METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING MULTILAYER POLYMER ACTUATORS

• US 20110016705A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Universita' Degli Studi Di Genova (Repubblica Italiana)
• Original Assignee: Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Universita' Degli Studi Di Genova (Repubblica Italiana)
• Inventors: Buzio, Renato, Sandini, Giulio, Randazzo, Marco, Valbusa, Ugo
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/605
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/05 Manufacture of multilayered piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices, or parts thereof, e.g. by stacking piezoelectric bodies and electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/098 Forming organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49071 by winding or coiling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49073 by assembling coil and core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49146 with encapsulating, e.g., potting, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49171 with encapsulating

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a multilayer polymeric actuator comprises the following steps: arranging a rotating winding core (C); winding a dielectric film (10) of polymeric material around the winding core; during winding, applying a conductive material on the dielectric film exposed face (10c), in which the application occurs intermittently according to a pre-established sequence, and according to a first and a second geometrical application patterns (11, 12) mutually alternated at each winding turn, so as to form a roll comprising at least one circumferentially localized zone (15) formed by dielectric film layers radially alternated to conductive material layers; radially cutting the roll at the ends of the circumferentially localized zone, so as to be able to take out a corresponding stack (15′); and connecting the conductive material layers having the first geometrical application pattern one to the other and the conductive material layers having the second geometrical application pattern one to the other.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a multilayer polymeric actuator, comprising:

arranging a winding core rotating around a central axis thereof,

winding a dielectric film of polymeric material around the winding core,

during winding, applying a conductive material on a dielectric film exposed face, wherein said applying occurs intermittently according to a set sequence, and according to a first and a second geometrical application pattern mutually alternated at each winding turn, so as to form a roll comprising at least one circumferentially localized zone formed by dielectric film layers radially alternated to conductive material layers,

radially cutting the roll at the ends of said circumferentially localized zone, so as to be able to take out a corresponding stack formed by the dielectric film layers alternated to the conductive material layers, and

connecting in an electrically conductive manner the conductive material layers having the first geometrical application pattern one to the other and, separately from these, the conductive material layers having the second geometrical application pattern one to the other.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said application of the conductive material on the dielectric film exposed face occurs by spraying, and said first and second geometrical application patterns are obtained through a first and a second masks, respectively, which are interchangeable.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said electrical connection between the conductive material layers having the first geometrical application pattern and the conductive material layers having the second geometrical application pattern occurs by spraying the conductive material on opposite sides of said stack.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said circumferentially localized zones is implemented, from which a plurality of corresponding stacks is obtained, said stacks being subsequently assembled one to the other so as to obtain said multilayer polymeric actuator.

5. Apparatus for manufacturing a multilayer polymeric actuator, comprising:

a winding core, capable of rotating around a central axis thereof, which is arranged to wind a dielectric film of polymeric material;

a motorized unit to actuate under rotation said winding core, said motorized unit being further provided with angular measuring means to keep track of a winding core angular position;

a spraying unit for application of a conductive material on a dielectric film exposed face during winding of the latter on the winding core;

a masking unit, interposed between the spraying unit and the winding core, said masking unit comprising first and a second masks which are interchangeable in an automated manner; and

a control unit, programmable to coordinate the winding core motorized unit, the spraying unit, and the masking unit so that said application occurs intermittently according to a pre-established sequence, and through said first and second masks mutually alternated at each winding turn of the dielectric film.