Printer apparatus and method

Abstract

Printer apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a substrate having a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of selectively actuatable side walls defining respective channels therebetween of different depths. Each channel receives an associated one of a plurality of ink bodies therein and the substrate is formed of piezoelectric material responsive to electric stimuli. The pairs of side walls are preferably separated one from another by means of an intervening cut-out for reducing mechanical coupling between the ink channels. A cover plate is connected to the substrate and has a plurality of orifices therethrough in registration with respective ones of the channels such that the orifices are off-set one from another. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, the channels have different depths and, therefore, the orifices, which are in registration with the channels, are off-set one from another to accommodate the different depths of the channels. A selected ink channel, which belongs to a first group of channels having a first predetermined depth, pressurize as its pairs of side walls are actuated. Also, a non-selected ink channel, which belongs to a second group of channels having a second predetermined depth, remains unpressurized as the selected channel is actuated. Moreover, the two groups of channels are interleaved. The channels of the first group are actuated at a later time that the channels of the second group as the printhead traverses a receiver medium. This feature of the invention reduces mechanical and hydraulic coupling between channels because actuation of selected channels belonging the two groups are spaced-apart in time.