Dispensing assembly with a controlled gas environment
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsGlen Nelson Biggs, Russell A. Budd, Benjamin Vito Fasano, John Joseph Garant, John Peter Karidis, Christopher Lee Tessler, Thomas Weiss
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Abstract
Techniques for dispensing fusible material onto a surface, wherein the fusible material is in molten form, are provided. In accordance with aspects of the invention, a dispensing assembly dispenses the fusible material and a gas environment surrounding a portion of a seal structure of the dispensing assembly is controlled to regulate an oxidation rate of the fusible material.
Claims24
An apparatus for dispensing fusible material onto a surface, wherein the fusible material is in molten form, the apparatus comprising:
- a dispensing assembly comprising a seal structure, wherein the seal structure controls dispensing of the fusible material;
- and
- at least two separate gas channels coupled to the dispensing assembly, each of the at least two separate gas channels supplying at least one different gas to the dispensing assembly for controlling a gas environment surrounding at least a portion of the seal structure, wherein an oxidation rate of the fusible material is controlled as a function of at least one characteristic of at least one of the different gases.
A method for dispensing fusible material onto a surface, wherein the fusible material is in molten form, the method comprising the step of:
- controlling a gas environment surrounding a portion of a seal structure of a dispensing assembly to regulate an oxidation rate of the fusible material, wherein the dispensing assembly dispenses the fusible material,
- wherein controlling a gas environment comprises supplying at least two different gases in different areas surrounding the portion of the seal structure.
An apparatus for dispensing fusible material onto a surface, wherein the fusible material is in molten form, the apparatus comprising:
- a dispensing assembly with a leading edge and a trailing edge, comprising:
- (i) a reservoir for containing the fusible material;
- (ii) a pressure system coupled to the reservoir for pressurizing the reservoir;
- (iii) a heating unit surrounding the reservoir for heating the fusible material;
- and (iv) a seal structure coupled to the reservoir for controlling a dispensing of the fusible material;
- a first gas channel operative to supply a first at least one gas to the dispensing assembly and positioned at the leading edge of the dispensing assembly, a bottom portion of the first gas channel being parallel to the surface;
- and
- a second gas channel operative to supply a second at least one gas to the dispensing assembly and positioned at the trailing edge of the dispensing assembly, a bottom portion of the second gas channel being parallel to the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.