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. 16, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2010
Yonglin Xie, Pittsford, NY (US);
Michael F. Baumer, Dayton, OH (US);
Ali G. Lopez, Pittsford, NY (US);
Yonglin Xie, Pittsford, NY (US);
Michael F. Baumer, Dayton, OH (US);
Ali G. Lopez, Pittsford, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
A method for forming drops includes providing a jetting module that includes a nozzle plate, portions of the nozzle plate defining a nozzle; a thermal stimulation membrane including a plurality of pores and one or more heating elements; and an enclosure extending from the nozzle towards the thermal stimulation membrane, the enclosure defining a liquid chamber positioned between the nozzle and the thermal stimulation membrane, the liquid chamber being in fluid communication with each of the nozzle and the plurality of pores; providing liquid under pressure sufficient to cause the liquid to divide into a plurality of portions as the liquid flows through the thermal stimulation membrane; each portion of the liquid flowing through a pore of the plurality of pores; jetting an individual stream of the liquid through the nozzle; and causing a liquid drop to break off from the individual stream of the liquid by applying a pulse of thermal energy to each portion of the liquid as each portion of the liquid flows through a respective one of the plurality of pores.