Patent ID: 9010911
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: B01F,B05B,B41J

Abstract:
1. A droplet generating device for use as part of a continuous inkjet printer comprising: an expansion cavity having an entry orifice and an exit orifice, the expansion cavity, the entry orifice, and the exit orifice each having a cross sectional area, the cross sectional area of the expansion cavity being larger than the cross sectional area of both the entry orifice and the exit orifice; a nozzle located beyond the exit orifice; and a set of channels that provides a composite flow of a first fluid jet surrounded by a second fluid through the entry orifice and into the expansion cavity in which the jet of the first fluid surrounded by the second fluid breaks up in to drops of the first fluid surrounded by the second fluid as the first fluid moves toward the exit orifice, the exit orifice leading to the nozzle through which a composite flow of the drops of first fluid surrounded by the second fluid exits the droplet generating device as a fluid jet of drops of the first fluid surrounded by the second fluid, wherein passage of the drops of the first fluid through the exit orifice of the expansion cavity causes the first fluid jet of the composite flow of the first fluid jet surrounded by the second fluid to break into drops after the first fluid jet enters the expansion cavity through the entry orifice.