Electrospinning device and electrospinning jet control method thereof

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of electrostatic spinning, in particular to an electrostatic spinning device and a control method of an electrostatic spinning nozzle thereof, which comprises a spinning nozzle mechanism, a feeding mechanism, a power supply assembly and a jet mechanism. The spinning nozzle mechanism comprises a machine shell, a sliding frame, a mounting disc and a nozzle arranged on the mounting disc. The nozzle comprises an array-type spinning tube arranged at the bottom of the mounting disc and a sleeve arranged on the spinning tube. The bottom of the spinning tube is provided with a spinneret, and a plurality of spinneret holes are arranged on the bottom plate of the shunt cavity of the spinneret at equal angles. A wind flow plate is arranged on the bottom plate of the shunt cavity corresponding to the position of each spinneret hole, so that the spinning liquid is smoothly and uniformly sprayed, the multiple-fiber line of a single spinning tube is sprayed, a plurality of fiber lines can be synchronously sprayed from the multiple spinning tubes at the bottom of the mounting disc, the spinning efficiency is greatly improved, the sleeve blows air from the bottom air outlet to the spinneret after ventilation, the fiber line is vertically arranged, the fiber line is prevented from being disorderly arranged, and the spinneret holes can be effectively prevented from being wrapped and blocked by the fiber line.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrospinning technology, specifically to an electrospinning apparatus and a method for controlling the electrospinning nozzle. Background Technology

[0002] Electrospinning is a commonly used method for producing nanofibers, and it has been extensively researched, developed, and used over the past decade. It is characterized by its simple operation and wide applicability. Its products are widely used in high-tech fields such as high-efficiency filtration materials, biomedical materials, and chemical sensors. Currently, near-field electrospinning direct-write technology has enabled the preparation of nearly a hundred different polymer nanofibers, various types of polymer, inorganic composite nanofibers, and inorganic nanofibers with diameters ranging from a few nanometers to hundreds of nanometers. Nanofiber materials prepared by high-voltage electrospinning technology have shown great application potential in optoelectronics, sensors, and biosciences.

[0003] Commercially available electrospinning devices typically involve jet spinning of polymer solutions or melts within a strong electric field. Under the influence of the electric field, the droplets at the needle tip change from a spherical shape to a conical shape (i.e., a "Taylor cone"), and then extend from the tip of the cone to form fine filaments. This method can produce polymer filaments with nanoscale diameters. However, due to the uncontrollable direction and amount of the needleless spinning jet, it is difficult to produce high-quality nanofiber membranes. To enable controllable direction and amount of the needle-spinning jet, while improving the uniformity of nanofiber splicing and avoiding entanglement of multiple fiber filaments, we propose an electrospinning device and its electrospinning nozzle control method. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an electrospinning apparatus and an electrospinning nozzle control method thereof. The electrospinning apparatus is structured using a spinning nozzle mechanism, a feeding mechanism for supplying spinning solution to the spinning nozzle mechanism, a power supply assembly for generating a high-voltage magnetic field, and an air jet mechanism connected to the spinning nozzle mechanism. The spinning nozzle mechanism includes a housing, a sliding frame, a mounting plate, and nozzles mounted on the mounting plate. Each nozzle includes an array of spinnerets arranged at the bottom of the mounting plate and a sleeve fitted over the spinnerets. A spinneret head is located at the bottom of the spinnerets. Furthermore, the bottom plate of the spinneret's distribution chamber has several spinneret holes arranged at equal angles, and airflow plates are installed on the bottom plate of the distribution chamber corresponding to the positions of each spinneret hole, so that the spinning solution is smoothly and evenly ejected, realizing the ejection of multiple filaments from a single spinneret. The multiple spinnerets at the bottom of the mounting plate can simultaneously eject multiple fiber filaments, greatly improving the spinning efficiency. After the sleeve is vented, the air outlet at the bottom blows towards the spinneret, keeping the fiber filaments vertical and avoiding filament tangling. At the same time, it can effectively prevent the spinneret holes from being entangled and blocked by the filaments, thus solving the problems mentioned in the background technology.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] An electrospinning apparatus, comprising:

[0007] The spinning nozzle mechanism, the feeding mechanism for supplying spinning solution to the spinning nozzle mechanism, the power supply assembly for generating a high-voltage magnetic field, and the jetting mechanism connected to the spinning nozzle mechanism.

[0008] The spinning nozzle mechanism includes a housing, a sliding frame, a mounting plate, and a nozzle mounted on the mounting plate. A sliding rod is horizontally arranged inside the housing, and the sliding frame is slidably mounted on the sliding rod. The mounting plate is fixedly mounted on the bottom panel of the sliding frame. The nozzle includes spinnerets arranged in an array on the bottom panel of the mounting plate. A sleeve is fitted on the spinneret, and the bottom of the spinneret extends out of the sleeve. A spinneret head is provided at the bottom end of the spinneret. The spinneret head is specifically connected to the spinneret by a threaded connector. A flow divider chamber communicating with the spinneret is provided inside the spinneret head. Several spinneret holes are arranged at equal angles on the bottom panel of the flow divider chamber. An airflow plate is provided in the middle of the bottom plate of the flow divider chamber to separate the spinneret holes. The bottom end of the sleeve wraps inward and is sealed to the outer wall of the spinneret tube. An air outlet facing the spinneret hole is provided at the bottom of the sleeve.

[0009] The feeding mechanism includes a spinning solution tank and a supply pump. The mounting plate is equipped with a coil, which is connected to each spinneret. The feed pipe of the supply pump is connected to the outlet of the spinning solution tank, and the feed pipe of the supply pump is connected to the coil.

[0010] The jet mechanism includes an air supply pump and an air inflator assembly installed on the top panel of the sliding frame. The air inflator assembly has an air supply branch pipe connected to each sleeve at the corresponding position. The air supply pipe of the air supply pump is connected to the air inlet of the air inflator assembly.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment, a mounting bracket is fixedly installed on the top panel of the sliding frame, and a horizontally mounted linear motor is fixedly installed on the top plate inside the housing. The moving part of the linear motor is fixedly connected to the mounting bracket by screws.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment, it also includes a collector located below the housing, the length of which is the same as the length of the housing, and the length of the sliding frame is half the length of the housing.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment, it also includes a power supply unit, which includes a high-voltage power supply. Metal connectors are provided at the connection points between the coil and each spinneret. The electrodes of the high-voltage power supply are connected to the metal connectors and the collector via wires. The high-voltage power supply is a high-voltage DC power supply and is equipped with a grounding wire. The collector is also equipped with a grounding wire. The spinneret is a metal needle tube.

[0014] As a preferred option, the collector surface is flat, convex, or concave.

[0015] A method for controlling an electrostatic spinning nozzle includes the following steps:

[0016] S1. The supply pump is turned on, and the spinning solution is drawn out from the spinning solution tank and introduced into the coil. Then, it is filled into the spinneret from the coil. The spinning solution is ejected from the spinneret hole at the bottom of the spinneret.

[0017] S2. While performing step S1, turn on the supply pump to fill the sleeve outside the spinneret with air, and finally spray it out from the air outlet at the bottom of the sleeve to blow the fiber downwards and prevent multiple fiber filaments from getting tangled.

[0018] S3. While step S1 is being performed, the circuit of the high-voltage power supply electrode is energized, causing the spinning solution entering the spinneret to become statically charged.

[0019] S4. While step S1 is being performed, the servo motor of the linear motor runs, controlling the mover to move left and right on the linear motor, which in turn drives the nozzle to move left and right above the collector. The collector collects the nanofibers sprayed from the nozzle to form nanofibers.

[0020] As can be seen from the above technical solution provided by the present invention, the electrospinning device and its electrospinning nozzle control method provided by the present invention have the following advantages: The electrospinning device is structured by using a spinning nozzle mechanism, a feeding mechanism for supplying spinning liquid to the spinning nozzle mechanism, a power supply assembly for generating a high-voltage magnetic field, and an air jet mechanism connected to the spinning nozzle mechanism. The spinning nozzle mechanism includes a housing, a sliding frame, a mounting plate, and nozzles mounted on the mounting plate. Each nozzle includes an array of spinnerets arranged at the bottom of the mounting plate and a sleeve on the spinneret. The sleeve on the tube has a spinneret at the bottom, and several spinneret holes are set at equal angles on the bottom plate of the spinneret's distribution chamber. Airflow plates are set on the bottom plate of the distribution chamber corresponding to the positions of each spinneret hole, so that the spinning solution can be sprayed out smoothly and evenly, realizing the spraying of multiple filaments from a single spinneret. Multiple spinnerets at the bottom of the mounting plate can spray multiple fiber filaments simultaneously, greatly improving the spinning efficiency. After the sleeve is vented, the air outlet at the bottom blows towards the spinneret, keeping the fiber filaments vertical and avoiding filament tangling. At the same time, it can effectively prevent the spinneret holes from being entangled and blocked by the filaments. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an electrospinning device according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the spinning nozzle mechanism in this invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the casing in this invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the nozzle cross-sectional structure in this invention.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Housing; 11. Opening; 2. Sliding frame; 21. Slide rod; 22. Mounting frame; 23. Linear motor; 24. Mover seat; 3. Mounting plate; 31. Nozzle; 311. Sleeve; 312. Spinneret; 313. Air outlet; 314. Spinneret head; 315. Connecting joint; 316. Flow divider; 317. Air flow plate; 318. Spinneret hole; 32. Supply pump; 33. Spinning solution tank; 34. Air supply pump; 35. Air inflator assembly; 4. High voltage power supply; 41. Collector. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0027] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0028] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0029] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0030] To better understand the above technical solutions, the following will provide a detailed description of the technical solutions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0031] like Figure 1-4 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides an electrospinning apparatus, including a spinning nozzle mechanism, a feeding mechanism for supplying spinning liquid to the spinning nozzle mechanism, a power supply component for generating a high-voltage magnetic field, and an air jet mechanism connected to the spinning nozzle mechanism.

[0032] Furthermore, the spinning nozzle mechanism includes a housing 1, a sliding frame 2, a mounting plate 3, and a nozzle 31 mounted on the mounting plate 3. A sliding rod 21 is transversely arranged inside the housing 1, and the sliding frame 2 is slidably mounted on the sliding rod 21. The mounting plate 3 is fixedly mounted on the bottom panel of the sliding frame 2. The nozzle 31 includes spinnerets 312 arranged in an array on the bottom panel of the mounting plate 3. A sleeve 311 is fitted onto the spinnerets 312, and the bottom of the spinnerets 312 extends beyond the sleeve 311. A spinneret head 314 is provided at the bottom end of the spinnerets 312. The spinneret head 314 is specifically threadedly connected to the spinnerets 312 via a connector 315. A flow divider cavity 316 communicating with the spinnerets 312 is provided inside the spinneret head 314. Several spinneret holes 318 are arranged at equal angles on the bottom panel of the flow divider cavity 316. An airflow plate 31 separating the spinneret holes 318 is provided in the middle of the bottom plate of the flow divider cavity 316. 7. The bottom end of the sleeve 311 wraps inward and is sealed to the outer wall of the spinneret 312. The bottom of the sleeve 311 is provided with an air outlet 313 facing the spinneret hole 318. The spinning nozzle mechanism includes a housing 1, a sliding frame 2, a mounting plate 3, and a nozzle 31 set on the mounting plate 3. The nozzle 31 includes an array of spinnerets 312 set at the bottom of the mounting plate 3 and a sleeve 311 sleeved on the spinnerets 312. The bottom of the spinneret 312 is provided with a spinneret head 314, and several spinneret holes 318 are set at equal angles on the bottom plate of the diversion chamber 316 of the spinneret head 314. The bottom plate of the diversion chamber 316 is provided with an airflow plate 317 corresponding to the position of each spinneret hole 318, so that the spinning liquid is smoothly and evenly sprayed out, realizing the spraying of multiple filaments from a single spinneret 312. Multiple spinnerets 312 at the bottom of the mounting plate 3 can simultaneously spray out multiple fiber filaments, greatly improving the spinning efficiency.

[0033] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3 The feeding mechanism includes a spinning solution tank 33 and a supply pump 32. The mounting plate 3 is equipped with a coil, which is connected to each spinneret 312. The suction pipe of the supply pump 32 is connected to the outlet of the spinning solution tank 33, and the supply pipe of the supply pump 32 is connected to the coil. The supply pump 32 can draw out the spinning solution in the spinning solution tank 33 and introduce it into the coil. After the spinning solution enters the coil, it is sequentially filled into each spinneret 312 to realize the supply of spinning solution.

[0034] Furthermore, the supply pump 32 is controlled by a PLC control system. A pressure transmitter can be installed on the supply pipe of the supply pump 32 to detect the pressure of the spinning solution supply. The PLC control system adjusts the operating power of the motor of the supply pump 32 according to the pressure value, thereby achieving constant pressure control of the spinning solution supply, which helps to improve the uniformity of the yarn.

[0035] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2The jetting mechanism includes an air supply pump 34 and an air inflator assembly 35 mounted on the top panel of the sliding frame 2. The air inflator assembly 35 is provided with air supply branch pipes connected to each sleeve 311 at the corresponding positions. The air supply pipe of the air supply pump 34 is connected to the air inlet of the air inflator assembly 35. After the sleeve 311 is ventilated, the bottom air outlet 313 blows air towards the spinneret 314, making the fiber filaments vertical and avoiding tangled filaments. At the same time, it can effectively prevent the spinneret orifice from being entangled and blocked by filaments.

[0036] In this embodiment, a mounting bracket 22 is fixedly installed on the top panel of the sliding frame 2, and a horizontally installed linear motor 23 is fixedly installed on the top plate inside the housing 1. The moving part 24 of the linear motor 23 is fixedly connected to the mounting bracket 22 by screws. The linear motor 23 is driven by a lead screw and a servo motor. The rotation of the lead screw causes the moving part 24 to move. The servo motor is controlled by a PLC control system. During the spinning process, the moving part 24 causes the sliding frame 2 to move left and right, so that the yarn is neatly stacked on the collector 41, avoiding the yarn from being messy, and at the same time increasing the receiving area of ​​the collector 41.

[0037] Please see Figure 3 It also includes a collector 41 located below the housing 1, the length of which is the same as the length of the housing 1, and the length of the sliding frame 2 is half the length of the housing 1.

[0038] In this embodiment, a power supply unit is also included. The power supply unit includes a high-voltage power supply 4. Metal connectors are provided at the connection points between the coil and each spinneret 312. The electrodes of the high-voltage power supply 4 are connected to the metal connectors and the collector 41 through wires. The high-voltage power supply 4 is a high-voltage DC power supply. The high-voltage power supply 4 is provided with a grounding wire. The collector 41 is provided with a grounding wire. The spinneret 312 is a metal needle tube. The high-voltage power supply 4 causes the sprayed spinning solution to be electrostatically charged, forming a high-voltage electric field with the collector 41. The surface of the collector 41 is flat, convex, or concave, and is used for receiving nanofiber filaments.

[0039] use Figure 1-4 The electrostatic spinning device shown controls the spinning nozzle. The supply pump 32 is turned on, drawing the spinning solution from the spinning solution tank 33 and introducing it into the coil, and then from the coil into the spinneret 312. The spinning solution is ejected from the spinneret hole at the bottom of the spinneret 312. At the same time, the supply pump 32 is turned on, filling the sleeve 311 outside the spinneret 312 with air, which is finally ejected from the air outlet 313 at the bottom of the sleeve 311, blowing the fiber downward to avoid multiple fiber filaments from tangling. At the same time, the circuit of the high-voltage power supply electrode is energized, making the spinning solution entering the spinneret 312 statically charged. Simultaneously, the servo motor of the linear motor 23 runs, controlling the mover seat 24 to move left and right on the linear motor 23, thereby driving the nozzle 31 to move left and right above the collector 41. The collector 41 collects the nanofibers ejected from the nozzle 31 to form nanofibers.

[0040] Among them, the displacement speed of the moving seat 24 on the linear motor 23 is controlled at 2-5cm / s, the voltage of the high voltage power supply 4 is adjusted to 60KV, and the distance between the spinneret 314 and the collector 41 is controlled between 30-50cm.

[0041] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electrospinning device, characterized by: The application relates to a spinning nozzle mechanism, a feeding mechanism for supplying spinning liquid to the spinning nozzle mechanism, a power assembly for manufacturing a high-voltage magnetic field, and a jet mechanism connected to the spinning nozzle mechanism. The spinning nozzle mechanism comprises a machine shell (1), a sliding frame (2), a mounting disc (3) and a nozzle (31) arranged on the mounting disc (3), the machine shell (1) is internally provided with a sliding rod (21) arranged in a transverse direction, the sliding frame (2) is slidingly arranged on the sliding rod (21), the mounting disc (3) is fixedly arranged on the bottom panel of the sliding frame (2), the nozzle (31) comprises jet pipes (312) arranged in an array on the bottom panel of the mounting disc (3), the jet pipe (312) is sleeved with a sleeve (311), the bottom of the jet pipe (312) extends out of the sleeve (311), and a jet head (314) is arranged at the bottom end of the jet pipe (312); the jet head (314) is screw-connected to the jet pipe (312) through a butt joint (315); the jet head (314) is internally provided with a shunt cavity (316) communicated with the jet pipe (312); a plurality of jet holes (318) are arranged at equal angles on the bottom panel of the shunt cavity (316); a wind flow plate (317) for separating the jet holes (318) is arranged at the middle portion of the bottom panel of the shunt cavity (316); the sleeve (311) is inwardly wrapped and sealingly connected to the outer wall of the jet pipe (312); and the bottom of the sleeve (311) is provided with an air outlet (313) facing the jet hole (318). The feeding mechanism comprises a spinning liquid tank (33) and a feeding pump (32), the mounting disc (3) is internally provided with a coil pipe communicated with each jet pipe (312), the suction pipe of the feeding pump (32) is connected to the discharge port of the spinning liquid tank (33), and the feeding pipe of the feeding pump (32) is connected to the coil pipe. The jet mechanism comprises a gas supply pump (34) and an air charging pipe group (35) arranged on the top panel of the sliding frame (2), the air charging pipe group (35) is provided with air supply branch pipes connected to the sleeves (311) at positions corresponding to the sleeves (311), and the air supply pipe of the gas supply pump (34) is connected to the air inlet of the air charging pipe group (35). The top panel of the sliding frame (2) is fixedly provided with a mounting frame (22), a horizontal linear motor (23) is fixedly arranged on the top panel in the machine shell (1), and the mover base (24) of the linear motor (23) is fixedly connected to the mounting frame (22) through screws. The application further comprises a collector (41) arranged below the machine shell (1), the length of the collector (41) is the same as the length of the machine shell (1), and the length of the sliding frame (2) is half of the length of the machine shell (1). ​ The power supply unit comprises a high-voltage power supply (4), a metal joint is arranged at the position where each spinneret (312) is connected to the coil pipe, an electrode of the high-voltage power supply (4) is connected to the metal joint and the collector (41) through a wire, the high-voltage power supply (4) is a high-voltage direct-current power supply, the high-voltage power supply (4) is provided with a grounding wire, the collector (41) is provided with a grounding wire, and the spinneret (312) is a metal needle tube. The surface of the collector (41) is in the shape of a flat plate, a convex surface or a concave surface.

2. An electrospinning jet control method based on the electrospinning device of claim 1, characterized by: The method comprises the following steps: S1, the supply pump (32) is started, the spinning solution is pumped out from the spinning solution tank (33) and introduced into the coil pipe, and then introduced into the spinneret (312), and the spinning solution is sprayed from the spinneret hole of the spinneret head at the bottom of the spinneret (312); S2, while the step S1 is performed, the supply pump (32) is started, air is filled into the sleeve (311) arranged outside the spinneret (312), and finally sprayed from the air outlet (313) at the bottom of the sleeve (311), so that the fiber filaments are blown downward to avoid winding of the fiber filaments; S3, while the step S1 is performed, the circuit of the high-voltage power supply electrode is powered on, so that the spinning solution entering the spinneret (312) is charged with static electricity; S4, while the step S1 is performed, the servo motor of the linear motor (23) is operated, the movable anode (24) is controlled to displace left and right on the linear motor (23), and then the nozzle (31) is driven to displace left and right above the collector (41), the collector (41) collects the nanometer fiber sprayed by the nozzle (31), and the nanometer fiber is formed.

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