Method and apparatus for promoting the complete transfer of liquid drops from a nozzle
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsChang-Jin Kim, Uichong Brandon Yi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printhead device for transferring liquid droplets from a nozzle includes a liquid source coupled to a nozzle via a microchannel. The nozzle is formed from an orifice having an inner circumferential surface, wherein at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface is serrated. Liquid droplets are transported from the source to the nozzle using a liquid droplet driver (e.g., employing a plurality of driving electrodes). Transfer of droplets to another surface can be accomplished by contacting a bulging droplet in the nozzle with a printing surface. The surface and/or nozzle are then moved relative to one another to effectuate complete transfer of the liquid drop from the nozzle.
Claims24
A device for transferring liquid droplets comprising:
- a nozzle having an orifice with an inner circumferential surface, wherein at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface is serrated;
- a liquid source and a passageway connecting the liquid source to the nozzle;
- and
- a plurality of driving electrodes disposed in the passageway.
A device for transferring liquid droplets comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of liquid sources disposed in the substrate, each source being coupled to at least one microchannel contained in the substrate and each microchannel being further coupled to a nozzle, wherein each nozzle comprises a substantially circular orifice having an inner circumferential surface, wherein at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface is serrated;
- and
- a plurality of driving electrodes disposed along at least a portion of each microchannel for transporting fluid from the sources to the nozzles.
A method of transferring liquid droplets to a surface comprising:
- providing a printhead for transferring liquid droplets to a surface, the printhead comprising:
- a liquid source;
- a nozzle in fluid communication with the liquid source, the nozzle comprising a substantially circular orifice having an inner circumferential surface, wherein at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface is serrated;
- and
- a liquid droplet driver for transporting fluid from the liquid source to the nozzle, the liquid droplet driver comprising a plurality of driving electrodes;
- providing the liquid source with a liquid;
- providing the surface adjacent to the nozzle;
- transporting one or more droplets from the liquid source to the nozzle such that at least a portion of the one or more droplets bulges outwardly toward the surface;
- contacting the droplet with the surface;
- and
- moving the surface away from the nozzle.
A system for transferring liquid droplets comprising:
- a nozzle having an orifice with an inner circumferential surface, wherein at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface is serrated, the inner circumferential surface being a non-wetting surface;
- and
- a printing surface comprising a wetting surface configured to receive liquid droplets from the nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.