Method for jetting droplets of an electrically conductive fluid
AssigneeOce-Technologies B.V.
InventorsSandor H.G. JOPPEN, Hermanus M.A. WIJSHOFF
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method for jetting a droplet of an electrically conductive fluid, a Lorentz force is generated in the electrically conductive fluid. The Lorentz force is directed into an actuation direction. The actuation direction is a direction opposite to the droplet ejection direction. A jetting device is provided for printing a droplet of an electrically conductive fluid.
Claims7
Method A method for jetting a droplet of an electrically conductive fluid using a jetting device, the jetting device comprising a fluid chamber body defining a fluid chamber and having an orifice operatively coupled to the fluid chamber for ejecting a droplet in a droplet ejection direction, and an actuator, the actuator comprising:
- a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in at least a part of the fluid chamber;
- and
- an electrical current generator configured to generate an electrical current in the electrically conductive fluid in the part of the fluid chamber provided with the magnetic field,
- the method comprising the step of:
- a) applying an electrical current to the electrically conductive fluid positioned in the magnetic field, thereby generating a Lorentz force in the electrically conductive fluid, the Lorentz force being directed in an actuation direction, the actuation direction being in an opposite direction compared to the droplet ejection direction,
- wherein, as a result of the Lorentz force generated in step a), ejecting a droplet of the electrically conductive fluid in the droplet ejection direction.
A jetting device for printing a droplet of an electrically conductive fluid, the jetting device comprising:
- a fluid chamber body defining a fluid chamber for holding an amount of the electrically conductive fluid;
- an actuation assembly configured to expel droplets of the electrically conductive fluid from the chamber through an orifice in the droplet ejection direction, the actuation assembly comprising
- a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in at least a part of the fluid chamber;
- and
- an electrical current generator configured to generate an electrical current in the electrically conductive fluid in the part of the fluid chamber provided with the magnetic field;
- and
- a controller configured to in operation control at least one of the electrical current and the magnetic field such that in operation at least one small droplet and/or at least one large droplet is jetted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.