US3701476A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drop generator with rotatable transducer
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1971-10-14
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1991-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A drop generator in which a working fluid is forced through orifices in a flexible plate mounted on the drop generating head. The resulting filaments of working fluid break down into drops and the size and spacing of the drops are regulated by propagating a series of bending waves down the length of the orifice plate. The waves are propagated by means of an ultrasonic transducer mounted for rotation about its axis on the drop generator and directly contacting the orifice plate. Fine control over the exact point of contact between the tip of the transducer and the orifice plate is attained by forming the tip offset with respect to the axis of the transducer and rotating the transducer about its axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip H Houser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:45
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/02; B41J2/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
Apparatus of the type described: a. an orifice plate having a plurality of orifices formed therethrough, b. means for supplying a working fluid to said orifices, c. an ultrasonic transducer having a body portion and a tip portion, d. said tip portion being offset with respect to the axis of said body portion, and e. means mounting said transducer for rotation about said axis thereof with said tip thereof contacting said orifice plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus of the type described: a. an orifice plate having a plurality of orifices formed therethrough, b. means for supplying a working fluid to said orifices, c. an ultrasonic transducer having a body portion and a tip portion, d. said tip portion being offset with respect to the axis of said body portion, and e. means mounting said transducer for rotation about said axis thereof with said tip thereof contacting said orifice plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said supplying means includes a support bar, b. said transducer mounting means includes a transducer casing attached to said support bar, and c. said transducer is rotatably received in said casing and extends therefrom into contact with said orifice plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a. openings defined through a wall of said casing, b. said transducer being accessible through said openings for rotation thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a. spring means received in said casing and urging said transducer into contact with said orifice plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: a. a cap mounted in one end of said casing in spaced relationship to said transducer, b. said spring means being received in said casing between said cap and said transducer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said tip portion comprises a rod member attached at one end to and extending from said transducer body portion, b. said rod member having an opposite end terminating in a point in contact with said orifice plate, c. said point being offset with respect to the axis of said transducer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: a. said point is offset with respect to the axis of said rod member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus of the type described comprising: a. an orifice plate having a plurality of regularly spaced orifices formed therethrough, b. a manifold communicating with said orifices, c. a support bar supporting said manifold and said orifice plate, d. means mounted on said support bar for supplying a working fluid to said manifold, e. an elongated hollow transducer casing mounted on said support bar and extending substanTially perpendicularly with respect to said orifice plate, f. an ultrasonic transducer rotatably received in said elongated transducer casing for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, g. an elongated rod member attached to said transducer and extending outwardly of sad casing in coaxial relationship thereto, h. said rod member terminating in a point offset with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, i. said rod member extending through said manifold in noncontacting relationship thereto and contacting said orifice plate with said point, j. a cap member received on an outer end of said casing, k. a compression spring received in said casing intermediate said cap member and said transducer and urging said point into contact with said orifice plate, and l. openings formed in a sidewall of said casing to permit said transducer to be engaged for rotation thereof about the axis of said casing to shift the point of contact between said rod member point and said orifice plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus of the type described comprising: a. an orifice plate having a plurality of regularly spaced orifices formed therethrough, b. a manifold communicating with said orifices, c. a support bar supporting said manifold and said orifice plate, d. means mounted on said support bar for supplying a working fluid to said manifold, e. an elongated hollow transducer casing mounted on said support bar and extending substanTially perpendicularly with respect to said orifice plate, f. an ultrasonic transducer rotatably received in said elongated transducer casing for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, g. an elongated rod member attached to said transducer and extending outwardly of sad casing in coaxial relationship thereto, h. said rod member terminating in a point offset with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, i. said rod member extending through said manifold in noncontacting relationship thereto and contacting said orifice plate with said point, j. a cap member received on an outer end of said casing, k. a compression spring received in said casing intermediate said cap member and said transducer and urging said point into contact with said orifice plate, and l. openings formed in a sidewall of said casing to permit said transducer to be engaged for rotation thereof about the axis of said casing to shift the point of contact between said rod member point and said orifice plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |