Assembly for use in a liquid droplet apparatus

An assembly for use in a liquid droplet apparatus, the assembly comprising:

• a vibrating element;
• an aperture plate;
• and
• a vibrating platform;
• wherein the vibrating platform is positioned between the vibrating element and the aperture plate for conveying vibrations from the vibrating element to the aperture plate, wherein the vibrating platform comprises a first annular portion for coupling to the vibrating element, a second annular portion for coupling to the aperture plate, and a sidewall to define a cavity;
• wherein the first annular portion lies in a first plane and the second annular portion lies in a second plane, the second plane being separated from and substantially in parallel with the first plane, and separated from and substantially in parallel with a third plane corresponding to a plane in which the vibrating element lies,
• wherein the sidewall protrudes at least partly through an aperture of the vibrating element,
• wherein the vibrating platform is structured such that the aperture plate is located within the cavity formed in the vibrating platform defined by the sidewall,
• wherein the sidewall is angled with respect to the plane of the vibrating element so that the angle of the sidewall is adjusted through contraction and expansion of the vibrating element in a radial direction in the plane of the vibrating element, and
• wherein the cavity has a conical shape when the vibrating element is not actuated.