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Publication Number
US-10940502-B2
Publication Date
2021-03-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A nozzle plate (201) for use in a liquid droplet production apparatus and such apparatus, the nozzle plate comprising a flexible substrate having a linear array of nozzles that extend through said plate, said nozzles being arranged in at least one line, forming thereby a nozzle-bearing region, wherein the substrate is curved so as to impart an increased longitudinal stiffness to it. The apparatus comprises a piezo actuator (202, 203), which may have slots (211) separating fingers acting on the nozzle plate (201). The nozzle plate may be separable form the actuator.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a liquid droplet production apparatus having a curved nozzle plate with a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a linear array of nozzles extending through the nozzle plate, with the nozzles arranged in at least one line along a longitudinal axis of the nozzle plate to form a nozzle-bearing region. The curved nozzle plate has curvature configured to impart increased longitudinal stiffness to the nozzle plate.
The apparatus further includes a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to at least the nozzle-bearing region of one face of the nozzle plate. An actuator vibrates the nozzle plate to cause liquid droplets to be ejected from the other side of the nozzle plate, thereby producing droplet ejection along the longitudinal axis.
The actuator comprises an upper layer and a lower layer, with the lower layer including a plurality of slots or partial slots along its length. The plurality of slots or partial slots includes a first set of slots on a first side of the lower layer and a second set of slots on a second side of the lower layer, with the slots or partial slots being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle plate. The disclosed concepts further discuss separable nozzle plate concepts for replaceable or consumable nozzle plate, multiple actuator configurations, and fluid feed baffles to reduce fluidic cross-talk and support uniform bias pressure and flow across the nozzle-bearing region.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim identified in the provided claims list is clm-00001. It covers the core combination of a curved nozzle plate with increased longitudinal stiffness, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to the nozzle-bearing region, and an actuator that vibrates the nozzle plate, with additional claim limitations directed to the actuator’s layered structure and slot geometry.
Curved nozzle plate imparting increased longitudinal stiffness
A curved nozzle plate comprising a flexible substrate having a linear array of nozzles extending through the nozzle plate, the nozzles arranged in at least one line along a longitudinal axis to form a nozzle-bearing region, wherein the nozzle plate has a curvature so as to impart an increased longitudinal stiffness to it.
Fluid reservoir supplying liquid to nozzle-bearing region
A fluid reservoir for supplying liquid to at least the nozzle bearing region of one face of the nozzle plate.
Actuator vibrating curved nozzle plate to eject droplets
An actuator for vibrating the nozzle plate to cause liquid droplets to be ejected from the other side of the nozzle plate, where the actuator comprises an upper layer and a lower layer.
Lower-layer slots perpendicular to nozzle longitudinal axis
The lower layer of the actuator comprises a plurality of slots or partial slots along its length, including a first set of slots on a first side of the lower layer and a second set of slots on a second side of the lower layer, wherein the slots or partial slots are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle plate.
Independent claim clm-00001 defines an apparatus that combines a curved, flexible nozzle plate with increased longitudinal stiffness, a fluid reservoir feeding a nozzle-bearing region, and a layered actuator that vibrates the nozzle plate for droplet ejection. The claim’s main inventive structure further includes a lower-layer actuator with first and second sets of slots (or partial slots) positioned on opposite sides of the lower layer and oriented perpendicular to the nozzle plate’s longitudinal axis.
Stated Advantages
Increased longitudinal stiffness of the nozzle plate.
Discouraging longitudinal wave propagation to promote improved motion uniformity and substantially uniform high-amplitude vibration along a linear nozzle-bearing region.
Reducing fluidic cross-talk and achieving uniform bias pressure and flow across the nozzle-bearing region.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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