Patent Number: 6,945,638

Title: Method and system for controlling the temperature of a dispensed liquid

Abstract: A device for controlling or altering the temperature of a liquid at the point of dispensing. A temperature-altering device is thermally coupled to a dispensing device to compensate for heat dissipated into the liquid as it passes through the dispensing device during dispensing. The dispensing device may be for example, a miniature solenoid valve (microvalve), a piezoelectric printhead, or the like. According to aspects of the invention, a temperature-altering device provides or reduces heat at the point of dispensing in order to alter, control or maintain a constant temperature of the dispensed liquid. As a result, improvement is obtained in the consistency of the fluid regime of the dispensed droplet stream. The temperature-altering device may be a thermoelectric device capable of moving heat either from or to the dispensing structure, or may be a heater. This device may be used beneficially even when the dispensing is performed near room temperature and the liquid does not require heating to maintain its liquid state.

Inventors: Teung; Patrick (Campbell, CA), Cima; Michael J. (Winchester, MA), Pryor; Timothy J. (Yardley, PA), Materna; Peter A. (Metuchen, NJ)

Assignee: Therics, Inc.

International Classification: B01L 3/02 (20060101); B41J 2/05 (20060101); B41J 2/02 (20060101); B41J 2/015 (20060101); G05D 23/19 (20060101); B41J 002/07 ()

Expiration Date: 09/20/2022