Microvolume-liquid Dispenser Nozzle Vibration Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microvolume-liquid dispensers face issues with uneven application and clogging due to viscosity changes and drying of the liquid at the nozzle tip end, especially when application intervals are unequal, leading to inferior application quality and wasteful discharging operations.
Innovation Solution
A microvolume-liquid application method involving liquid surface vibration operations and controlled pressure pulses to maintain liquid characteristics, allowing precise application of nanoliter- to picoliter quantities through a nozzle with a very small diameter, even at unequal time intervals, by vibrating the liquid surface and actively mixing the liquid within the nozzle to prevent clogging and maintain fluidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wasteful discharging is performed to prevent nozzle clogging, then nozzle reliability is improved, but application productivity deteriorates due to wasteful movement and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ultrasonic vibration to the liquid surface at the nozzle tip to prevent drying and clogging. The vibration mechanism agitates the liquid surface, preventing the formation of a dry film that would otherwise clog the nozzle, thereby maintaining nozzle reliability without requiring wasteful discharging operations that reduce productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary liquid surface vibration before actual application to maintain liquid characteristics. By vibrating the liquid surface in advance during standby periods, the system prevents viscosity increase and drying effects before they occur, ensuring ready-to-use liquid properties without needing wasteful preliminary discharging
2Reliability
If the nozzle is moved to a separate position for wasteful discharging, then nozzle clogging is prevented, but application precision deteriorates due to location changes and time delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clogging prevention function with the application position itself. Instead of moving the nozzle to a separate location for wasteful discharging, the liquid surface vibration is applied directly at the application position, combining two functions into one location and eliminating position-changing movements that affect precision
3Manufacturing precision
If application liquid with excellent drying properties is used, then application quality is improved, but nozzle reliability deteriorates due to accelerated drying at the nozzle tip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ultrasonic vibration of the liquid surface to counteract the drying effect of high-performance application liquids. The vibration prevents the liquid film at the nozzle tip from drying out too quickly, maintaining nozzle reliability while allowing the use of application liquids with excellent drying properties for high-quality application
4Adaptability or versatility
If the time interval between application operations increases, then application flexibility is improved, but application precision deteriorates due to liquid surface changes and viscosity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary liquid surface vibration during standby periods to maintain liquid characteristics before actual application. This preliminary action prevents viscosity increase and liquid surface changes that would otherwise occur during long time intervals, ensuring consistent application precision regardless of flexibility in timing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies periodic ultrasonic vibration to the liquid surface during standby periods. This periodic action continuously prevents drying and viscosity increase, maintaining stable liquid characteristics even when application operations are performed at irregular time intervals, thus preserving application precision while allowing flexible scheduling
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and uniform application of microvolume liquids with a dot diameter or line width of 500 μm or less, maintaining optimal liquid characteristics and preventing clogging, even with high-viscosity liquids, ensuring consistent application quality at both equal and unequal time intervals.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid surface vibration operation is performed in which a tip-end liquid surface formed in the nozzle tip-end opening is caused to perform one cycle of moving outward and inward at a prescribed amplitude
Implementation Method 2
a pulsed first pressure is applied to a liquid within the nozzle, and a picoliter-quantity to nanoliter-quantity microvolume liquid is dispensed from the nozzle tip-end opening
Implementation Method 3
The first pressure is released, the liquid is drawn upward into the nozzle from the nozzle tip-end opening
Data Source
AI summary
In a microvolume-liquid dispenser, there is performed an application operation for dispensing a microvolume liquid present in an amount measured in nanoliters or picoliters from a nozzle tip-end opening and applying the microvolume liquid to an application surface. When the application operation has not been performed over a time interval longer than a set time interval ta, a tip-end liquid surface of an application liquid in the nozzle tip-end opening is caused to vibrate at a high amplitude that includes the position of a liquid surface height from immediately before application in the case of application at equal time intervals. The subsequently performed application operation is performed at a point in time when the liquid surface height has returned to the liquid surface height. The operation for applying the microvolume application liquid can be precisely performed in the same manner as when application is performed at equal time intervals.