1. An inkjet printhead comprising a plurality of nozzle assemblies, each nozzle assembly having a moving portion for ejection of ink, said moving portion being moveable relative to a body of the printhead, wherein said printhead is covered with a seal membrane, said seal membrane bridging a gap defined between each moving portion and said body of the printhead.
2. The inkjet printhead of claim 1, wherein said seal membrane defines, at least partially, an ink ejection face of said printhead.
3. The printhead of claim 1, wherein said seal membrane is comprised of a polymeric material.
4. The printhead of claim 3, wherein the polymeric material has a Young’s modulus of less than 1000 MPa.
5. The printhead of claim 3, wherein said polymeric material is hydrophobic.
6. The printhead of claim 5, wherein said polymeric material recovers its hydrophobicity after being subjected to an O2 plasma.
7. The printhead of claim 3, wherein said polymeric material is resistant to removal by an oxidative plasma.
8. The printhead of claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of: polymerized siloxanes and fluorinated polyolefins.
9. The printhead of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of: polydimethvlsiloxane (PDMS) and perfluorinated polyethylene (PFPE).
10. The printhead of claim 1, wherein each nozzle assembly comprises:
a nozzle chamber having a roof, said roof having said moving portion moveable relative to a static portion and a nozzle opening defined in said roof, such that movement of said moving portion relative to said static portion causes ejection of ink through the nozzle opening;
an actuator for moving said moving portion relative to said static portion; and
at least part of said seal membrane joining said moving portion to said static portion.
11. The printhead of claim 10, wherein a nozzle plate of said printhead is defined by said static portions.
12. The printhead of claim 10, wherein said nozzle opening is defined in said moving portion.
13. The printhead of claim 10, wherein said nozzle opening is defined in said static portion.
14. The printhead of claim 10, wherein said actuator is a thermal bend actuator comprising:
a first active element for connection to drive circuitry; and
a second passive element mechanically cooperating with the first element, such that when a current is passed through the first element, the first element expands relative to the second element, resulting in bending of the actuator.
15. The printhead of claim 14, wherein said first and second elements are cantilever beams.
16. The printhead of claim 14, wherein said thermal bend actuator defines at least part of the moving portion of said roof, whereby actuation of said actuator moves said actuator towards a floor of said nozzle chamber.
17. The printhead of claim 10, wherein said seal membrane has a contact angle of more than 90\xb0 and the inside surfaces of the nozzle chambers have a contact angle of less than 90\xb0.
18. The printhead of claim 10, wherein said nozzle chamber comprises sidewalls extending between said roof and a substrate, such that said roof is spaced apart from said substrate.
19. The printhead of claim 18, wherein said roof and said sidewalls are comprised of a ceramic material depositable by CVD.
20. The printhead of claim 19, wherein the ceramic material is selected from the group consisting of: silicon nitride, silicon oxide and silicon oxynitride.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A die comprising:
a blade having an edge defining a shape for patterning a sheet of material;
a cushion surrounding the blade; and
a support for holding the cutting blade in position and supporting the cushion, wherein the die is configured to be at least partially surrounded by another die.