A droplet stream alignment mechanism and method thereof

A system comprising:

• a first portion of an alignment mechanism coupled to a nozzle and disposed within a droplet generation device, the first portion comprising a first adjustment mechanism;
• and
• a second portion of the alignment mechanism coupled to an outside surface of the droplet generation device, the second portion comprising a second adjustment mechanism,
• wherein the second adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the first adjustment mechanism to adjust a position of the nozzle and align a path of a droplet stream with respect to a target region.

A method comprising:

• generating droplets from a nozzle of a droplet generation device, the nozzle coupled to a first portion of an alignment mechanism;
• transmitting the droplets toward a target region along a droplet stream;
• determining a position of the droplet stream with respect to the target region;
• and
• adjusting, based on the determining, a position of the nozzle through an interaction of the first portion of the alignment mechanism and a second portion of the alignment mechanism, the second portion coupled to an outer surface of the droplet generation device.

A system, comprising:

• a first portion of an alignment mechanism coupled to a nozzle and disposed within a droplet generation device, the first portion comprising a first adjustment mechanism;
• a second portion of the alignment mechanism coupled to an outside surface of the droplet generation device, the second portion comprising a second adjustment mechanism
• wherein the second adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the first adjustment mechanism in order to adjust a position of the nozzle and align a path of a droplet stream with respect to a target region,
• wherein the first adjustment mechanism comprises:
• a cradle configured to hold the nozzle,
• at least one clamp configured to affix the nozzle to the cradle,
• a spherical bearing, comprising:
• a spherical structure rigidly coupled to the cradle and supported in a groove, and
• a leaf spring configured to bias the spherical structure toward the groove, and
• wherein the second adjustment mechanism comprises:
• a base rigidly coupled to the nozzle;
• a mounting plate coupled to a frame of the system and disposed on the base;
• a pad rigidly coupled to the mounting plate;
• and
• an intermediate structure rigidly coupled to the base and configured to be coupled to the pad;
• wherein the base is movable with respect to the mounting plate,
• wherein the intermediate structure is further configured to move the base with respect to the mounting plate,
• wherein the base is configured to rotate the spherical structure based on adjusting the intermediate structure, and
• wherein the adjusting of the intermediate structure results in a proportional adjustment of the first portion.