Micro-Extrusion System With Airjet Assisted Bead Deflection
First Claim
1. A micro-extrusion system for producing one or more beads of extrusion material on an upper surface of a target substrate, the micro-extrusion system comprising:
- an extrusion printhead assembly including an inlet port, one or more dispensing orifices, and one or more flow channels, each of the one or more flow channels communicating between said inlet port and said one or more dispensing orifices;
a material feed system for supplying said extrusion material to said inlet port such that said extrusion material is forced through said one or more flow channels and exits through said one or more dispensing orifices, thereby producing said one or more beads of extrusion material;
means for supporting the extrusion printhead assembly and said target substrate, and for moving the extrusion printhead assembly relative to said target substrate such that extrusion material exiting said one or more dispensing orifices forms said one or more beads of extrusion material on the upper surface of the target substrate; and
means for directing a gas against said one or more beads of extrusion material such that said gas pushes said plurality of beads toward the target substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A air jet source is used in conjunction with a micro-extrusion printhead assembly in a micro-extrusion system to bias extruded material onto a target substrate. The printhead assembly utilizes paste valves or other feed system to push/draw an extrusion material through dispensing orifices defined on an extrusion needle, nozzle or stacked plate printhead as the printhead assembly is moved over the substrate. The air jet source is positioned near the dispensing outlets, and directs a gas jet against the extruded material such that the extruded material is reliably biased against the target substrate. Multiple dispensing orifices are defined in a paste dispensing needle to improve starts and stops, as well as improving overall ink distribution. Two independently activated air sources and multiple air jet outlets are utilized to improve control over the quality of bus bars formed by the extruded material.
117 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A micro-extrusion system for producing one or more beads of extrusion material on an upper surface of a target substrate, the micro-extrusion system comprising:
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an extrusion printhead assembly including an inlet port, one or more dispensing orifices, and one or more flow channels, each of the one or more flow channels communicating between said inlet port and said one or more dispensing orifices; a material feed system for supplying said extrusion material to said inlet port such that said extrusion material is forced through said one or more flow channels and exits through said one or more dispensing orifices, thereby producing said one or more beads of extrusion material; means for supporting the extrusion printhead assembly and said target substrate, and for moving the extrusion printhead assembly relative to said target substrate such that extrusion material exiting said one or more dispensing orifices forms said one or more beads of extrusion material on the upper surface of the target substrate; and means for directing a gas against said one or more beads of extrusion material such that said gas pushes said plurality of beads toward the target substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for extruding an extrusion material on an upper surface of a target substrate, the method comprising:
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supplying said extrusion material to an inlet port of an extrusion printhead assembly having a plurality of dispensing orifices and one or more flow channels arranged such that each of the one or more of flow channels communicates between said inlet port and an associated one of said plurality of dispensing orifices, wherein said extrusion material is supplied to said inlet port inlet port such that said extrusion material is forced through said one or more of flow channels and exits through said one or more dispensing orifices, thereby producing one or more beads of said extrusion material; supporting the extrusion printhead assembly and said target substrate, and moving the extrusion printhead assembly relative to said target substrate such that extrusion material exiting said one or more dispensing orifices causes said one or more beads to form on the upper surface of the target substrate; and directing a gas against said one or more lines such that said gas pushes said plurality of lines toward the target substrate.
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Specification