(19)
(11) EP 1 508 444 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
16.03.2005 Bulletin 2005/11

(43) Date of publication A2:
23.02.2005 Bulletin 2005/08

(21) Application number: 04024058.2

(22) Date of filing: 15.07.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B41J 2/045, B41J 2/14, B41J 2/16
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 15.07.1997 AU PO806697
15.07.1997 AU PO807297
15.07.1997 AU PO807197
15.07.1997 AU PO804797
15.07.1997 AU PO803597
15.07.1997 AU PO804497
15.07.1997 AU PO806397
15.07.1997 AU PO805697
15.07.1997 AU PO806997
15.07.1997 AU PO804997
15.07.1997 AU PO803697
15.07.1997 AU PO804897
15.07.1997 AU PO807097
15.07.1997 AU PO806797
15.07.1997 AU PO800197
15.07.1997 AU PO804197
15.07.1997 AU PO800497
15.07.1997 AU PO793597
15.07.1997 AU PO793697
15.07.1997 AU PO806197
15.07.1997 AU PO805497
15.07.1997 AU PO806597
15.07.1997 AU PO805597
15.07.1997 AU PO805397
15.07.1997 AU PO793397
15.07.1997 AU PO795097
15.07.1997 AU PO794997
15.07.1997 AU PO806097
15.07.1997 AU PO805997
15.07.1997 AU PO807397
15.07.1997 AU PO807697
15.07.1997 AU PO807597
15.07.1997 AU PO807797
15.07.1997 AU PO805897
09.06.1998 AU PP398398
09.06.1998 AU PP398298

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
98933350.5 / 0999933

(71) Applicant: Silverbrook Research Pty. Limited
Balmain, NSW 2041 (AU)

(72) Inventor:
  • Silverbrook, Kia
    Leichhardt NSW 2040 (AU)

(74) Representative: Moore, Barry et al
Hanna, Moore & Curley, 11 Mespil Road
Dublin 4
Dublin 4 (IE)

   


(54) Inkjet printer with electrostatically actuated plates


(57) In an inkjet nozzle comprising:
  • a nozzle chamber having an ink ejection port in one wall of said chamber;
  • an ink supply source interconnected to said nozzle chamber;
  • an electrostatic actuator to eject ink from said nozzle chamber via said ink ejection port, said electrostatic actuator comprising a series of conductive parallel plates interleaved with a resiliently compressible material; such that, a potential difference across said plates attracts adjacent plates to one another thereby causing said compressible material to resiliently yield; and
  • reducing said potential difference returns said compressible material to its quiescent state, thereby resulting in the ejection of ink from said ejection port.






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