Piezoelectric inkjet printhead having a unidirectional shutter

Abstract

A piezoelectric inkjet printhead including a reversible shutter disposed in an ink flow path is disclosed. The inkjet printhead may includes a plurality of ink pressure chambers, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators to provide the plurality of ink pressure chambers with a driving force for ink ejection, an ink manifold to supply the plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of restrictors disposed in the ink flow path between the manifold and the plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of ink ejecting nozzles coupled to the plurality of pressure chambers, and a plurality of unidirectional shutters. The shutters may be disposed at respective outlets of the plurality of restrictors and may be adapted to open the restrictor when ink is supplied from the restrictor to the pressure chamber and close the restrictor and restrict or prevent the backflow of ink when ink is ejected from the pressure chamber through the nozzle.