Abstract:
There is provided a micro-ejecting apparatus. The micro-ejecting apparatus includes: an ejector including a channel therein and a driving part for ejecting a fluid to the outside; a body including a plurality of mounting parts on which the ejector is mounted; and guiding members fixed on the body and corresponding to the plurality of mounting parts so as to determine the positions of the plurality of mounting parts in the body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0130715 filed on Dec. 20, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a micro-ejector, and more particularly, to a micro-ejecting apparatus on which a micro-ejector can be stably mounted. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Biotechnology is one of the most prominent fields among highly-developed modern high-technologies. In biotechnology, samples directly or indirectly related to the life of organisms are largely used. Therefore, a micro-liquid system performing the transporting, controlling and analyzing of a fluid (particularly, a micro-fluid sample dissolved in a medium) is necessary. 
         [0006]    The micro-liquid system is manufactured based on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. The micro-liquid system is applied to various fields such as the vivo-injection of drugs or bioactive substances, a lab-on-a-chip, a chemical analysis for a new drug development, an inkjet printer, a small cooling system, a small fuel cell, and the like. 
         [0007]    One of the micro-fluid systems used in those fields is a micro-ejecting apparatus. In this case, since a medical micro-ejecting apparatus deals with high-viscosity and conductive liquids, particular cautions are required in using the apparatus. 
         [0008]    The micro-ejecting apparatus is provided with an ejector quantitatively ejecting the micro-fluid. The ejector is mounted on a mounting hole formed in the micro-ejecting apparatus. 
         [0009]    However, in general, since the ejector has an elongated shape, the ejector may be easily broken when being inserted into the mounting hole of the micro-ejecting apparatus. 
         [0010]    Further, since the mounting hole for the ejector is formed on the bottom of the micro-ejecting apparatus, if a user is not considerably skilled, it may be difficult to exactly mount the ejector into the mounting hole. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    An aspect of the present invention provides a micro-ejecting apparatus capable of stably mounting the ejector to minimize damage to the ejector. 
         [0012]    Further, another aspect of the present invention provides a micro-ejecting apparatus in which a user can easily determine the mounting position of the ejector with the naked eye such that the user can easily mount the ejector. 
         [0013]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a micro-ejecting apparatus including: an ejector including a channel therein and a driving part for ejecting a fluid to the outside; a body including a plurality of mounting parts on which the ejectors are mounted; and guiding members fixed on the body and having guide grooves corresponding to the plurality of mounting parts so as to determine the positions of the plurality of mounting parts in the body. 
         [0014]    The guiding groove may be gradually larger toward the lower end from the upper end. 
         [0015]    The body may include a channel formed therein, for supplying the fluid to the ejector. 
         [0016]    The body may further include a fastening hole formed therein for fixing an external pipe connected with the channel. 
         [0017]    The ejector mounted on the mounting part may protrude outside of the guiding member. 
         [0018]    The body may further include a power supply substrate for supplying a current or a voltage to the driving part and a connection pin. 
         [0019]    The body may include: a first body including the plurality of mounting parts; and a second body connected to a fluid supply part supplying the fluid to the ejector. 
         [0020]    One side of the guiding member may be inclined so as not to contact the ejector mounted on the mounting part. 
         [0021]    The mounting part may further include a fixing member installed thereon for supporting the ejector. 
         [0022]    The mounting part may be a groove having a shape corresponding to the external shape of the ejector. 
         [0023]    The mounting part may be opened toward the bottom of the body. 
         [0024]    An end of the ejector inserted into the mounting part and an end of the mounting part corresponding thereto may be sharpened so as to align the ejector. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a partially cut-away perspective view of a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view describing a configuration of the ejector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a partially cut-away front view of a micro-ejecting apparatus illustrating form of amounting part; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a front view describing a use example of the micro-ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the micro-ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the micro-ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0034]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are side views of a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0035]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0036]    The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and the exemplary embodiments are used to help understanding the spirit of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a partially cut-away perspective view of a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view describing a configuration of the ejector shown in  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 3  is a partially cut-away front view of a micro-ejecting apparatus illustrating form of a mounting part;  FIG. 4  is a front view describing a use example of the micro-ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the micro-ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 ;  FIG. 7  is a front view of the micro-ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 ;  FIG. 8  is a front view of a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  FIGS. 9 and 10  are side views of a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       First Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0038]    The micro-ejecting apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
         [0039]    The micro-ejecting apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment includes an ejector  110 , a body  120 , and a guiding member  130  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]    The ejector  110  is a member having an elongated shape as described in the related art. The ejector  110  is detachable to the body  120  and ejects a micro-fluid. The detailed configuration of the ejector  110  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The ejector  110  has a channel  112  through which the fluid moves in the inside thereof as shown in  FIG. 2 . An inlet  118  into which the fluid flows is formed at one end of the channel  112  and a nozzle  116  from which the fluid is ejected is formed at the other end thereof. In addition, a driving unit, which compresses the fluid stored in the channel  112  toward the nozzle  116  and which may be a piezoelectric actuator  114  according to the exemplary embodiment, is disposed within the channel  112 . The ejector  110  receives the fluid supplied through the inlet  118  and stores the fluid in the channel  112  thereof. In addition, when the piezoelectric actuator  114  is operated by an external signal, the ejector  110  ejects the fluid stored in the channel  112  through the nozzle  116 . An upper end of the ejector  110  may have a sharp shape as shown in  FIG. 2 . The sharp shape of the ejector  110  may be advantageously arranged at the center of the mounting part  1222 . 
         [0041]    Meanwhile, since the sharp shape of the ejector  110  shown in  FIG. 2  is according to the embodiment of the present invention, the shape may vary depending on the intended use of the micro-ejecting apparatus  100 . For example, the ejector  110  may be constituted by a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer having an insulating layer between two silicon layers, or one substrate or more. In addition, the channel may be formed by dry or wet-etching the substrate. 
         [0042]    The piezoelectric actuator  114  may be formed to correspond to a pressure chamber on the upper surface of the substrate and include a lower electrode acting as a common electrode, a piezoelectric layer deformed depending on an applied voltage, and an upper electrode acting as a driving electrode. 
         [0043]    The lower electrode may be formed entirely on the surface of the substrate and made of a single conductive material such as a metal, but preferably may be formed of two metal thin film layers made of titanium (Ti) and platinum (Pt). The lower electrode acts as a diffusion barrier preventing the diffusion between the piezoelectric layer and the substrate and also acts as the common electrode. 
         [0044]    The piezoelectric layer may be formed on the lower electrode and disposed on the top of the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric layer may be made of a piezoelectric material, preferably a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic material. The upper electrode may be formed on the piezoelectric layer and made of any one of Pt, Au, Ag, Ni, Ti, Cu, or the like. 
         [0045]    The body  120  may constitute the entire shape of the micro-ejecting apparatus  100 . The body  120  may configured to include a plurality of mounting parts  1222 , inlets  1204 , and outlets  1206 . 
         [0046]    The mounting part  1222  may have a shape elongated from the bottom of the body  120  to the inner side. The mounting part  1222  is in a groove shape housing a part of the ejector  110 . The plurality of mounting parts  1222  are formed at regular intervals in a horizontal direction (X-axial direction) of the body  120 . Ends of the plurality of mounting parts  1222  have a sharp shape respectively corresponding to the ends of the ejectors  110  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The ejector  110  corresponding to the shape of the mounting part  1222  may be positioned inside the mounting part  1222 . Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the interval among the plurality of ejectors  110  respectively disposed in the mounting parts  1222  is uniform. 
         [0047]    Meanwhile, the mounting part  1222  may include a fixing member  150  as shown in  FIG. 3  in order to contact the ejector  110  to one side wall of the mounting part  1222 . The fixing member  150  may include a contact member  152  and a spring  154  and is installed on the side wall of the mounting part  1222 . Herein, the spring  154  pushes the contact member  152  in a vertical direction (X-axial direction) substantially with respect to a mounting direction of the ejector  110 . In addition, the contact member  152  pushes the ejector  110  to one side of the ejector  110  by an elastic force of the spring  154 . Since the ejectors  110  are arranged to one side wall of the mounting part  1222  by the operation of the fixing member  150 , the intervals (that is, pitches) between the plurality of ejectors  110  are regular. In the case where the fixing member  150  is included according to the embodiment of the present invention, the end of the ejector  110  may be not formed in a sharp shape shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0048]    The inlet  1204  may be formed on the external surface of the body  120 . A separate pipe (pipe, horse, etc.) supplying the fluid may be installed in the inlet  1204  and connected with the outlet  1206  through the channel (not shown) formed in the body  120 . 
         [0049]    The outlet  1206  is formed to meet the mounting part  1222 . The outlet  1206  is connected with the inlet  118  in the state in which the ejector  110  is mounted in the mounting part  1222 . Accordingly, when the fluid is supplied through the inlet  1204  of the body  120 , the fluid flows into the ejector  110  through the outlet  1206 . Meanwhile, when the fluid moves from the outlet  1206  to the inlet  118 , a sealing member may be further installed on the outlet  1206  or the inlet  118  such that the fluid is not leaked from the connection portion of the outlet  1206  and the inlet  118 . 
         [0050]    A guiding member  130  may be formed in an elongated shape in a downward direction of the body  120 . A number of guiding grooves  134 , equal to the number of mounting parts  1222  may be formed on one side  132  of the guiding member  130 . The guiding groove  134  longitudinally extends in the same direction as the extended direction of the mounting part  1222  and is continuously connected with the corresponding mounting part  1222 . The guiding groove  134  guides the ejector  110  into the mounting part  1222 . Meanwhile, the guiding member  130  extended to the body  120  is described above, but may be a single component separable from the body  120 . 
         [0051]    The characteristics of the micro-ejecting apparatus  100  constituted as described above will be described referring to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0052]    In general, in the micro-ejecting apparatus as described above, since the entrance of the mounting part  1222  is formed at the bottom of the body  120 , the position of the mounting part  1222  may be not verified with the naked eye from a direction in the front of the micro-ejecting apparatus. 
         [0053]    However, in the micro-ejecting apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment, the position of the mounting part  1222  may be verified with the naked eye through the guiding member  130  extending downward the body  120  as shown in  FIG. 4 . That is, since a plurality of guiding grooves  134  are formed to be coincident with the position of the mounting parts  1222  at one side of the guiding member  130 , the position of the mounting part  1222  may be verified by the position of the guiding groove  134 . 
         [0054]    Further, in the exemplary embodiment, since the guiding groove  134  and the mounting part  1222  are continuously connected, the ejector  110  can be inserted to the mounting part  1222  by pushing up simply the ejector  110  along the guiding groove  134 . 
         [0055]    Therefore, according to the exemplary embodiment, the ejector  110  which is fragile can be easily and exactly mounted at the mounting part  1222 . 
         [0056]    Meanwhile, the ejector  110  mounted at the body  120  may be disposed to protrude downward of the guiding member  130   
       Second Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0057]    Hereinafter, a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7 . The micro-ejecting apparatus  100  according to the second exemplary embodiment is different from the first exemplary embodiment in that a shape of the body  120  is different therefrom and a substrate  128  for applying a power source is provided. For reference, the same reference numerals refer to the same components as the first exemplary embodiment and a detailed description for the same components will be omitted. 
         [0058]    The micro-ejecting apparatus  100  of the third exemplary embodiment includes a body  120  constituted by a plurality of components and a substrate  128  for applying a power source. 
         [0059]    The body  120  may include a first body  122  and two second body  124 . The first body  122  includes a mounting part  1222 . The mounting part  1222  is formed on the front and the rear of the first body  122 , respectively. Two second bodies  124  are respectively formed on the front and the rear of the first body  122 . Each second body  124  includes an inlet  1244  and an outlet  1246 . The inlet  1244  is formed on an upper part of the second body  124  and connected with the outlet  1246  through a channel (not shown). The outlet  1246  is formed on a surface (front or rear) of the second body  124  facing the first body  122 . Herein, the formed position of the outlet  1246  is determined so as to be connected with the inlet  118  of the ejector  110 . 
         [0060]    Meanwhile, the second body  124  may include the substrate  128  for applying the power source and a connection pin  1248 . The substrate  128  for applying the power source is positioned on a surface of the second body  124  which does not face the first body  122 . The substrate  128  for applying the power source is connected to an external apparatus to generate a current or a voltage having a uniform intensity. The connection pin  1248  is disposed on a surface facing the first body  122 . The connection pin  1248  is connected with the substrate  128  for applying the power source disposed opposite thereto and transmits the current or voltage having a uniform intensity generated from the substrate  128  for applying the power source to the ejector  110 . 
         [0061]    For reference, the first body  122  and the second bodies  124  may be coupled by a fastening member  140  such as a bolt and a nut as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0062]    Guiding members  130  and  131  may be positioned on the body  120 . The guiding member of reference numeral  130  may be positioned at the rear based on a virtual line L-L dissecting the first body  122  and the guiding member of reference numeral  131  may be positioned at the front based on the virtual line L-L. 
         [0063]    A guiding groove of reference numeral  134  is formed at the front  132  of the guiding member  130  and a guiding groove of reference numeral  135  is formed at the front  133  of the guiding member  131 . 
         [0064]    Herein, the guiding groove  134  of the guiding member  130  guides the ejector  110  to the mounting part  1222  disposed at the rear of the first body  122  and the guiding groove  135  of the guiding member  131  guides the ejector  110  to the mounting part  1222  disposed at the front of the first body  122  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0065]    Meanwhile, the guiding member  130  may extend more longitudinally than the guiding member  131 . Accordingly, a user can verify simultaneously the guiding grooves  134  and  135  respectively formed on the guiding members  130  and  131 , in the front of the micro-ejecting apparatus  100 . 
         [0066]    The micro-ejecting apparatus  100  has a coupled form as shown in  FIG. 6 . The micro-ejecting apparatus  100  described above is used for a field in which complicated and various micro-ejections are required because the micro-ejecting apparatus  100  has the ejectors  110  provided in greater number than those of the first exemplary embodiment. 
         [0067]    Further, the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention has the plurality of guiding members  130  and  131  having different extending lengths, such that the ejector  110  can be guided to exactly be mounted regardless of the formed position of the mounting parts  1222 . 
         [0068]    For reference, reference numeral  126  which is not described above is a fastening hole for connecting the body  120  to other equipments or a pipe connected with the inlet  1244 . 
       Third Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0069]    Hereinafter, a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . The micro-ejecting apparatus  100  according to the third exemplary embodiment has a different shape of the guiding groove  134  from the described exemplary embodiment. For reference, the same reference numerals refer to the same components of the exemplary embodiment as the above-described exemplary embodiments and a detailed description of the same components will be omitted. 
         [0070]    The micro-ejecting apparatus  100  according to the third exemplary embodiment may include a guiding groove  134  having a changed cross-sectional size. A plurality of guiding grooves  134  are formed in the front of the guiding member  130  in a manner similar to that of the above-described exemplary embodiment. However, the guiding groove  134  of the third exemplary embodiment has a cross-sectional size gradually increasing from the upper end to the lower end of the guiding member  130  as shown in  FIG. 8 . For example, the guiding groove  134  has the same cross-sectional size as that of the mounting part  1222  at the upper end of the guiding member  130 , but has a larger cross-sectional size than that of the upper end at the lower end of the guiding member  130 . 
         [0071]    The guiding groove  134  having a structure such as that described above may be more easily distinguished at the naked eye and the ejector  110  for the mounting part  1222  is more easily and exactly guided. Accordingly, the micro-ejecting apparatus  100  according to the third exemplary embodiment may be suitable to a relatively very thin or small ejector  110 . 
       Fourth Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0072]    Hereinafter, a micro-ejecting apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The micro-ejecting apparatus  100  according to the fourth exemplary embodiment has a different shape of the guiding member  130  from the described exemplary embodiments. For reference, the same reference numerals refer to the same components of the exemplary embodiment as the above-described exemplary embodiments and a detailed description of the same components will be omitted. 
         [0073]    The micro-ejecting apparatus  100  according to the fourth exemplary embodiment may include a guiding member  130  having a slope. That is, the front  132  of the guiding member  130  is inclined in a rear-facing direction (+Y-axial direction) from the upper part to the lower part of the guiding member  130  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0074]    The guiding member  130  can be distinguished at the naked eye in the front of the apparatus  100 , such that the ejector  110  for the mounting part  1222  can be still guided. However, unlike the above-described embodiments, the ejector  110  having been mounted on the body  120  does not contact the guiding groove  134 . 
         [0075]    Therefore, in the fourth exemplary embodiment, since the ejector  110  mounted on the body  120  may be easily picked off as compared with the above-described embodiments, it is not required that the ejector  110  is manufactured longitudinally up to the lower end of the guiding member  130 . Accordingly, the manufacturing cost of the ejector  110  can be reduced. 
         [0076]    As set forth above, since the mounting position of the ejector is verified at the naked eye of user, the ejector can be easily and exactly mounted on the body of the micro-ejecting apparatus. 
         [0077]    Further, the ejector may be easily mounted and exactly mounted, such that the damage generated in the mounting process of the ejector can be substantially reduced. 
         [0078]    While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.