Patent ID: 6659364
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: B05B,B41J

Abstract:
A method of generating liquid droplets from an aperture in a membrane, the aperture having a diameter &phgr; at one face at most as large as its diameter at the other face, the method comprising:providing a liquid to the one face of the membrane adjacent the aperture, the liquid having a surface tension &sgr; and density &rgr;; applying a pressure bias such that the pressure of the liquid at the one face of the membrane is lower than the pressure immediately adjacent to the opposing face of the membrane; and while the bias pressure is applied, vibrating the membrane at a frequency f which is determined by the relationship: f&leq;(8&it;â€ƒ&it;Ï€&it;â€ƒ&it;Ïƒ27&it;â€ƒ&it;Ï &it;â€ƒ&it;Ï†3)1/2in order to generate droplets emergent from the other face.