초록 ▼

A simple yet highly reliable technique for ejecting a droplet of heated solder, or other liquid conductive material, is described. Small droplets of an electrically-conductive liquid are ejected on-demand from a drop generator operating on a magnetohydrodynamic principle. The drop generator consists

A simple yet highly reliable technique for ejecting a droplet of heated solder, or other liquid conductive material, is described. Small droplets of an electrically-conductive liquid are ejected on-demand from a drop generator operating on a magnetohydrodynamic principle. The drop generator consists of two substantially parallel conductive paths separated by a thin electrically-insulating material. A channel for the conductive liquid contains a drop ejecting orifice, and the conductive liquid in the channel forms a first of these two parallel conductive paths. The other path is either a solid conductor or a second channel filled with the conductive liquid. A current on the order of 10-1000 amperes is pulsed through the two parallel conductive paths, and the interaction of the magnetic fields generated by the electric currents through the parallel paths with these currents forces a droplet of the conductive liquid through the orifice in the first channel. By adjusting the duration and/or magnitude of the pulsed current, the droplet size may be carefully controlled. In the preferred embodiment, the drop generator is in the form of a self-contained replaceable cartridge.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for producing a stream or droplet of liquid conductive material comprising the steps of:providing said liquid conductive material in a first channel in fluid communication with an orifice;supplying an electric current through said liquid conductive material in sa

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for producing a stream or droplet of liquid conductive material comprising the steps of:providing said liquid conductive material in a first channel in fluid communication with an orifice;supplying an electric current through said liquid conductive material in said first channel;supplying an electric current through a conductor proximate to said first channel such that the interaction of magnetic forces generated by said current through said conductor and said current through said liquid conductive material in said first channel forces an amount of said liquid conductive material through said orifices,wherein said step of supplying an electric current through said conductor comprises supplying a current through said liquid conductive material in a second channel in fluid communication with said first channel.