Piezoelectric jetting system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016339467-A1
Application number	US-201615154021-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 13, 2016
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for jetting a viscous material includes an electronic controller and a jetting dispenser operatively coupled with the electronic controller. The jetting dispenser includes an outlet orifice and a piezoelectric actuator operatively coupled with a movable shaft. The jetting dispenser is under control of the electronic controller for causing said piezoelectric actuator to move the shaft and jet an amount of the viscous material from the outlet orifice. The electronic controller sends a waveform to the piezoelectric actuator to optimize control of the jetting operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for jetting a fluid, the system comprising:
a jetting dispenser including a movable shaft, an outlet orifice and a piezoelectric actuator operatively coupled with the movable shaft to jet an amount of the fluid from said outlet orifice; and an electronic controller operatively coupled to the piezoelectric actuator, the electronic controller operating to apply a voltage with a varying rate of change to the piezoelectric actuator to reduce an oscillation amplitude of the movable shaft during movement toward and/or away from the outlet orifice.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said electronic controller sends a stepped waveform to the piezoelectric actuator including a first voltage and a second voltage, the second voltage being different than the first voltage.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein said second voltage is lower than said first voltage.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said second voltage is 0 volts.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said stepped waveform further includes a third voltage, said third voltage being greater than said second voltage and following said second voltage in said stepped waveform.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said electronic controller applies the voltage as a waveform with a decreasing rate of change in the voltage.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said electronic controller applies the voltage as a waveform with an increasing rate of change in the voltage.

8 . A method for jetting a viscous material from a dispenser including a piezoelectric actuator operatively coupled to a movable shaft and a fluid body with an outlet orifice, the method comprising:
applying a voltage with a varying rate of change to the piezoelectric actuator; moving the piezoelectric actuator under the applied voltage; moving the shaft with the piezoelectric actuator; and jetting an amount of the viscous material from said outlet orifice using the moving shaft.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein applying the voltage further comprises:
applying a stepped waveform to the piezoelectric actuator including a first voltage and a second voltage, the second voltage being different than the first voltage.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said second voltage is lower than said first voltage.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said second voltage is 0 volts.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said stepped waveform further includes a third voltage, said third voltage being greater than said second voltage and following said second voltage in said stepped waveform.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein applying the voltage further comprises:
applying the voltage with a decreasing rate of change.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein applying the voltage further comprises:
applying the voltage with an increasing rate of change.

Assignees

• Nordson Corp

Inventors

• Conner Scott A
• Jones John D
• Teece Bryan
• Villegas Wilson A

Classifications

• B05B17/0676 Primary

  Feeding means · CPC title

• H01L41/042

  Electricity · mapped topic

• B05B7/0416

  with arrangements for mixing one gas and one liquid · CPC title

• B05B17/0607 Primary

  generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers · CPC title

• B23K1/0016

  Soldering of electronic components · CPC title