Printing system using vibration-driven particle applicator
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsWarren B. Jackson, Kent Evans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus includes a jet that applies a liquid binder to an application surface and a particle applicator. The particle applicator includes a particle reservoir with at least one movable surface, an electrically controlled actuator that causes vibrations of the movable surface, and a dispersal port though which particles can exit the particle reservoir. A controller is coupled to cause the vibrations via the actuator. The vibrations result in movement of the particles through the dispersal port towards the liquid binder on the application surface.
Claims22
An apparatus, comprising:
- a jet that applies a liquid binder to an application surface;
- a particle applicator comprising:
- a particle reservoir comprising at least one movable surface;
- an electrically-controlled actuator that causes vibrations of the movable surface;
- and
- a dispersal port though which solid particles can exit the particle reservoir;
- and
- a controller coupled to cause the vibrations via the actuator, the vibrations resulting in levitation of the solid particles through the dispersal port towards the liquid binder on the application surface.
A method comprising:
- depositing a liquid binder from a print head to an application surface;
- electrically controlling an actuator to cause vibrations of a movable surface of a particle reservoir of the print head, the vibrations resulting in levitation of solid particles through a dispersal port of the particle reservoir towards the liquid binder on the application surface;
- and
- causing relative motion between the application surface and the print head, the relative motion resulting in the liquid binder and the solid particles forming a pattern on the application surface.
A system comprising:
- an application surface;
- a print head, comprising:
- a jet that applies a liquid binder to the application surface;
- a particle applicator comprising:
- a particle reservoir comprising at least one movable surface;
- an electrically-controlled actuator that causes vibrations of the movable surface;
- and
- a dispersal port though which solid particles can exit the particle reservoir;
- and
- a controller coupled to the jet to apply the liquid binder and to the actuator of the print head to cause the solid particles to levitate through the dispersal port towards the liquid binder on the application surface;
- and
- one or more linear actuators coupled to cause relative motion in a longitudinal direction between the application surface and the print head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.