Microstructure liquid dispenser

• US 6,431,695 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Johnston, Raymond P., Insley, Thomas I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Judy
• Application Number:
  US09/099,555
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 347/84, 347/85, 347/86, 347/87, 401/222, 401/223
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 5/10 with reserve ink chambers

Abstract

Liquid dispensers comprising a reservoir including a plurality of elongated channels formed from overlaying layers of microstructured film having a dispensing edge, each elongated channel having an outlet at the dispensing edge, wherein liquid can be stored in the reservoir, and a transfer element in fluid communication with the dispensing edge of the reservoir that provides a location from which liquid stored in the reservoir can be controllably dispensed.

Claims

1. A reservoir for storing and controllably dispensing liquid, comprising:

at least one layer of microstructured film including;

a plurality of elongated channels formed in a structured surface of the film; and

a dispensing edge; and

a cap layer adjacent to the structured surface and covering the elongated channels, wherein the cap layer is formed from material which is substantially impermeable to the liquid stored in the reservoir, and wherein the liquid can be retained within the channels by the cap layer and controllably dispensed from the channels at the dispensing edge.

2. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of film is substantially impermeable to ink.

3. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of film has a thickness less than 5,000 micrometers.

4. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the reservoir has a capacity to hold a total volume of liquid of at least about 1 microliter.

5. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer has at least about 100 channels.

6. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the elongated channels have an aspect ratio of at least about 10:

1.

7. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the elongated channels are V-shaped.

8. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the elongated channels have a rectangular shape.

9. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein elongated channels have a hydraulic radius no greater than about 300 micrometers.

10. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the elongated channels are defined by peaks that have a height of approximately 5 to 1,200 micrometers and that have a peak distance of about 10 to 2,000 micrometers.

11. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein a density of the channels in the film is from about 10 per lineal centimeter up to 1,000 per lineal centimeter.

12. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of film is polymeric.

13. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of film is substantially impermeable to aqueous liquids.

14. An ink jet cartridge, comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a reservoir located within the housing including a plurality of covered elongated channels formed from overlying layers of microstructured film each having a plurality of elongated channels formed in a structured surface of the film layer and each having a dispensing edge, with each elongated channel having an outlet at the dispensing edge, wherein the microstructured film is formed from material which is substantially impermeable so liquid can be stored in the channels of the microstructured film layers; and

a transfer element in fluid communication with the dispensing edge of the reservoir and located within the housing so that the transfer element is accessible through the opening so as to provide a location from which liquid stored in the channels of the reservoir can be controllably dispensed.

15. The ink jet cartridge of claim 14, wherein the elongated channels have a hydraulic radius no greater than about 300 micrometers and an aspect ratio of at least about 10:

1.

31. The ink jet cartridge of claim 14, wherein the transfer element includes a fibrous layer.

16. A liquid dispenser for storing and dispensing liquid, comprising:

a reservoir including a plurality of covered elongated channels formed from overlying layers of rnicrostructured film formed from material which is substantially impermeable to the liquid being stored, each microstructured film layer having a plurality of elongated channels formed in a structured surface of the film layer and a dispensing edge, with each elongated channel having an outlet at the dispensing edge, wherein liquid can be stored in the channels of the microstructured film layers; and

a transfer element in fluid communication with the dispensing edge of the reservoir providing a location from which liquid stored in the channels of the reservoir can be controllably dispensed.

17. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein the reservoir has a capacity to hold a total volume of liquid of at least about 1 microliter.

18. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein each layer has at least about 100 channels.

19. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein each elongated channel has an aspect ratio of at least about 10:

1.

20. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein the elongated channels are V-shaped.

21. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein the elongated channels have a rectangular shape.

22. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein each elongated channel has a hydraulic radius no greater than about 300 micrometers.

23. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein the elongated channels are defined by peaks that have a height of approximately 5 to 1,200 micrometers and that have a peak distance of about 10 to 2,000 micrometers.

24. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein a density of the channels in the film is from about 10 per lineal centimeter up to 1,000 per lineal centimeter.

25. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein the overlying layers are polymeric.

26. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein the transfer element comprises two or more transfer elements in fluid communication with the dispensing edge of the reservoir.

27. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein the overlying layers are substantially impermeable to ink.

28. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein each of the overlying layers has a thickness less than 5,000 micrometers.

29. The liquid dispenser of claim 16, wherein the elongated channels are U-shaped.

30. The liquid dispenser of claim 26 wherein:

the plurality of elongated channels comprises first and second elongated channels; and

the transfer elements include first and second transfer elements, and wherein the first transfer element is in fluid communication with the first channel and the second transfer element is in fluid communication with the second channel.