Micro-valves for use in jetting assemblies

A jetting assembly comprising:

• a valve body comprising an orifice plate including a plurality of orifices extending therethrough;
• a plurality of micro-valves, wherein each of the plurality of micro-valves comprises:
• a fluid channel comprising:
• a septum positioned at an inlet of the fluid channel;
• and
• a filter positioned at the outlet of the fluid channel;
• a spacing member disposed on the orifice plate on a first side of a corresponding orifice of the plurality of orifices, wherein an edge of the spacing member is spaced from a boundary of a corresponding orifice by a distance in a first direction,
• a valve seat disposed around the corresponding orifice, wherein the corresponding orifice and an opening defined by the valve seat define a fluid outlet,
• an actuating beam disposed on the spacing member, the actuating beam extending at least the distance in the first direction from the spacing member such that an overlapping portion thereof overlaps with the fluid outlet, wherein the actuating beam comprises a layer of piezoelectric material and an electrical connection portion, and
• a sealing member affixed to the overlapping portion, the sealing member extending from the overlapping portion toward the valve seat such that an outer surface thereof contacts the valve seat when the layer of piezoelectric material is in a default state to close the micro-valve;
• and
• a fluid manifold coupled to each of the plurality of micro-valves to define at least one fluid plenum, each of the at least one fluid plenum corresponding to at least a portion of the plurality of micro-valves.

A micro-valve for use in a jetting assembly, comprising:

• a fluid channel comprising:
• a septum positioned at an inlet of the fluid channel;
• and
• a filter positioned at the outlet of the fluid channel;
• an orifice plate including a first surface and a second surface, the orifice plate comprising an orifice extending from the first surface to the second surface;
• a spacing member disposed on the first surface, the spacing member offset from the orifice;
• an actuating beam disposed on the spacing member, wherein the actuating beam extends from the spacing member toward the orifice, wherein the actuating beam comprises a layer of piezoelectric material, the actuating beam movable between a closed position and an open position by applying an electrical signal to the layer of piezoelectric material;
• and
• a sealing member affixed to an end portion of the actuating beam;
• wherein, when the layer of piezoelectric material does not have an electrical signal applied thereto, the actuating beam is in the closed position and a sealing surface of the sealing member contacts a rim of the orifice to close the micro-valve.