# US 7,744,192 B2 · Nozzle plate of a spray apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,192 B2 - Document ID: US7744192B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/267,727 - Filed: 2008-11-10 - Published: 2009-10-01 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-25 - Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute - Inventors: Chun-Fu Lu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744192B2 ## CPC - B05B 17/0646: {Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto} - B41J 2/135: Nozzles - B41J 2/162: {Manufacturing of the nozzle plates} - B41J 2/1625: {electroforming} - B41J 2/164: {thin film formation} - B41J 2/1643: {thin film formation by plating} - C25D 1/08: Perforated or foraminous objects, e.g. sieves (C25D1/10 takes precedence) - C25D 5/022: {using masking means} - B05B 17/0661: {Transducer materials} - C25D 5/02: Electroplating of selected surface areas - C25D 5/16: Electroplating with layers of varying thickness - Y10T 29/49128: Assembling formed circuit to base - Y10T 29/49155: Manufacturing circuit on or in base - Y10T 29/49401: Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet - Y10T 29/496: Multiperforated metal article making - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - C25D: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A nozzle plate for use with a spray apparatus and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The nozzle plate has a plurality of orifices each including an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end and the outlet end have a geometrical structure with mirror symmetry and a centroid with positional deviation from a pattern center. The pattern center is the center of an imaginary circle circumscribed about the geometrical structure. The geometrical structure controls the propagation direction of liquid spray, expands the nebulizing range per unit density of orifices, enables product miniaturization, and saves energy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nozzle plate of a spray apparatus, comprising: a main body with a plurality of orifices each comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein at least one of the inlet end or the outlet end has a geometrical structure with mirror symmetry and a centroid with positional deviation from a pattern center, the centroid being a barycenter (center of mass) of the geometrical structure, and the pattern center being a center of an imaginary circle circumscribed about the geometrical structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a plurality of grooves. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 2, wherein the grooves are arranged in an array distribution. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuator coupled to the main body for nebulizing liquid, the actuator being a piezoelectric actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 4, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is one selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric ring, a piezoelectric plate, and a piezoelectric block. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 5, wherein a plurality of orifices are formed at an area of contact between the actuator and the main body, a piezoelectric plate bonding area, and a body bonding area, for strengthening bonding effect. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main body is one selected from the group consisting of an electroformed body, an etched body, a laser-cut body, a metallic body, and a non-metallic body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orifices are arranged in one of array distribution or ring distribution. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the geometry structure of the orifices is tapered. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 9, wherein the geometry structure of the orifices is one selected from the group consisting of an isosceles triangle, a drop-shape, and a heart. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tapered end of each of the orifices points inward. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tapered end of each of the orifices points outward. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The nozzle plate of the spray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface having the plurality of outlet ends is coated with an anti-wetting material. ### Claim 14 A nozzle plate of a spray apparatus, comprising: a main body with a plurality of grooves and a plurality of orifices each comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein at least one of the inlet end or the outlet end has a geometrical structure with mirror symmetry and a centroid with positional deviation from a pattern center, the centroid being a barycenter (center of mass) of the geometrical structure, and the pattern center being a center of an imaginary circle circumscribed about the geometrical structure. ### Claim 15 A nozzle plate of a spray apparatus, comprising: a main body with a plurality of orifices each comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein at least one of the inlet end or the outlet end has a geometrical structure with mirror symmetry and a centroid with positional deviation from a pattern center, and a surface having the plurality of outlet ends is coated with an anti-wetting material, the centroid being a barycenter (center of mass) of the geometrical structure, and the pattern center being a center of an imaginary circle circumscribed about the geometrical structure.