A microfluidic dispensing device has a plurality of chambers arranged in sequence, each having an inlet receiving a liquid to be dispensed and a nozzle for emitting a drop of liquid. An actuator in each chamber receives an actuation quantity and causes a drop of liquid to be emitted by the nozzle of the respective chamber. A drop emission detection element in each chamber generates an actuation command upon detecting the emission of a drop of liquid. A sequential activation electric circuit includes a plurality of sequential activation elements, one for each chamber, each coupled to the drop emission detection element of the respective chamber and to an actuator associated with a subsequent chamber in the sequence of chambers. Each sequential activation element receives the actuation command from the drop emission detection element associated with the respective chamber and activates the actuator associated with the subsequent chamber in the sequence of chambers.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for aerosol jet printing an aerosolized particle source configured to selectively provide aerosolized particles, a nozzle configured to deposit aerosolized particles on a substrate, an actuator configured to generate acoustic energy for migrating the particles, and a generator configured to selectively energize the actuator. The nozzle includes a proximal inlet configured for passage of aerosolized particles, a column configured to focus the aerosolized particles when vibrated by an actuator, and a distal opening configured for deposition of the particles on a substrate.

A fluid dispenser, comprising a dispenser faceplate having at least one ejection port and a dispenser guard. The dispenser guard has at least one opening configured to allow fluid exiting from the ejection port to flow through and at least one drainage structure. The dispenser guard is spaced from the ejection port with a gap small enough to attract the fluid accumulated around the ejection port to flow into the drainage structure.

Cartridges have a cartridge body configured to store a formulation, a formulation valve disposed in the cartridge body, and an air valve disposed in the cartridge body. The cartridge is configured to dispense the formulation through the formulation valve when the formulation valve and the air valve are each in an open state, and to not dispense the formulation when the formulation valve and the air valve are in a closed state.

A droplet generation device comprising a reservoir split into at least two regions by a substantially liquid impermeable barrier, a perforate membrane connecting one of said regions, containing, in use, the liquid to be dispensed, to the atmosphere, such that vibration of the membrane causes the liquid to be ejected through the perforate membrane into the atmosphere, and a pressure control system consisting of one or more valves in which at least one valve vents gas into the reservoir in response to a pressure difference, ΔP.sub.in, across it that is less than zero, and at least one valve is connected to a non-liquid-containing region of the reservoir and vents gas out of the reservoir in response to a pressure difference, ΔP.sub.out, across it that is greater than ΔP.sub.in, where ΔP.sub.in and ΔP.sub.out are the absolute pressure of the gas in the reservoir minus the absolute atmospheric pressure outside of the reservoir.

A mesh element for an atomiser assembly is provided, including: a first layer defining at least one channel including a minimum cross-sectional area; and a second layer overlying the first layer and defining at least one nozzle including a maximum cross-sectional area, the second layer including an inner surface facing the first layer and an outer surface facing away from the first layer, the at least one nozzle overlying the at least one channel, and the maximum cross-sectional area of the at least one nozzle being smaller than the minimum cross-sectional area of the at least one channel, and the outer surface of the second layer defining an annular portion extending around the at least one nozzle, the annular portion having a semi-circular cross-sectional shape, and a thickness of the second layer at each annular portion being larger than a thickness of the second layer between adjacent annular portions.

A method and system for feeding a lubricating or releasing agent from a dosing station to one or more pressing tools arranged in a pressing chamber of a tablet press. The tablet press is configured with a feed pipe for feeding the lubricating or release agent from the dosing station to the one or more pressing tools of a pressing chamber of the tablet press and the feed pipe is configured with a shut-off valve disposed in-line with the feed pip for controlling the flow of the lubricating or release agent to the pressing chamber. The method comprises the steps of: producing a negative pressure with respect to the surroundings of the pressing chamber of the tablet press, measuring a pressure in one of the feed pipe and the pressing chamber, and issuing a signal indicative of the measured pressure and issuing an enable signal to open a valve in response to the pressure signal.

The present teachings relate to various embodiments of a hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system that can be readily transportable and assemblable and provide for maintaining a minimum inert gas volume and maximal access to various devices and apparatuses enclosed therein. Various embodiments of a hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system of the present teachings can have a gas enclosure assembly constructed in a fashion that minimizes the internal volume of a gas enclosure assembly, and at the same time optimizes the working space to accommodate a variety of footprints of various OLED printing systems. Various embodiments of a gas enclosure assembly so constructed additionally provide ready access to the interior of a gas enclosure assembly from the exterior during processing and readily access to the interior for maintenance, while minimizing downtime.

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder.

A nozzle plate (201) for use in a liquid droplet production apparatus and such apparatus, the nozzle plate comprising a flexible substrate having a linear array of nozzles that extend through said plate, said nozzles being arranged in at least one line, forming thereby a nozzle-bearing region, wherein the substrate is curved so as to impart an increased longitudinal stiffness to it. The apparatus comprises a piezo actuator (202, 203), which may have slots (211) separating fingers acting on the nozzle plate (201). The nozzle plate may be separable form the actuator.