Patent ID: 6027699
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: B01J,B22F,C23C

Abstract:
An apparatus, comprising:a melting vessel defining a first hole for producing a first jet of material;a first jet destabilizer connected to said melting vessel, said first jet destabilizer adapted to break said first jet into a first stream of droplets;a first charging structure connected to said melting vessel, said first charging structure adapted to induce an electrical charge in a tip of said first jet of material, said charge being retained upon each drop in said first stream of droplets and forcing separation of each drop in said stream of droplets;a first set of electrodes connected to said first charging structure, said first set of electrodes adapted to deflect said first stream of droplets electrostatically; anda second set of electrodes connected to said first set of electrodes, said second set of electrodes adapted to deflect said first stream of droplets electrostatically in a second direction, said first set of electrodes and said second set of electrodes giving both x and y directional control to each droplet in said first stream of droplets, wherein said first set of electrodes and said second set of electrodes are driven by a set of drive electronics; andwherein said first jet destabilizer and said first charging structure cooperate to i) locate a first break-up point where said first stream of droplets is formed from said first jet of material and ii) determine a first charge to mass ratio that is substantially equal for each drop in said first stream of droplets.