Other

Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Data Products Corporation

John G Martner

William R Gardner

Viasheslav B Maltsev

Impulse ink jets utilizing elongated transducers which expand and contract along the axis of elongation are formed by plates lying in planes parallel with the axis of elongation. The plates containing the chamber also include a drive portion for coupling the transducer to the chamber where the drive portion is supported by struts which extend to a support means also formed by the plates.

Ink jet apparatus employing plate-like structure

A flexible web of hot melt ink is incrementally advanced to a heater location. The web may be self-supporting or mounted on a flexible carrier web. In either case, the web is sufficiently flexible so as to be spooled.

Ink jet method and apparatus utilizing a web of hot melt ink

Hot melt ink is delivered in particle form to a melting area. The particles are fluidized and then advanced under the influence of gravity. A float valve responsive to the level of melted ink in the melting area restricts the flow of ink particles to the melting area.

Ink jet method and apparatus utilizing grandular or hot melt ink

An elongated acoustic waveguide 20 couples a transducer 18 to an ink jet chamber 14 including an inlet port 26,65 and an outlet orifice 16 through which droplets of ink are ejected. In one embodiment, the waveguide 20 is directly coupled to ink within the chamber 14. In another embodiment, the waveguide 20 is coupled to ink within the chamber through a diaphragm 60. Arrays are formed utilizing such ink jet chambers 14 and waveguides 20.

Arrayed ink jet apparatus

Droplets of ink are ejected from channels formed between a pair of flexible reed-like members. The transducers are coupled to the reed-like members to deform the members and eject a droplet of ink from the orifice at the end of the channel.

Ink jet apparatus and method

An ink jet chamber including an orifice and an ink supply inlet is coupled to a transducer. The transducer is capable of displacement in two different directions which are coupled to the chamber in an additive manner so as to change the volume of the chamber as a result of the additive displacement of the transducer.

Apparatus and method to eject ink droplets on demand

An atomizer assembly includes an ultrasonic resonator which is clamped along a clamping line near one end and driven along a driving line spaced from the clamping line. The atomizer is positioned centrally in a throat for receiving a gas flow at an inlet end and for emitting the gas flow at an outlet end. A gas diffuser is provided for directing the gas flow from the inlet end to contact the surface of the ultrasonic resonator at a high angle of incidence. A liquid flow path is provided through the clamp for directing a liquid to impinge on the vibratory surface of the ultrasonic resonator. The internal surface tension in the liquid is overcome by the vibratory motion and the liquid is cast from the surface of the resonator in atomized form at a low velocity. The atomized liquid is mixed thoroughly with the gas due to the opposing directions of the atomized liquid and the gas flow. The mixed or entrained atomized liquid is passed through the outlet end of the throat.

Ultrasonic gas stream liquid entrainment apparatus

A tubular section is constructed for radial and axial resonance. The tubular resonator is clamped along a line of clamping engagement near one end of the tubular section and is driven by means of radially directed oscillatory force applied at a line of driving engagement spaced from the line of clamping engagement. The oscillatory force is obtained from a driver which is formed of an annulus of piezoelectric crystal polarized in a radial direction, having an inner base ring and outer annular driver wedge, triangular in cross section. Since the frequency of radial resonance is a function of the radius of the tubular section, and the frequency of axial resonance is a function of the length of the tubular section, the two frequencies of resonance are made to coincide by proper selection of tube radius and length and the resonant frequencies therefore made to reinforce one another. The clamp in one embodiment contains a manifold for receiving a liquid and has a plurality of conduits leading therefrom to an eflux position proximate to the surface of the tubular resonator. The method of atomizing a liquid includes the steps of forcing a node near one end of the tubular resonator and driving the resonator tube into radial and axial resonance. Thereafter the process includes impinging the liquid on the surface of the resonator tube to form a liquid film thereon and perturbating the film with the vibratory motion of the surface until the liquid separates into droplets and is thrown from the resonating surface in atomized form.

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Brookfield, CT, United States of America

John G Martner