Matthews International Gmbh

John Whitlock

William Allen Buskirk

Eric R Miller

Steven E Flego

Glenn J T Leighton

Jeff Hess

Ken Trueba

Charles Gilson

Glenn JT Leighton

A marking system includes a valve body including an orifice plate including multiple orifices and multiple micro-valves. Each micro-valve includes an actuating beam movable from a closed position in which a corresponding one of the orifices is sealed by a portion of the actuating beam such that the micro-valve is closed, into a peak position in response to application of a control signal. A controller is configured to generate a control signal for each of the actuating beams, each control signal including a drive pulse having a predetermined voltage such that the actuating beam moves from the closed position into the peak position in which the corresponding orifice is open and returns to the closed position in a characteristic period, wherein the drive pulse has a duration that substantially corresponds to the characteristic period such that the actuating beam is in the closed position after the drive pulse is complete.

Systems and methods for controlling operation of micro-valves for use in jetting assemblies

A micro-valve includes an orifice plate having a first surface, a second surface and an orifice extending from the first surface to the second surface. An actuating beam is disposed in spaced relation to the orifice plate. The actuating beam includes a base portion and a cantilevered portion. The base portion is separated from the orifice plate by a predetermined distance. The cantilevered portion extends from the base portion such that an overlapping portion thereof overlaps the orifice. The actuating beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The micro-valve also includes a sealing structure including a sealing member disposed at the overlapping portion of the cantilevered portion. When the actuating beam is in the closed position, the cantilevered portion is positioned such that the sealing structure seals the orifice so as to close the micro-valve.

Systems and methods for sealing micro-valves for use in jetting assemblies

A micro-valve includes an orifice plate including a first surface and a second surface, and an orifice extending from the first surface to the second surface. The micro-valve also includes a spacing member disposed on the first surface and offset from the orifice, a valve seat disposed on the first surface. The valve seat defines an opening in fluid communication with the orifice in a flow direction. The micro-valve also includes an actuating beam disposed on the spacing member extending from the spacing member toward the orifice, the actuating beam being moveable between an open position and a closed position. The micro-valve also includes a sealing member affixed to an end portion of the actuating beam. In a closed position, a sealing surface of the sealing member contacts the valve seat to close the micro-valve.

Micro-valves for use in jetting assemblies

A method of constructing a micro-valve includes providing a substrate for an actuating beam of the micro-valve, the substrate including a first surface and a second surface. The method also includes forming a plurality of constituent layers on the first surface of the actuating beam, including a layer of piezoelectric material. The method also includes removing a portion of the substrate from at least one of the first surface or the second surface to define a cantilevered portion of the actuating beam. The method also includes providing an orifice plate including an orifice. The method also includes providing a valve seat on a surface of the orifice plate, the valve seat having an opening aligned with the orifice. The method also includes attaching the surface of the orifice plate to the second surface via an adhesive such that an overlapping portion of the cantilevered portion overlaps the orifice.

Methods of fabricating micro-valves and jetting assemblies including such micro-valves

A micro-valve includes an orifice plate including an orifice. The micro-valve further includes an actuating beam having a first end and a second end. The actuating beam also includes a base layer and a layer of piezoelectric material disposed on the base layer, a bottom electrode layer, and a top electrode layer. At an electrical connection portion of the actuating beam, the layer of piezoelectric material includes a first via, and a portion of the top electrode layer disposed within the first via, and a portion of the bottom electrode disposed beneath the first via. The actuating beam includes a base portion extending from the electrical connection portion and a cantilevered portion extending from the base portion. The cantilevered portion is movable in response to application of a differential electrical signal between the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer to one of open or close the micro-valve.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

John Whitlock