydrophobic surface close to a wall of the ejection chamber and amendable to the collection of gases. The paddle is actuated to move the hydrophobic surface away from the wall of the chamber. The paddle is thermally actuated by means of a first structure having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second structure comprising polytetrafluoroethylene having a substantially larger coefficient of thermal expansion. The paddle can be liquid cooled by the ink liquid and the position of elements is utilized to enhance operation through liquid cooling.