Patent ID: 8919930
Filing Date: 2014-12-30
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A jetting module comprising: a nozzle plate, portions of the nozzle plate defining a nozzle; a thermal stimulation membrane including a plurality of pores, at least one of the plurality of pores overlapping the nozzle when viewed from a direction of fluid flow through the nozzle; an enclosure extending from the nozzle to the thermal stimulation membrane to define a liquid chamber positioned between the nozzle and the thermal stimulation membrane, the liquid chamber being in fluid communication with the nozzle and each of the plurality of pores of the thermal stimulation membrane that span the liquid chamber; and a liquid source that provides a liquid under pressure through the plurality of pores of the thermal stimulation member, the pressure being sufficient to continuously jet a stream of the liquid through the nozzle after the liquid flows through the plurality of pores of the thermal stimulation membrane, the thermal stimulation membrane including a thermal actuator that applies a pulse of thermal energy to the liquid as the liquid flows through the thermal stimulation membrane, the pulse of thermal energy being one of a plurality of pulses of thermal energy provided to cause the stream of the liquid to break up into a stream of drops.