DOSING SYSTEM HAVING A PIEZOCERAMIC ACTUATOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering system (1) for a metering substance, comprising a nozzle (40), a feed channel (44) for the metering substance, a discharge element (31), and a piezo actuator (61) which is coupled to the discharge element (31) and/or the nozzle (40). The piezo actuator (61) of the metering system (1) is hermetically encapsulated in a housing (62).

Claims

1. A metering system (1) for a metering substance, comprising a nozzle (40), a feed channel (44) for a metering substance, a discharge element (31) and a piezo actuator (61) coupled to the discharge element (31) and/or the nozzle (40), wherein the piezo actuator (61) is hermetically encapsulated in a housing (62).

2. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein the housing module (62) is designed to be vibration fatigue-resistant.

3. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein at least one temperature sensor (78) is arranged inside the housing (62) and/or on an outer side of the housing (62).

4. The metering system according to claim 3, wherein at least one temperature sensor (78) is arranged on an outer side (77) of the piezo actuator (61) and/or inside the piezo actuator (61).

5. The metering system according to claim 3, wherein at least one temperature sensor (78) is located on an inner wall of the housing (62).

6. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein at least one strain gauge (87) is arranged inside the housing (62) and/or on an outer side of the housing (62).

7. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein the housing (62) comprises at least one feed-through (69) for a number of electrical conductors (65).

8. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein a thermally conducting medium (75) and/or a medium (75) for moisture suppression are located in the housing (62).

9. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein a pressure compensation zone (76) is located in the housing (62).

10. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein the housing (62) comprises a heat dissipation zone (68), which is preferably coupled to a cooling device (21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 84, 85) of the metering system (1).

11. The metering system according to claim 10, wherein the cooling device (21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 84, 85) uses a coolant which comprises a gaseous and/or liquid medium.

12. The metering system according to claim 10, wherein the cooling device (21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 84, 85) is designed in such a way that mechanical abrasion debris is removed from an actuator chamber (12) of the metering system (1) by the coolant.

13. Use of a piezoceramic actuator (61) hermetically encapsulated in a housing (62) in a metering system (1) for metering a metering substance, preferably in a metering system (1) according to claim 1.

14. A method for operating a metering system (1) for metering a metering substance, having a piezo actuator (61) hermetically encapsulated in a housing (62), preferably for the operation of a metering system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the metering system (1) is preferably regulated as a function of at least one operating parameter of the encapsulated piezo actuator (61).

15. A method for producing a metering system (1) for metering a metering substance, having a piezo actuator (61), wherein the piezo actuator (61) is hermetically encapsulated in a housing (62) and wherein the housing (62) of the piezo actuator (61) is arranged in a housing (11) of the metering system (1).

Description

[0102] FIG. 1 a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a metering system according to the invention,

[0103] FIGS. 2 and 3 parts of a different embodiment of a metering system according to the invention shown in cross-section,

[0104] FIGS. 4 and 5 cross-sectional views of different possible embodiments of actuator units for a metering system according to the invention,

[0105] FIG. 6 a perspective view of another possible embodiment of an actuator unit for a metering system according to the invention.

[0106] Based on FIG. 1, a concrete preferred exemplary embodiment of a metering system 1 according to the invention will now be described. The metering system 1 is shown here in the usual intended orientation or position, e.g. during operation of the metering system 1. A nozzle 40 is located in the lower region of the metering system 1, so that the drops of the medium are ejected downwards through the nozzle 40 in a discharge direction R. Where the terms down and up are used in the following, these terms therefore always refer to such a position, usually the normal one, of the metering system 1. However, this does not exclude the possibility that the metering system 1 can also be used in a different position in specific applications and that the drops are ejected laterally, for example. Depending on the medium, pressure and precise design as well as control of the entire discharge system, this is also entirely possible.

[0107] The metering system 1 comprises as essential components an actuator assembly 10 and a fluidic assembly 30. In the exemplary embodiment of the metering system 1 shown here, the actuator assembly 10 and the fluidic assembly 30 are fixedly connected to each other, e.g. by means of a fixing screw 23. It should be noted, however, that the respective assemblies 10, 30 can also be implemented in the manner of plug-in connector parts that can be coupled to each other to form a quick-release coupling. Accordingly, the actuator assembly 10 and the fluidic assembly 30 could be coupled together without tools in order to form the metering system 1.

[0108] The actuator assembly 10 essentially comprises all components that provide the drive or the motion of a discharge element 31 in the nozzle 40, i.e. for example, the actuator unit 60, a motion mechanism to be able to actuate the discharge element 31 of the fluidic assembly 30, a control unit 50, to allow control of a piezo actuator 61 and similar components, as will be explained below.

[0109] In addition to the nozzle 40 and the feed line 44 of the medium to the nozzle 40, the fluidic assembly 30 comprises all other parts that are directly in contact with the medium, in addition to the elements that are required to assemble the relevant parts that are in contact with the medium or to hold them in position on the fluidic assembly 30.

[0110] In the exemplary embodiment of the metering system 1 shown here, the actuator module 10 comprises a housing block 11 with two internal chambers, namely firstly an actuator chamber 12 with an actuator unit 60 located therein having at least one piezoelectric actuator (not visible here) encapsulated in a housing 62, and secondly, an action chamber 13 into which a movable discharge element 31, here a plunger 31, of the fluidic assembly 30 protrudes. By means of a movement mechanism 14, which protrudes into the action chamber 13 from the actuator chamber 12, the plunger 31 is actuated by means of the actuator unit 60 in such a way that the fluidic assembly 30 ejects the medium to be dosed in the desired quantity at the desired time. The plunger 31 hereas will be explained latercloses a nozzle opening 41 and thus also acts as a closure element 31. However, since the majority of the medium is only ejected out of the nozzle opening 41 when the plunger 31 moves in the closing direction, it is referred to here as the discharge element 31.

[0111] To control the actuator unit 60, the actuator unit 60 or the piezo actuator arranged in the housing 62 (see FIG. 4) is connected electrically or for signal transmission to a control unit 50 of the metering system 1. The connection to this control unit 50 is made via control cables 51, which are connected at their ends to suitable actuator unit control connections 64, e.g. suitable plug connectors. Unlike as shown in FIG. 1, the control connections 64 can be sealed and routed through the housing 10 in such a way that in the area of the respective fed-through control connections 64, essentially no air can enter the actuator chamber 12 from the outside, e.g. as part of a cooling system of the actuator unit 60 with compressed air as described below. The actuator unit 60, in particular the actuator unit control connections 64, can be equipped, for example, with a suitable memory unit (e.g. an EEPROM or the like), in which information such as an item designation etc. or control parameters for the actuator unit 60 are stored, which can then be read out by the control unit 50 to identify the actuator unit 60 and control it in the appropriate manner. The control cables 51 can comprise a plurality of control lines and data lines. However, since the basic control of piezo actuators is known, this will not be discussed further.

[0112] To provide the hermetically sealed and electrically insulated passage of an electrical conductor through the housing 62, the actuator unit 60 comprises four contact pins 65 in a housing cover 67. The contact pins 65 here (as in FIGS. 3 and 4 also) are arranged parallel or in a row for the sake of clarity, wherein the contact pins 65 can also be realized in any other suitable arrangement (see FIG. 6). The twohere externalcontact pins 65 are used for controlling the piezo actuator or communication between the piezo actuator and control unit 50. Outside the housing 62, the contact pins 65 are coupled to the control unit 50 via respective actuator unit control connections 64. Inside the housing 62, each contact pin 65 is connected to one of the two connection terminals of the piezo actuator (see FIG. 5). The two contact pins 65 shown here in the centre are used to transmit the measurements of temperature sensors 78 (see FIG. 4) from the housing 62 to the controt unit 50. For this purpose, the contact pins 65 are each connected at one end to the control unit 50 by means of temperature sensor connection cables 86 and at the other end (in the housing) to the individual temperature sensors 78, preferably by means of the respective temperature sensor connection cables (not shown here). A detailed description of the contacting of the temperature sensors in the housing will be given at a later date.

[0113] The piezo actuator (see FIG. 4) arranged in the housing 62, or the housing 62, can expand and contract again in the longitudinal direction of the actuator chamber 12, according to how it is driven by means of the control device 50. The actuator unit 60 can be inserted into the actuator chamber 12 from above. The upper counter-bearing can then be provided by a ball dome (not shown here) which is height-adjustable by turning a screw, thereby enabling an exact adjustment of the actuator unit 60 relative to a movement mechanism 14, in this case a lever 16. Accordingly, the actuator unit 60 is mounted downwards on the lever 16 via a pressure piece 20, which tapers downwards at an acute angle, and the lever in turn rests on a lever mounting 18 at the lower end of the actuator chamber 12. This lever bearing 18 allows the lever 16 to be tilted about a tilt axis K, so that a lever arm of the lever 16 protrudes into the action chamber 13 through an opening 15. At the end of the lever arm, this has a contact surface 17 facing toward the plunger 31 of the fluidic assembly 30 coupled to the actuator assembly 10, which presses on the contact surface 34 of the plunger head 33. The piezo actuator or the pressure piece 20, on the one hand, and the plunger head 33 or a plunger 31 on the other hand, act on the same side of the lever 16 with respect to the tilt axis K. However, the respective distance between the piezo actuator and the tilt axis K or between the plunger 31 and the tilt axis K is different.

[0114] The lever 16, or the movement mechanism 14, represents a translation element in order to amplify a deflection (stroke) of the plunger 31 relative to a stroke of the piezo actuator in a certain ratio. Such a translation element is particularly advantageous for metering medium- or high-viscosity metering substances, wherein the viscosity can be up to 0.5 Pa*s, preferably up to 1 Pa*s, particularly preferably up to 1000 Pa*s.

[0115] It should be mentioned at this point that in the exemplary embodiment shown it is provided that the contact surface 17 of the lever 16 is permanently in contact with the contact surface 34 of the plunger head 33, by virtue of the fact that a plunger spring 35 presses the plunger head 33 against the lever 16 from below. In principle, it would also be possible, however, that a distance exists between plunger 31 and lever 16 in an initial or resting position of the plunger spring 35, so that when pivoted downwards the lever 16 first freely travels along a specific path section, thereby gaining speed and then striking the plunger 31 or its contact surface 34 with a high impulse, in order to increase the discharge pulse which the plunger 31 in turn applies to the medium. In order to ensure an almost constant pre-tensioning of the drive system (lever-actuator unit-movement system), the lever 16, at the end at which it comes into contact with the plunger 31, is pushed upwards by an actuator spring 19.

[0116] In the lower region, the action chamber 13 comprises a discharge opening 22 for a coolant, e.g. compressed ambient air or pressurized air. The discharge opening 22 passes through a chamber wall of the action chamber 13 or through the housing block 11, in particular directly, i.e. without branching, from an interior of the action chamber 13 to an outside of the metering system 1. In this case, the discharge opening 22 likewise corresponds to the discharge opening 22 of the action chamber 13, as well as the discharge opening 22 of the metering system 1.

[0117] The discharge opening 22, in conjunction with a corresponding feed opening 21 of the metering system 1 for the coolant in the upper region of the actuator chamber 12, can be used to ensure that coolant flows through the actuator chamber 12 and the action chamber 13 continuously. Preferably, mechanical abrasion debris from the actuator chamber 12 or action chamber 13 can be removed from the metering system 1 through the discharge opening 22 by means of the coolant flow. The feed opening 21 of the action chamber 12 likewise corresponds here to the feed opening 21 of the metering system 1. In FIG. 1, the feed opening 21 comprises an external plug-in nipple for contacting a hose for feeding compressed air into the actuator chamber 12.

[0118] A further important aspect of the coolant mentioned is the cooling of the piezo actuator encapsulated in the housing 62, or of the actuator unit 60. This is explained in more detail elsewhere.

[0119] As mentioned above, the fluidic assembly 30 here is connected to the actuator assembly 10 by means of a fixing screw 23. The plunger 31 is mounted by means of the plunger spring 35 on a plunger mounting 37, to the bottom of which a plunger seal 36 is connected. The plunger spring 35 pushes the plunger head 33 away from the plunger mounting 37 upwards in an axial direction. At the same time, a plunger tip 32 is also pushed away from a sealing seat 43 of the nozzle 40. In other words, without external pressure from above on the contact surface 34 of the plunger head 31, in the rest position of the plunger spring 35 the plunger tip 32 is located at a distance from the sealing seat 43 of the nozzle 40. Thus, in the rest state (unexpanded state) of the piezo actuator, a nozzle opening 41 is also free or unsealed.

[0120] The metering material is fed to the nozzle 40 via a nozzle chamber 42 and a feed channel 44 which is connected thereto. The feed channel 44 is connected to a medium reservoir 46 by means of a reservoir interface 45. Furthermore, the fluidic assembly may also comprise a range of additional components which are typically used in metering systems of this type, such as a frame part 47, a heating device 48 with heating connection cables 49 etc., to name but a few. Since the basic structure of metering systems is known, for the sake of clarity, the components shown here are mainly those which relate to the invention, at least indirectly.

[0121] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through a part of a metering system according to another embodiment of the invention. The housing block 11 comprises the actuator chamber 12, in the interior of which the actuator unit 60 is arranged (shown here only as an example). Between the housing 62 and an inner side 80 of the chamber wall 79, which forms the interior of the actuator chamber 12, a narrow gap remains which here surrounds the housing 62 in a circular manner and enables the coolant flow. To feed the coolant into the flow region, the actuator chamber 12 is connected to an inlet channel 26 by means of a feed-in opening 24, here in the form of an opening 24 through the chamber wall 79. The inlet channel 26 runs essentially parallel to the actuator chamber 12 through the housing block 11 and has a number of channels that branch off predominantly at right angles, wherein only one feed opening 24 or discharge opening 25 is visible here due to the way in which it is displayed. Starting from the feed opening 24, by virtue of its design the coolant flows (forcibly) to an assigned discharge opening 25 in such a way that the housing 62 is immersed in the coolant on both sides. The discharge opening 25 is connected to an outlet channel 27 for discharging the coolant from the actuator chamber 12 or from the metering system 1.

[0122] Due to the bellows-like design of the housing, at least in the area of the housing casing (see FIG. 6), it can be ensured that the coolant flow is directed (targeted) from a respective feed opening 24 to a discharge opening 25 that interacts with it. For this purpose, the coolant can flow along a respective (horizontal) indentation of the bellows-shaped or corrugated housing 62, wherein the coolant flow upwards or downwards is limited by the respective adjoining convex regions. This is particularly clear in FIG. 3.

[0123] In FIG. 3, the main purpose is to illustrate the mode of action of the cooling device of the metering system, wherein other components of the metering system are not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0124] The inlet channel 26 originates in a single feed opening 21 of the metering system and then branches along the actuator chamber 12 into a number of feed openings 24 of the actuator chamber 12. To regulate the coolant influx into the inlet channel 26 or the actuator chamber 12, a coolant feed device 28, in this case a pump 28, is connected between a coolant feed 84 and the feed opening 21. The pump 28 can be controlled by the control unit 50 by means of a control connection 29. As an alternative to the embodiment shown here, the coolant feed device 28 or the pump 28 could also be located outside the housing 11 of the metering system. As part of the temperature management of the piezo actuator, temperature measurements from the housing 62 are fed to the control unit 50 via a temperature sensor connecting cable 86. As a function of one (or more) determined temperature values (actual values), the control unit 50 can control the pump 28 in such a way that a setpoint value of the temperature in a certain region of the housing 62, e.g. in the actuator core, is not exceeded. For this purpose, the quantity of e.g. coolant supplied to the actuator chamber 12 can be adjusted by the pump 28 in line with demand.

[0125] As an alternative to the use of a separate pump for the coolant, e.g. to blow room air into the actuator chamber 12, compressed air from a reservoir of an already existing compressed air system which is also used for other purposes can also be used to cool the actuator unit 60. In this compressed air system, room air is compressed in the usual way and stored in an existing reservoir or store (not shown) until it is fed into the actuator chamber 12. The flow rate of the compressed air into the actuator chamber 12 can be regulated by means of a proportional valve (not shown), for example, wherein the proportional valve, as explained above for the pump, can be controlled by the control unit 50 as a function of at least one temperature value.

[0126] The inlet channel 26 runs directly along an outer side 81 of the chamber wall 79 facing away from the inner side 80 of the chamber wall 79. In other words, the inlet channel 26 is bounded or formed at least partially, i.e. toward the actuator chamber 12, by the outside 81 of the chamber wall 79.

[0127] The actuator chamber 12 itself is formed inside the housing block 11 by the inside 80 of the chamber wall 79. Due to the bellows-shaped, corrugated design of the housing 62 of the piezo actuator, the housing 62 is directly adjacent to the inner side 80 of the chamber wall 79 in the region of a respective convexity 82 or bulge 82. Between the respective convex sections 82, essentially horizontal indentations 83 or grooves 83 are arranged periodically. The at least partially bellows-shaped design of the housing 62 in the region of the housing casing 74 (see FIG. 6) corresponds to a preferred design of the actuator unit 60, as explained below.

[0128] The actuator unit 60 is arranged in the actuator chamber 12 in such a way that a feed opening 24 and a co-operating discharge opening 25 of the actuator chamber 12 are each arranged in a horizontal plane with a single channel 83 of the housing 62. Thus, the gaseous or liquid coolant flowing in through a respective feed opening 24 is guided along a respective channel 83, which is bounded vertically by the adjacent convex sections 82, essentially horizontally from the feed opening 24 to the associated discharge opening 25, flowing around the housing 62 as it does so to provide heat dissipation.

[0129] From the respective discharge opening 25, the coolant enters the outlet channel 27, which, analogously to the inlet channel 26, comprises or combines a number of discharge openings 25 of the actuator chamber 12 and finally opens into a single discharge opening 22 of the metering system, which in turn is coupled to a coolant discharge 85.

[0130] FIG. 4 shows a detailed longitudinal section through an exemplary embodiment of an actuator unit of the metering system according to the invention. The piezo actuator 61 is hermetically enclosed in a housing 62. The housing 62 comprises a housing base 66, a housing casing 74 fixedly connected thereto, and a housing lid 67 which forms the upper termination. The piezo actuator 61 rests directly on the housing base 66 with an inactive (foot) region 73, wherein the opposite end region 73 of the piezo actuator 61 has direct contact with the housing lid 67. The piezo actuator 61 is fixedly connected to the housing lid 67, e.g. glued.

[0131] The housing lid 67 comprises four glass feed-throughs 69, by means of which the contact pins 65 are routed out of the interior of the housing 62 to the outside of the housing 62 in a hermetically sealed and electrically insulated manner. One contact pin 65 in each case is connected, e.g. soldered, on one side of the piezo actuator 61 to an external electrode 70 of the piezo actuator 61. The two outer electrodes 70 extend along the longitudinal extension of the piezo actuator 61 between the two inactive head and foot regions 73 on the outer side or surface 77 of the piezo actuator 61. This is particularly clear in FIG. 5.

[0132] The two external electrodes 70 connect the internal electrodes 71 arranged in the piezo actuator 61 and alternately routed to the surface and connect them to form two groups electrically connected in parallel (see FIG. 4). The two connection pins 65 therefore form the two connection terminals of the piezoceramic actuator 61.

[0133] Two additional contact pins 65 are used for contacting a number of temperature sensors 78 in the housing. Each of the temperature sensors 78 is connected to the two contact pins 65 via a respective temperature sensor connection cable (not shown). For the contacting, a (constant) measuring current is fed to the individual temperature sensors 78 via one of the two contact pins 65 and a respective temperature sensor connection cable connected thereto. A measurement signal (such as a voltage change) from each temperature sensor 78 is transmitted via a respective temperature sensor connection cable (not shown) to another (fourth) connection pin 65. To transmit the measurement signals (temperature readings) of a plurality of temperature sensors 78 to the control unit, the individual sensor signals can, as explained above, be applied to only one contact pin 65 and suitably modulated, provided that the temperature sensors 78 are bus-compatible IC temperature sensors.

[0134] Alternatively, it would be possible to contact each temperature sensor 78 in the housing using two separate contact pins 65 (not shown here), i.e. ones which are assigned only to the respective temperature sensor 78. It is preferable to consider the two alternatives mentioned on a case-by-case basis, because the separate contacting of each individual temperature sensor 78 using dedicated contact pins 65 reduces the electrical complexity of the modulation, but at the same time also implies increased requirements on the manufacture of the actuator unit 60.

[0135] In FIG. 4, three temperature sensors 78 are arranged in measurement contact with the inner wall of the housing 62 or with the housing casing 74 (shown here on the left). Furthermore, on the surface 77 of the piezo actuator 61, three additional temperature sensors 78 are arranged in such a way that a temperature sensor 78 of the inner wall or of the actuator surface 77 is located on a common imaginary, substantially horizontal line, as is apparent in the longitudinal section.

[0136] In addition to the housing 62, the piezo actuator 61 and the connecting pins 65, the actuator unit 60 also comprises the atmosphere arranged in the housing 62. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the atmosphere consists of a liquid and a solid filling medium 75, and an expansion zone 76. The expansion zone 76 is shown here as gas bubble 76 or gas-filled region 76.

[0137] FIG. 5 shows a detailed longitudinal section through an exemplary embodiment of an actuator unit 60 of the metering system. In contrast to FIG. 4, here temperature sensors 78 are also located both at the inactive foot region 73 and in the inactive head region 73 of the piezo actuator 61, in the latter case in direct proximity to the feed-through 69. The expansion zone 76 here is enclosed in the housing 62 in the manner of an air balloon, i.e. materially separated from the filling medium 75. For reasons of clarity, FIG. 5 shows only one contact pin 65.

[0138] In the housing 62, a strain gauge 87 is also arranged on the outer side of the piezo actuator 61. Here, the strain gauge 87 extends essentially along the entire longitudinal extension of the encapsulated piezo actuator 61, i.e. between a foot region 73 and a head region 73. The corresponding measurements (sensor signals) of the strain gauge 87 can be transferred to the control unit of the metering system by means of contact pins 65, in a similar way as already explained for the temperature sensors 78. A further strain gauge 87 is arranged on the outer side of the housing 62, the strain gauge 87 there extending between the housing base 66 and the housing lid 67 so that it can detect a total deflection (including a temperature-related length change) of the actuator unit 60 or the encapsulated piezo actuator 61.

[0139] FIG. 6 shows a lateral external perspective view of another embodiment of an actuator unit 60 for a metering system according to the invention. The actuator unit 60 corresponds essentially to that of FIG. 1, except the contact pins 65 and the feed-throughs 69 are arranged differently in the respective actuator units 60. FIG. 6 clearly shows the P06835W0 34 bellows-like design of the housing casing 74, which comprises a periodic sequence of convex sections 82 and indentations 83 or grooves 83. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the preferred heat dissipation zone 68 of the actuator unit 60 essentially corresponds to or is formed by the entire bellows-shaped region of the housing casing 74. The heat dissipation zone 74 is designed in such a way that, within the confines of the temperature management of the piezo actuator, the most efficient heat removal from the heat dissipation zone 74 is achieved by means of the cooling device. The housing 62 has a predominantly circular diameter D, which is preferably larger than a corresponding diameter of the encapsulated piezo actuator 61.

[0140] In conclusion, it will be pointed out once again that the metering systems described above are merely exemplary embodiments which can be modified in a variety of ways by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the piezo actuator could be arranged in the housing without a defined protective atmosphere. In addition to or as an alternative to the previously explained components, the metering system may also comprise further features or assemblies that are usually used in metering systems of the described type. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite article a or an does not exclude the possibility that the features concerned may also be present more than once.

REFERENCE LIST

[0141] 1 metering system [0142] 10 actuator assembly [0143] 11 housing block [0144] 12 actuator chamber [0145] 13 action chamber [0146] 14 movement mechanism [0147] 15 opening [0148] 16 lever [0149] 17 lever contact surface [0150] 18 lever mounting [0151] 19 actuator spring [0152] 20 pressure piece [0153] 21 feed opening metering system [0154] 22 metering system discharge opening [0155] 23 fixing screw [0156] 24 actuator chamber feed opening [0157] 25 actuator chamber discharge opening [0158] 26 inlet channel [0159] 27 outlet channel [0160] 28 pump [0161] 29 pump control connection [0162] 30 fluidic assembly [0163] 31 plunger [0164] 32 plunger tip [0165] 33 plunger head [0166] 34 plunger contact surface [0167] 35 plunger spring [0168] 36 plunger seal [0169] 37 plunger mounting [0170] 40 nozzle [0171] 41 nozzle opening [0172] 42 nozzle chamber [0173] 43 sealing seat [0174] 44 feed channel [0175] 45 reservoir interface [0176] 46 medium reservoir [0177] 47 frame part [0178] 48 heating device [0179] 49 heating connection cable [0180] 50 control unit [0181] 51 control cable [0182] 60 actuator unit [0183] 61 piezoceramic actuator [0184] 62 housing [0185] 64 actuator unit control connections [0186] 65 contact pin [0187] 66 housing base [0188] 67 housing lid [0189] 68 heat dissipation zone [0190] 69 glass feed-through [0191] 70 external electrode [0192] 71 internal electrode [0193] 72 piezoactive material [0194] 73 inactive region [0195] 74 housing casing [0196] 75 filling medium [0197] 76 expansion zone [0198] 77 actuator surface [0199] 78 temperature sensor [0200] 79 chamber wall [0201] 80 inner side of chamber wall [0202] 81 outer side of chamber wall [0203] 82 housing bellows convex section [0204] 83 housing bellows concave section [0205] 84 coolant feed [0206] 85 coolant discharge [0207] 86 temperature sensor connection cable [0208] 87 strain gauge [0209] D diameter [0210] K tilt axis [0211] R discharge direction