Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6588878
-
Patent Number
6,588,878
-
Date Filed
Friday, May 10, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 8, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 347 40
- 347 43
- 347 20
- 347 44
- 347 61
- 347 47
- 347 27
- 347 63
- 347 54
- 347 75
- 399 261
- 361 700
- 029 8901
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A jet, and a method thereof, use bubbles as virtual valves to eject droplets of different sizes. The jet is in fluid communication with a reservoir and has a substrate, an orifice layer, first nozzles, and second nozzles. The substrate has a manifold for receiving ink from the reservoir. The orifice layer is positioned on the top of the substrate to form first chambers and second chambers. First orifices of the first nozzles and second orifices of the second nozzles are formed on the orifice layer. The jet has at least one of following characteristics: (a) the first chambers are larger than the second chambers; (b) an interval between two heating units of the first nozzle is larger than an interval between two heating units of the second nozzle; and (c) the apertures of the first orifices are larger than the apertures of the second orifices.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a jet, and more particularly, to a jet that can eject droplets of different sizes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Currently, jets ejecting droplets of different sizes are widely applied to improve combustion efficiency of fuel engines or increase a selectivity of ink jet printing. For example, ink jet printers can print documents with droplets of different sizes, and therefore improve a color variability and a speed of printing.
Please refer to
FIG. 1
of a schematic diagram of a jet
10
according to the prior art. The jet
10
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,824 “Liquid jet recording method with variable thermal viscosity modulation”. The jet
10
uses a plurality of heat generating bodies
21
˜
25
positioned on an axis of a chamber
12
to provide energy independently or in turn. Provision of energy causes a plurality of foams
31
˜
35
to be generated in different positions, and therefore droplets of different sizes are ejected to print documents. However, since the plurality of heat generating bodies
21
˜
25
must be disposed in one chamber
12
of the jet
10
, the jet
10
must comprise more chambers
12
and heat generating bodies so as to improve the print quality. This gives rise to an increased difficulty in a fabricating process of the jet
10
. In addition, the jet
10
has a disadvantage of easily jetting a satellite droplet, which leads to fuzziness in printed documents. The satellite droplets produced by the jet
10
follow the main droplets. When the jet
10
moves relative to the printed documents, the satellite droplets are printed onto places different from the main droplets. Thus, the print quality of the jet
10
is affected by the satellite droplets.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a jet which can eject droplets of different sizes to solve the above mentioned problem.
In a preferred embodiment, the claimed invention provides a jet, which uses a bubble as a virtual valve to increase flow resistance between a chamber and a manifold, or to interrupt flow communication between a chamber and a manifold. Then, another bubble is used to squeeze fluid inside the chamber and to eject the fluid out of the chamber. The jet comprises a substrate, an orifice layer, first nozzles and second nozzles. The orifice layer is positioned on the top layer of the substrate, and a plurality of first chambers and second chambers are formed between the orifice layer and the substrate.
It is an advantage of the claimed invention that the jet can eject droplets of different sizes by modifying sizes of the chambers and diameters of the orifices of the jet. Thus, the color variability and printing speed of the inkjet printer are improved.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of a jet according to the prior art.
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of a jet according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a section view along line
3
—
3
of the jet shown in FIG.
2
.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional diagram of the jet shown in
FIG. 2
when bubbles are generated.
FIG. 5
is a cross-sectional diagram view of the jet shown in
FIG. 2
when fluid is ejected.
FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional diagram of a jet according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7
is a cross-sectional diagram of a jet according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional diagram of a jet according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9
is a cross-sectional diagram of a jet according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.
10
and
FIG. 11
are cross-sectional diagrams of jets according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.
12
and
FIG. 13
are cross-sectional diagrams of a first chamber and a second chamber of a jet according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Please refer to
FIG. 2
of a schematic diagram of a jet
100
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The jet
100
in flow communication with a reservoir
110
comprises a substrate
112
positioned on one sideof the reservoir
110
and an orifice layer
120
disposed above the substrate
112
. A plurality of first chambers
122
and a plurality of second chambers
124
are formed between the orifice layer
120
and the substrate. Volumes of the first chambers
122
are larger than volumes of the second chambers
124
. The substrate
112
comprises a manifold
114
for receiving fluid from the reservoir
110
and transporting the fluid to the jet
100
. The plurality of first chambers
122
are formed in a first side
115
of the manifold
114
and the plurality of second chambers
124
are formed in a second side
117
of the manifold
114
. The orifice layer
120
comprises a first nozzle group
130
and a second nozzle group
140
. The first nozzle group
130
comprises a plurality of first nozzles
131
and the second nozzle group
140
comprises a plurality of second nozzles
141
. In addition, each first nozzle
131
corresponds to a first chamber
122
and each second nozzle
141
corresponds to a second chamber
124
. Each first nozzle
131
comprises a first orifice
132
, a first bubble generator
136
and a second bubble generator
138
. Each second nozzle
141
comprises a second orifice
134
, a third bubble generator
142
and a fourth bubble generator
144
. The first orifice
132
is disposed on the orifice layer
120
and corresponds to the first chamber
122
. The second orifice
134
is also disposed on the orifice layer
120
and corresponds to the second chamber
124
. The first, second, third and fourth bubble generators
136
,
138
,
142
,
144
are all heaters. The first heater
136
and the second heater
138
are used to heat fluid
116
inside the first chamber
122
. The third heater
142
and the fourth heater
144
are used to heat fluid
116
inside the second chamber
124
. Moreover, the first heater
136
and the second heater
138
are electrically connected to a first common electrode
172
in series. And, the third heater
142
and the fourth heater
144
are electrically connected to a second common electrode
174
in series.
Please refer to
FIG. 3
to FIG.
5
.
FIG. 3
is a section view along line
3
—
3
of the jet
100
shown in FIG.
2
.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional diagram of the jet
100
shown in
FIG. 2
when bubbles are generated.
FIG. 5
is a cross-sectional diagram view of the jet
100
shown in
FIG. 2
when fluid is ejected. As shown in FIG.
3
and
FIG. 4
, each first orifice
132
is disposed between the corresponding first heater
136
and the corresponding second heater
138
. The first bubble heater
136
is closer to the manifold
114
than the second heater
138
is to the manifold
114
. The first heater
136
heats the fluid
116
inside first chamber
122
to generate a first bubble
152
. The second heater
138
heats the fluid
116
inside the first chamber
122
to generate a second bubble
154
. In addition, each second orifice
134
is disposed between the corresponding third heater
142
and the corresponding fourth heater
144
. The third bubble heater
142
is closer to the manifold
114
than the fourth heater
144
is to the manifold
114
. The third heater
142
heats the fluid
116
inside second chamber
124
to generate a third bubble
156
. The fourth heater
144
heats the fluid
116
inside second chamber
124
to generate a fourth bubble
158
. Since the width of the first heater
136
is narrower than the width of the second heater
138
, the resistance of the first heater
136
is larger. Therefore, the first bubble
152
is generated before the second bubble
154
. In the same manner, the width of the third heater
142
is narrower than the width of the fourth heater
144
, and the resistance of the third heater
136
is larger. Therefore, the third bubble
156
is generated before the fourth bubble
158
. When the first bubble
152
is generated, it acts as a virtual valve for restricting the fluid
116
inside the first chamber
122
flowing to the manifold
114
, and preventing the fluid
116
in the adjacent chambers from experiencing cross talk. When the third bubble
156
is generated, the fluid
116
inside the second chamber
124
flowing to the manifold
114
is also restricted and another virtual valve is formed to isolate the second chamber
125
from the manifold
114
. After the first bubble
152
is generated, the second bubble
154
is generated by the second heater
138
. At this time, the pressure of the fluid inside the first chamber
122
increases as the second bubble
154
expands. This leads to the fluid
116
inside the first chamber
122
being ejected from the first orifice
132
and then forming a first droplet
162
. In like manner, after the third bubble
156
is generated, the fourth heater generates the fourth bubble
158
. As the fourth bubble
158
expands, the fluid
116
inside the second chamber
124
experiences increased pressure and is ejected from the second orifice
134
. This leads to formation of a second droplet
164
. Please refer to FIG.
5
. As the first bubble
152
and the second bubble
154
expand continuously, they approach each other gradually and then combine together. When the two bubbles combine, a tail
166
of the first droplet
162
is suddenly cut. Therefore, the first droplet
162
is ejected from the first nozzle
131
. As a result, no or only few satellite droplet is formed after the first droplet
162
is ejected. In like manner, as the third bubble
156
and the fourth bubble
158
expand continuously, they approach each other gradually and then combine together. When the two bubbles combine, a tail
168
of the second droplet
164
is suddenly cut. Therefore, the second droplet
164
is ejected from the second nozzle
141
. As a result, no or only few satellite droplet is formed after the second droplet
164
is ejected. In addition, the volume of the first chamber
122
is larger than that of the second chamber
124
. Thus, the fluid volume between the first bubble
152
and the second bubble
154
is larger than the fluid volume between the third bubble
156
and the fourth bubble
158
, leading to the first droplet
162
being larger than the second droplet
164
.
Generally speaking, a method of ejecting a first droplet
162
and a second droplet
164
from the jet
100
comprises the following steps:(A) The first bubble
152
is generated in the corresponding first chamber
122
via the first bubble generator
136
; (B) The second bubble
154
is generated in the corresponding first chamber
122
via the second bubble generator
138
, after the first bubble
152
is generated, wherein the second bubble
154
squeezes fluid between the second bubble
154
and the corresponding first bubble
152
out of the corresponding first orifice
132
to form a first droplet
162
;(C) The third bubble
156
is generated in the corresponding second chamber
124
via the third bubble generator
142
; and(D) The fourth bubble
158
is generated in the corresponding second chamber
124
via the fourth bubble generator
158
, after the third bubble
156
is generated, wherein the fourth bubble
158
squeezes fluid between the fourth bubble
158
and the corresponding third bubble
156
out of the corresponding second orifice
134
to form a second droplet
164
.
In the steps mentioned above, the steps (A) and (B) are a process of generating the first droplet
162
and the steps (C) and (D) are a process of generating the second droplet
164
. Except for a restriction of the step (B) being after the step (A) and the step (D) being after the step (C), there is no other limitation of order. For example, the method also works successfully in an order of (C)(D)(A)(B), (A)(C)(B)(D) or (A)(C)(D)(B). Based on this concept, and application thereof, many embodiments with different structures can be developed and shown as follows.
Please refer to
FIG. 6
of a schematic diagram of a jet
200
according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The jet
200
is similar in structure to the jet
100
. The jet
200
in flow communication with a reservoir
210
comprises a substrate
212
, an orifice layer
220
, a first nozzle group
230
, and a second nozzle group
240
. The first nozzle group
230
comprises a plurality of first nozzles
231
, and the second nozzle group
240
comprises a plurality of second nozzles
241
. Each of first nozzles
231
comprises a first orifice
232
, a first bubble generator
236
, and a second bubble generator
238
. Each of second nozzles
241
comprises a second orifice
234
, a third bubble generator
242
, and a fourth bubble generator
244
. In the present embodiment, each of the four bubble generators
236
,
238
,
242
and
244
is a heater. In addition, a plurality of first chambers
222
and a plurality of second chambers
224
are formed between the orifice layer
220
and the substrate
212
. The first chambers
222
and second chambers
224
are positioned on two sides of the manifold
214
. The first orifice
232
is formed on the orifice layer
220
and corresponds to the first chamber
222
, and the second orifice
234
is formed on the orifice layer
220
and corresponds to the second chamber
224
. The jet
200
is different from the jet
100
in that the width W
1
of the first chamber
222
is larger than the width W
2
of the second chamber
224
. When the first heater
236
, the second heater
238
, the third heater
242
and the fourth heater
244
heat fluid inside the first chamber
222
and the second chamber
224
and generate bubbles, because the width W
1
of the first chamber
222
is larger than the width W
2
of the second chamber
224
, the bubbles in the first chamber
222
squeeze more fluid than that in the second chamber
224
. Therefore, the first droplet ejected from the first orifice
232
is larger than the second droplet ejected from the second orifice
234
. By squeezing different quantities of fluid, the jet
200
ejects droplets of different sizes.
Please refer to
FIG. 7
of a schematic diagram of a jet
300
according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the jet
300
comprises a first chamber
322
and a second chamber
324
of different depths. A depth H
1
of the first chamber
322
is larger than a depth H
2
of the second chamber
324
as shown in
FIG. 7. A
first heater
336
, a second heater
338
, a third heater
342
and a fourth heater
344
heat fluid in the first chamber
322
and the second chamber
324
and generate a first bubble
352
, a second bubble
354
, a third bubble
356
and a fourth bubble
358
. The size of the first droplet
362
ejected from a first orifice
332
is larger than the size of the second droplet
364
ejected from a second orifice
334
, because the depth H
1
of the first chamber
322
is larger than the depth H
2
of the second chamber
324
.
Please refer to
FIG. 8
of a schematic diagram of a jet
400
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The interval D
1
between a first heater
436
and a second heater
438
in different sides of a first orifice
432
is larger than the interval D
2
between a third heater
442
and a fourth heater
444
in different sides of a second orifice
434
. The first heater
436
, the second heater
438
, the third heater
442
and the fourth heater
444
heat fluid inside a first chamber
422
and a second chamber
424
and generate a first bubble
452
, a second bubble
454
, a third bubble
456
, and a fourth bubble
458
. Because the interval D
1
between the first heater
436
and the second heater
438
in different sides of the first orifice
432
is larger than the interval D
2
between the third heater
442
and the fourth heater
444
in different sides of the second orifice
434
, a size of fluid in the first chamber
422
squeezed by the first bubble
452
and the second bubble
454
is larger than a size of fluid in the second chamber
424
squeezed by the third bubble
456
and the fourth bubble
458
. This leads to a first droplet
462
ejected from the first orifice
432
being larger than a second droplet
464
ejected from the second orifice
434
.
Please refer to
FIG. 9
of a schematic diagram of a jet
500
according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The diameter d
1
of a first orifice
532
is larger than the diameter d
2
of a second orifice
534
. The first heater
536
, the second heater
538
, the third heater
542
and the fourth heater
544
heat fluid inside a first chamber
522
and a second chamber
524
and generate a first bubble
552
, a second bubble
554
, a third bubble
556
, and a fourth bubble
558
. Because the diameter d
1
of the first orifice
532
is larger than the diameter d
2
of the second orifice
534
, a resistance of fluid in the first chamber
522
squeezed by the first bubble
552
and the second bubble
554
is smaller than a resistance of fluid in the second chamber
524
squeezed by the third bubble
556
and the fourth bubble
558
. Therefore the first droplet
562
ejected from the first orifice
532
is larger than the second droplet
564
ejected from the second orifice
534
.
Please refer to FIG.
10
and
FIG. 11
of schematic diagrams of a jet
600
according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The first and second chambers in the embodiments mentioned above are all disposed side by side. However, the present invention also works for chambers disposed in a stagger formation as shown in FIG.
10
. When a first heater
636
and a second heater
638
of the jet
600
heat fluid inside a first chamber
622
and generate bubbles, an influence on fluid inside a second chamber
624
is less, therefore avoiding fluid inside the second chamber
624
being squeezed out of a second orifice
634
. Likewise, bubbles generated in the second chamber
624
via the third heater
642
or the fourth heater
644
do not affect fluid inside the first chamber
622
. In other words, the present embodiment reduces the cross talk between the first chamber
622
and the second chamber
624
. It should be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that other arrangements of the chambers are also appropriate in the present invention. For example, two or more kinds of chambers, which eject droplets of two or more different sizes, could be disposed in stagger, or other particular arrangements, on a same side of a manifold. Or, two or more kinds of chambers, which eject droplets of two or more different sizes, could be disposed in stagger, or other particular ways, on different sides of the manifold. The present invention can be applied to all jets that use two or more nozzle groups to eject droplets of different sizes by generating two bubbles in turn, respectively, and therefore reduce cross talk and satellite droplets without any restriction on the arrangement of the chambers.
Please refer to
FIGS. 12 and 13
of schematic diagrams of a first chamber
722
and a second chamber
724
according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12
shows the first chamber
722
, a first heater
736
and a second heater
738
.
FIG. 13
shows the second chamber
724
, a third heater
742
and a fourth heater
744
. When the first heater
736
and the second heater
738
heat fluid to generate bubbles, a droplet with a diameter of about 45 microns is ejected from a first orifice
732
, and a droplet with a diameter of about 35 microns is ejected from a second orifice
734
. Please note that the data of the droplet diameters is just shown for clearer illustration. In practice, the sizes of droplets ejected from the first orifice
732
and the second orifice
734
are affected by many conditions, such as the fluid properties, the environmental temperature, and/or the like. In the present embodiment, widths of the first chamber
722
and the second chamber
724
are different, and an interval between the first heater
736
and the second heater
738
is also larger than that between the third heater
742
and the fourth heater
744
. As a result, droplets of different sizes are ejected from the first chamber
722
and the second chamber
724
based on this structure. It is obvious that different size parameters can be adjusted to design the first chamber
722
and the second chamber
724
, and lead to droplets of different sizes.
In contrast to the prior art, the jet according to the present invention modifies structures of chambers, intervals between adjacent heaters, and diameters of orifices to eject droplets of different sizes. The present invention can be applied to color ink printers to improve color variation, and speed up printing. Moreover, the present invention can be applied to improve combustion efficiency of micro fuel engines, or applied to a field of biochemistry technology.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A jet in flow communication with a reservoir comprising:a substrate having a manifold for receiving fluid from the reservoir; an orifice layer disposed above the substrate, a plurality of first chambers and a plurality of second chambers being formed between the orifice layer and the substrate; a first nozzle group comprising a plurality of first nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of first chambers, each of the first nozzles comprising: a first orifice; a first bubble generator disposed at one side of the first orifice for generating a first bubble; and a second bubble generator disposed at another side of the first orifice for generating a second bubble which squeezes fluid between the first bubble and the second bubble out of the first orifice to form a first droplet; and a second nozzle group comprising a plurality of second nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of second chambers, each of the second nozzles comprising: a second orifice; a third bubble generator disposed at one side of the second orifice for generating a third bubble; and a fourth bubble generator disposed at another side of the second orifice for generating a fourth bubble which squeezes fluid between the third bubble and the fourth bubble out of the second orifice to form a second droplet; wherein structures of the first chambers are different from structures of the second chambers, so that sizes of the first droplets are different from sizes of the second droplets.
- 2. The jet of claim 1 wherein each of the bubble generators is a heater, the first heaters and the second heaters being used for heating fluid in the first chambers to generate the first and the second bubbles, the third heaters and the fourth heaters being used for heating fluid in the second chambers to generate the third and the fourth bubbles.
- 3. The jet of claim 2 wherein each of the first heaters connects in series with a corresponding second heater, and each of the third heaters connects in series with a corresponding fourth heater.
- 4. The jet of claim 1 wherein widths of the first chambers are different from widths of the second chambers, so that the sizes of the first droplets are different from the sizes of the second droplets.
- 5. The jet of claim 1 wherein depths of the first chambers are different from depths of the second chambers, so that the sizes of the first droplets are different from the sizes of the second droplets.
- 6. The jet of claim 1 wherein each of the first orifices is disposed between a corresponding first bubble generator and a corresponding second bubble generator wherein the first bubble generator is closer to the manifold than the second bubble generator, and each of the second orifices is disposed between a corresponding third bubble generator and a corresponding fourth bubble generator wherein the third bubble generator is closer to the manifold than the fourth bubble generator.
- 7. The jet of claim 1 wherein each of the first bubbles is used as a first virtual valve for restricting fluid in one of the first chambers to avoid flowing to the manifold when a corresponding second bubble is generated, and each of the third bubbles is used as a second virtual valve for restricting fluid in one of the second chambers to avoid flowing to the manifold when a corresponding fourth bubble is generated.
- 8. The jet of claim 1 wherein the substrate is disposed above the reservoir.
- 9. The jet of claim 1 wherein the first chambers and the second chambers are disposed in a stagger formation.
- 10. A jet in flow communication with a reservoir comprising:a substrate having a manifold for receiving fluid from the reservoir; an orifice layer disposed above the substrate, so that a plurality of first chambers and a plurality of second chambers are formed between the orifice layer and the substrate; a first nozzle group comprising a plurality of first nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of first chambers, each of the first nozzles comprising: a first orifice; a first bubble generator disposed at one side of the first orifice for generating a first bubble; and a second bubble generator disposed at another side of the first orifice for generating a second bubble which squeezes fluid between the first bubble and the second bubble out of the first orifice to form a first droplet; and a second nozzle group comprising a plurality of second nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of second chambers, each of the second nozzles comprising: a second orifice; a third bubble generator disposed at one side of the second orifice for generating a third bubble; and a fourth bubble generator disposed at another side of the second orifice for generating a fourth bubble which squeezes fluid between the third bubble and the fourth bubble out of the second orifice to form a second droplet; wherein intervals between the two bubble generators of the first nozzles are larger than intervals between the two bubble generators of the second nozzles, so that sizes of the first droplets are larger than sizes of the second droplets.
- 11. The jet of claim 10 wherein the first chambers and the second chambers are disposed in a stagger formation.
- 12. A jet in flow communication with a reservoir comprising:a substrate having a manifold for receiving fluid from the reservoir; an orifice layer disposed above the substrate so that a plurality of first chambers and a plurality of second chambers are formed between the orifice layer and the substrate; a first nozzle group comprising a plurality of first nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of first chambers, each of the first nozzles comprising: a first orifice; a first bubble generator disposed at one side of the first orifice for generating a first bubble; and a second bubble generator disposed at another side of the first orifice for generating a second bubble which squeezes fluid between the first bubble and the second bubble out of the first orifice to form a first droplet; and a second nozzle group comprising a plurality of second nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of second chambers, each of the second nozzles comprising: a second orifice; a third bubble generator disposed at one side of the second orifice for generating a third bubble; and a fourth bubble generator disposed at another side of the second orifice for generating a fourth bubble which squeezes fluid between the third bubble and the fourth bubble out of the second orifice to form a second droplet; wherein the first orifices are larger than the second orifices, so that sizes of the first droplets are larger than sizes of the second droplets.
- 13. A method for ejecting droplets of different sizes via a jet in flow communication with a reservoir, the jet comprising:a substrate having a manifold for receiving fluid from the reservoir; an orifice layer disposed above the substrate, and forming a plurality of first chambers and a plurality of second chambers between the orifice layer and the substrate, the first chambers being larger than the second chambers; a first nozzle group comprising a plurality of first nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of first chambers, each of the first nozzles comprising: a first orifice; a first bubble generator disposed at one side of the first orifice; and a second bubble generator disposed at another side of the first orifice; and a second nozzle group comprising a plurality of second nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of second chambers, each of the second nozzles comprising: a second orifice; a third bubble generator disposed at one side of the second orifice; and a fourth bubble generator disposed at another side of the second orifice; the method comprising: generating first bubbles in corresponding first chambers via corresponding first bubble generators; generating second bubbles in the corresponding first chambers via corresponding second bubble generators after the first bubbles are generated, wherein each of the second bubbles squeezes fluid between the second bubble and a corresponding first bubble out of a corresponding first orifice to form a first droplet; generating third bubbles in corresponding second chambers via corresponding third bubble generators; generating fourth bubbles in the corresponding second chambers via corresponding fourth bubble generators after the third bubbles are generated, wherein each of the fourth bubbles squeezes fluid between the fourth bubble and a corresponding third bubble out of a corresponding second orifice to form a second droplet which is smaller than the first droplet.
- 14. A method for ejecting droplets of different sizes via a jet in flow communication with a reservoir, the jet comprising:a substrate having a manifold for receiving fluid from the reservoir; an orifice layer disposed above the substrate, so that a plurality of first chambers and a plurality of second chambers are formed between the orifice layer and the substrate; a first nozzle group comprising a plurality of first nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of first chambers, each of the first nozzles comprising: a first orifice; a first bubble generator disposed at one side of the first orifice; and a second bubble generator disposed at another side of the first orifice; and a second nozzle group comprising a plurality of second nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of second chambers, each of the second nozzles comprising: a second orifice; a third bubble generator disposed at one side of the second orifice; and a fourth bubble generator disposed at another side of the second orifice; wherein intervals between two bubble generators of the first nozzles are larger than intervals between two bubble generators of the second nozzles; the method comprising: generating first bubbles in corresponding first chambers via corresponding first bubble generators; generating second bubbles in the corresponding first chambers via corresponding second bubble generators after the first bubbles are generated, wherein each of the second bubbles squeezes fluid between the second bubble and a corresponding first bubble out of a corresponding first orifice to form a first droplet; generating third bubbles in corresponding second chambers via corresponding third bubble generators; generating fourth bubbles in the corresponding second chambers via corresponding fourth bubble generators after the third bubbles are generated, wherein each of the fourth bubbles squeezes fluid between the fourth bubble and a corresponding third bubble out of a corresponding second orifice to form a second droplet which is smaller than the first droplet.
- 15. A method for ejecting droplets of different sizes via a jet in flow communication with a reservoir, the jet comprising:a substrate having a manifold for receiving fluid from the reservoir; an orifice layer disposed above the substrate so that a plurality of first chambers and a plurality of second chambers are formed between the orifice layer and the substrate; a first nozzle group comprising a plurality of first nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of first chambers, each of the first nozzles comprising: a first orifice; a first bubble generator disposed at one side of the first orifice; and a second bubble generator disposed at another side of the first orifice; and a second nozzle group comprising a plurality of second nozzles that are disposed on the orifice layer and correspond to the plurality of second chambers, each of the second nozzles comprising: a second orifice; a third bubble generator disposed at one side of the second orifice; and a fourth bubble generator disposed at another side of the second orifice; wherein the first orifices are larger than the second orifices; the method comprising: generating first bubbles in corresponding first chambers via corresponding first bubble generators; generating second bubbles in the corresponding first chambers via corresponding second bubble generators after the first bubbles are generated, wherein each of the second bubbles squeezes fluid between the second bubble and a corresponding first bubble out of a corresponding first orifice to form a first droplet; generating third bubbles in corresponding second chambers via corresponding third bubble generators; generating fourth bubbles in the corresponding second chambers via corresponding fourth bubble generators after the third bubbles are generated, wherein each of the fourth bubbles squeezes fluid between the fourth bubble and a corresponding third bubble out of a corresponding second orifice to form a second droplet which is smaller than the first droplet.
- 16. A jet in flow communication with a reservoir comprising:a substrate having a manifold for receiving fluid from the reservoir; an orifice layer disposed above the substrate so that a first chamber and a second chamber are formed between the orifice layer and the substrate; a first nozzle disposed on the orifice layer comprising a first orifice, a first bubble generator, and a second bubble generator, wherein the first bubble generator and the second bubble generator are disposed at two sides of the first orifice, the first bubble generator is capable of generating a first bubble which is used as a first virtual valve for restricting fluid in the first chamber to avoid flowing to the manifold, and the second bubble generator is capable of generating a second bubble for squeezing fluid between the first bubble and the second bubble out of the first orifice so as to form a first droplet; and a second nozzle disposed on the orifice layer comprising a second orifice, a third bubble generator, and a fourth bubble generator, wherein the third bubble generator and the fourth bubble generator are disposed at two sides of the second orifice, the third bubble generator is capable of generating a third bubble which is used as a second virtual valve for restricting fluid in the second chamber to avoid flowing to the manifold, and the fourth bubble generator is capable of generating a fourth bubble for squeezing fluid between the third bubble and the fourth bubble out of the second orifice so as to form a second droplet; wherein a size of the first droplet is larger than a size of the second droplet.
- 17. A method for ejecting droplets of different sizes via a jet in flow communication with a reservoir, the jet comprising:a substrate having a manifold for receiving fluid from the reservoir; an orifice layer disposed above the substrate so that a first chamber and a second chamber are formed between the orifice layer and the substrate, structure of the first chamber is different from structure of the second chamber; a first nozzle having a first orifice, a first bubble generator, and a second bubble generator, wherein the first bubble generator and the second bubble generator are disposed at two sides of the first orifice; and a second nozzle having a second orifice, a third bubble generator, and a fourth bubble generator, wherein the third bubble generator and the fourth bubble generator are disposed at two sides of the second orifice; the method comprising: generating a first bubble in the first chamber via the first bubble generator and generating a second bubble in the first chamber via the second bubble generator, wherein the first bubble and the second bubble approach each other, so that fluid between the first bubble and the second bubble is squeezed out of the first orifice to form a first droplet; generating a third bubble in the second chamber via the third bubble generator and generating a fourth bubble in the second chamber via the fourth bubble generator, wherein the third bubble and the fourth bubble approach each other, so that fluid between the third bubble and the fourth bubble is squeezed out of the second orifice to form a second droplet which is smaller than the first droplet.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
90111350 A |
May 2001 |
TW |
|
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Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5557304 |
Stortz |
Sep 1996 |
A |
6464342 |
Kubota et al. |
Oct 2002 |
B1 |