The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 2021
Filed:
Feb. 08, 2018
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (US);
Daren Chen, Glen Allen, VA (US);
Hong Zhao, Glend Allen, VA (US);
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, Richmond, VA (US);
Abstract
An electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing apparatus or system may include circulation of printing fluid to minimize or eliminate clogging in a nozzle. An exemplary nozzle comprises at least two ink channels—one allowing flow to a droplet emitting opening and one allowing flow away from the droplet emitting opening—configured for circulating ink. The nozzle may transfer ink to a substrate with an EHD technique involving voltage or current modulation. For example, an electric field may be applied between the nozzle and printing substrate such that the ink meniscus changes shape and releases ink from the tip of the liquid cone. A multi-channel nozzle may take a variety of configurations, including two co-axially aligned capillaries, side-by-side parallel capillaries, or capillaries arranged at an angle with respect to one another but converging at a single point where the conical meniscus is formed.