Patent ID: 9216573
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: B41J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for controlling droplet motion in an electric field, comprising: a first electrode; an insulator disposed above the first electrode and shiftable on the first electrode; a discharge tip disposed above the insulator by a predetermined distance and dividing a transferred fluid into a small volume of a second droplet; and a second electrode contacting the fluid supplied through the discharge tip, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode form an electric field at an end of the discharge tip by forming a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first electrode is supplied with a high voltage or is grounded, and the second electrode is grounded or supplied with a high voltage on the contrary to the first electrode, wherein a first droplet is formed on the insulator and charged with electricity opposite to the first electrode, and the first droplet is configured to repel the second droplet away from the first droplet as the second droplet approaches the first droplet, wherein a falling direction of the second droplet is controlled by shifting the insulator on the first electrode, and wherein one side of the first electrode is exposed by shifting the insulator on the first electrode such that the falling direction of the second droplet discharged from the discharge tip is changed to be directed toward the exposed one side of the first electrode due to attractive force formed between the exposed one side of the first electrode and the second droplet.