Thin front channel photopolymer drop ejector

The present invention relates to a printhead for a thermal ink jet printer, and more particularly, to a thermal ink jet printer printhead with a drop ejector that uses a short plug at the front edge of a forward extended pit in the thick photopolymer layer which in combination with an orientation dependent etched (ODE) channel forms an improved nozzle therein. An improved ink jet head wherein an ink reservoir is provided in the ink jet channel. Such a arrangement improves the printhead latency and broadens the range of inks which may be suitably utilized. In one alternative, this ink reservoir is provided between the heater and the face of the printhead and is actually an expansion of the heater pit. In another alternative, this is accomplished by shifting the forward edge of the heater pit as provided in the thick polyimide (or other photopolymer) layer found sandwiched between a heater chip and a ODE channel chip.