KR20160068083A - Liquid metal ink injection type of printer cartridge and printer system thereby - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid metal spray type inkjet printer cartridge and an inkjet printer system. According to the present invention, an inkjet printer cartridge comprises: a fluid channel into which liquid metal flows; an inlet connected to the fluid channel, wherein gas or liquid is injected for the liquid metal to flow into the fluid channel; and a nozzle connected to the fluid channel, wherein the liquid metal is sprayed. According to the present invention, fluidity of the liquid metal can be secured to enabling the spray the liquid metal during printing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet printer cartridge and an inkjet printer system,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet printer cartridge and an inkjet printer system in which liquid metal is ejected, and more particularly, to an inkjet printer cartridge and an inkjet printer system capable of securing and controlling fluidity of a liquid metal.

An inkjet printer is a printer that ejects ink or coalesces ink. Inkjet printers eject ink through high temperature or vibration and can print on paper, film, and fiber.

Inkjet cartridges contain ink that is spread on paper during printing, and in the past, mainly black and white ink or color ink was carried and printing was performed in various colors by mixing them.

In recent years, development of a 3D printer capable of fabricating a three-dimensional structure by a lamination method has broadened the application fields of printing. 3D printers can use a variety of materials, including plastics, resins, metals, and ceramics, but the most dramatic and challenging material is metal. A common method of metal 3D printing is to melt the metal powder with a laser beam and stack the layers to 20-40 microns thick to make the metal product.

As a kind of liquid metal, Galinstan has a melting point of 19 ° C and exists in a liquid state at room temperature. Galindan is an alloy consisting of 68.5% of gallium (Ga), 21.5% of indium (In) and 10% of tin (Sn). This alloy has been used as a medical thermometer to replace toxic mercury.

These galindans have high stability and are expected to be capable of metal 3D printing. However, galindan is characterized in that an oxide layer in the form of gel, which is easily oxidized in the air and has a viscosity, is formed on the surface. The oxide layer formed on the surface of galindan has a problem of limited applicability due to its low fluidity due to the characteristic of remaining elasticity not generating a yield stress together with viscosity.

When the fluidity of the galenstane as the liquid metal can be improved, a frequency selective surface (FSS) and a flexible substrate can be manufactured by using fritting, which can be applied to a flexible device.

A conventional printer technology using liquid metal is Korean Patent No. 1047902. The prior art discloses a technique in which the printhead is controlled to maintain a temperature above the melting point where the liquid metal is not solidified.

The present invention seeks to provide an inkjet printer cartridge and inkjet printer system with fluid channels through which viscous liquid metal can flow. Especially. The present invention aims to provide an ink jet printer cartridge and an ink jet printer system which ensure fluidity by preventing oxidation of liquid metal.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid channel device including: a fluid channel into which liquid metal flows; An inlet connected to the fluid channel and into which gas or liquid is injected such that the liquid metal can flow through the fluid channel; And a nozzle connected to the fluid channel and through which the liquid metal is injected.

Preferably, the injection port according to the present invention has a first injection port into which gas is injected, and the liquid metal flows along the fluid channel by the pressure of the injected gas.

)인 것이 바람직하다.Preferably, the fluid channel may include a main channel through which the liquid metal flows and an auxiliary channel spaced apart from the main channel so that steam can be introduced into the main channel. In this case, the injection port further includes a second injection port into which acid is injected, and an acid injected into the second injection port flows into the auxiliary channel. The acid injected into the second inlet is hydrochloric acid (

).

Preferably, the liquid metal may be galantitanized with an alloy of gallium, indium and tin.

The present invention also relates to a printer cartridge in which liquid metal is stored; A first pump unit for injecting a liquid metal; And a second pump section for injecting acid so that the liquid metal can flow through the fluid channel, wherein the printer cartridge comprises: a fluid channel through which liquid metal flows from the first pump section; An inlet port connected to the fluid channel and connected to the first pump section and the second pump section; And a nozzle connected to the fluid channel and to which the liquid metal is injected.

Preferably, the first pump portion comprises an ink pump for injecting liquid metal; And an air pump for injecting gas.

Further preferably, the present invention may further comprise a control unit for interrupting the gas injection amount of the air pump so that the liquid metal may be injected in a droplet form.

According to the present invention, the fluidity of the viscous liquid metal is ensured and the liquid metal can be injected during printing. In particular, according to the present invention, the vapor of the hydrochloric acid injected into the auxiliary channel removes the oxide film of the liquid metal, thereby securing the fluidity of the liquid metal in the fluid channel, and printing the metal is advantageous.

In addition, the inkjet printing system according to the present invention has an advantage that a conductive metal pattern such as a frequency selection surface can be manufactured by controlling the liquid metal.

1 shows an inkjet printer cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows the contact angle between the liquid metal and the surface is improved by removing the oxide film of the liquid metal.
3 illustrates a process of manufacturing an ink jet printer cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 shows an inkjet printer system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to or limited by the exemplary embodiments. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote members performing substantially the same function.

1 shows an inkjet printer cartridge 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 1, an inkjet printer cartridge 1 includes a fluid channel 30; A first injection port 501; A second injection port 503; A liquid metal inlet 51; An outlet 53; And a nozzle (40).

The fluid channel 30 into which the liquid metal is introduced may be formed on the polymer substrate 10 at a recessed angle. In this embodiment, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material may be used as the polymer. The polymer substrate 10 may be coated with glass substrates 11 and 13 at upper and lower portions thereof to prevent oxidation of liquid metal flowing through the fluid channels 30.

The polymer substrate 10 may be provided with a liquid metal injection port 51 for injecting liquid metal and an injection port 50 for injecting gas or liquid so that the liquid metal can flow through the fluid channel 30. [ In this case, the injection port 50 may include a first injection port 501 for injecting gas, and a second injection port 503 for injecting additional fluid.

The fluid channel 30 includes a storage space 301 in which liquid metal is stored, a main channel 303 through which the liquid metal flows, and auxiliary channels 303 spaced apart from the main channel 303 so that steam can be introduced into the main channel 303. [ (305). The storage space 301 may be formed to be recessed at a predetermined height in connection with the liquid metal injection port 51 into which the liquid metal is introduced. The stored liquid metal moves through the fluid channel (30) by the atmospheric pressure of the injected gas and is injected through the nozzle (40).

The main channel 303 is a passage through which the liquid metal moves, and the auxiliary channel 305 is a passage through which an acid solution injected to prevent oxidation of the liquid metal moves.

)일 수 있다. 메인 채널(303)로 액체 금속이 주입된 후, 보조 채널(305)로 염산 용액을 주입하게 되면, 메인 채널(303)과 보조 채널(305) 사이의 관벽으로 염산 증기가 투과되어 액체 금속의 산화막이 제거될 수 있다. 상기 관벽은 증기가 통과할 수 있는 구조로써, 일 예시로 미세 소공이 형성된 다공성 구조로 이루어질 수 있다.A pipe wall is formed at a predetermined interval between the auxiliary channel 305 and the main channel 303. The acid solution flowing through the auxiliary channel 305 is,

). When the hydrochloric acid solution is injected into the auxiliary channel 305 after the liquid metal is injected into the main channel 303, hydrochloric acid vapor is permeated into the wall between the main channel 303 and the auxiliary channel 305, Can be removed. The pipe wall is a structure through which steam can pass. For example, the pipe wall may have a porous structure in which fine pores are formed.

In this embodiment, the width of the main channel 303 is 100 m, the width of the auxiliary channel 305 is 200 m, the height of the fluid channel is 20 m, the width of the pipe between the main channel 303 and the auxiliary channel 305 May be formed to a thickness of 200 mu m. The hydrochloric acid solution is preferably injected at a concentration of 37 wt%.

Glass substrates 11 and 13 are coated on the upper and lower sides of the polymer substrate 30 to prevent oxidation of the liquid metal flowing on the fluid channel 30 and evaporation of the hydrochloric acid solution.

The first injection port 501 is connected to one side of the main channel 303 to supply the gas in the channel direction through which the liquid metal flows. The gas to be injected may be nitrogen, oxygen or an external air containing it. By the gas injected into the fluid channel 30, the liquid metal can be controlled in the form of a droplet and can flow along the fluid channel 30 at the pressure of the gas.

1B shows a state in which the liquid metal stored in the storage space 301 is controlled in the form of droplets 20 by the gas injected from the first injection port 501. Referring to FIG. 1B, the first inlet 501 and the first outlet 531 may be formed on the polymer substrate 10 so as to inject / discharge gas in a direction crossing the main channel 303.

Thus, the liquid metal stored in the fluid channel 30 can be separated into droplets 20 by gas crossing the main channel 303. In addition, when the first outlet 531 is interrupted, a pressure is generated in the path direction of the main channel 303 after the first inlet 501 is connected, so that the liquid metal can move toward the nozzle 40.

In this embodiment, the liquid metal may be an alloy of gallium, indium and tin. Galindan is an alloy consisting of 68.5% of gallium (Ga), 21.5% of indium (In) and 10% of tin (Sn) .

)이 주입될 수 있다.In order to remove the oxide film of the liquid metal, hydrochloric acid is injected from the second injection port 503. Accordingly, the second inlet 503 is connected to one side of the auxiliary channel 305, and the inside of the auxiliary channel 305 is filled with hydrochloric acid

Can be injected.

The liquid metal such as gallindan from which the metal oxide film on the surface is removed improves the contact angle with the surface, thereby improving the fluidity in the fluid channel 30. In order to minimize the oxidation of the additional liquid metal, the gas injected through the first inlet 501 is preferably nitrogen. The injected nitrogen can control the liquid metal in droplet form, such as the separation and bonding of the liquid metal. This can either print the metal pattern on the print medium or adjust the electrostatic capacity of the print medium.

Although not shown in the figure, a micro-nano pattern may be formed in the main channel 303. In order to weaken the surface adhesion force due to the viscosity of the liquid metal, a super water-repellent surface can be considered. The super water - repellent surface has characteristics that it does not adhere well to other materials due to the low energy characteristics of the surface itself in relation to adhesion. The contact angle of the free surface of the liquid with the solid plane when the liquid is in contact with the solid is considered to be hydrophobic, which is a property of less affinity with water when the contact angle exceeds 90,, and 150 ㅀ If it exceeds, it can be regarded as super-hydrophobic with extremely low affinity with water.

Natural organisms often exhibit superhydrophobicity. For example, the superhydrophobicity found in the leaves of a lotus leaf, rice, cabbage, butterfly, etc. has an effect of preventing self-cleaning and water wetting on the surface. The micro-nano pattern may preferably be a pattern of several to several hundred micrometers in size. When the micro-nano pattern structure is formed on the surface of the fluid channel 30, the liquid metal can not penetrate into the inside of the structure, and the surface frictional force is drastically reduced.

)이 될 수 있다. 유기용액 속의 미세 입자들은 유체 채널(30) 내부에 도포 및 경화되어 마이크로-나노 패턴 상에 무작위 결정 구조를 형성한다. 이는 유체 채널(30)의 표면을 더욱 울퉁불퉁하게 하여 액체 금속과의 점착력을 약화시키는 효과가 있다. The micro-nano-patterned fluid channel 30 may be formed by squeezing a polymer substrate 10 and a mold having a micro-nano pattern. In another embodiment, an organic solution having fine particles may be injected into the liquid metal inlet 51 to enhance the micro-nano pattern. In this case, the fine particles may be graphite or titanium oxide (

). The fine particles in the organic solution are applied and cured inside the fluid channel 30 to form a random crystal structure on the micro-nano pattern. This has the effect of making the surface of the fluid channel 30 more rugged and weakening the adhesive force with the liquid metal.

The outlet 53 is connected to the main channel 303 and connected to the first outlet 531 and the auxiliary channel 305 through which the gas injected into the main channel 303 is discharged, And a second outlet 533 for discharging the gas.

The nozzle 40 is connected to the end of the main channel 303 and the liquid metal is injected into the print medium through the nozzle 40. In this embodiment, the nozzle 40 is preferably curved downwardly of the polymer substrate 10 in order to easily inject liquid metal.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the contact angle of the liquid metal with the surface is improved by removing the oxide film of the liquid metal by hydrochloric acid. Referring to FIG. 2, oxidation of air in the air forms an oxide film in the form of a gel having a viscous property, and only the elasticity that yield stress does not occur remains and the contact angle with the surface is small.

Referring to FIG. 2B, when the vapor of hydrochloric acid passes through the PDMS layer, the oxide film may be removed by reacting with gallstones. The contact angle with the surface of the galindan from which the oxide film is removed increases, and the elasticity decreases to secure the fluidity of the liquid state.

3 shows a method of manufacturing an ink jet printer cartridge 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the manufacture of the inkjet printer cartridge 1 includes the steps of: (a) producing (S101) a mold 15 with a fluid channel 30 formed in an embossed form; (B) (S103) of applying a polymer layer to the mold 15 and curing it; (C) (S105) of separating the polymer layer to produce a polymer substrate 10 in which the fluid channel 30 is formed at a negative angle; (D) coating (S107) a glass substrate; And (e) combining the injection port 50, the discharge port 53, and the nozzle 40 (S109).

(a) Step S101 is a step of forming a mold of the fluid channel 30. [ In this case, the fluid channel 30 may be embossed on a silicon wafer through a 3D printer. Alternatively, it can be formed by etching the periphery of the fluid channel 30 using a photoresist PR on a silicon wafer. Through the above step (a) (S101), a mold 15 having a fluid channel 30 formed on a silicon wafer in an embossed form can be manufactured.

Although not shown in the figures, in another embodiment, the method of manufacturing an inkjet printer cartridge 1 further comprises (a) forming a micro-nano pattern on the surface of the fluid channel 30 of the mold 15 after step S101 .

The step of forming the micro-nano pattern on the surface of the fluid channel 30 of the mold 15 comprises applying a polydimethylsiloxane solution (PDMS) on the mold 15 and cooling and solidifying After the process, the paper is compressed and formed. In this case, a micro-nano pattern of paper texture is formed on the polymer layer applied to the mold. Cooling and solidification of the PDMS solution should be properly adjusted to the extent that the texture of the paper 14 is printed.

As a result of the above steps, the polymer (PDMS) layer of the mold 15 is formed with the fluid channel 30 in which the micro-nano pattern corresponding to the texture of the paper is etched. A typical soft lithography process that forms a fluid channel on a polymeric material substrate can not form micro-nano patterns on the fluid channel. Accordingly, it is necessary to press and form a material such as paper having a micro-nano pattern on the mold 15 on which the channel is formed as in the present embodiment, followed by stamping.

The micro-nano pattern forming step uses paper to print the micro-nano pattern, but this is merely an example, and a micro-nano pattern is formed on the template 15 by stamping another polymer layer formed with the micro- can do.

4 shows an inkjet printer system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 4, an inkjet printer system includes a printer cartridge 1 in which liquid metal is stored; A first pump section (7) for injecting liquid metal; A second pump portion 9 for injecting acid so that the liquid metal can flow through the fluid channel 30; A CCD camera 3; A stage (2) on which the print medium is fixed; And a control unit 5. 1 and 3, the detailed description of the printer cartridge 1 will be omitted.

The first pump unit 7 includes an ink pump 71 for injecting liquid metal; An air pump 73 for injecting gas; And a suction pump 75 for sucking the injected air. The second pump unit 9 is connected to the second injection port 503 to inject hydrochloric acid.

The control unit 5 interrupts the gas injection amount of the air pump 73 so that the liquid metal can be injected in a droplet form. The medium printed under the control of the control unit 5 can be confirmed by the display 51 through the CCD camera 5. [

The inkjet printing system according to the present embodiment can print a repetitive structure of liquid metal and can perform active shape control, so that a variable frequency selective surface can be manufactured. A frequency selective surface (FSS) means a device that transmits or reflects electromagnetic waves having a specific frequency using a periodic structure in which a predetermined pattern is repeated. It is possible to function as an electromagnetic wave filter for adjusting the phase of the reflected electromagnetic wave by adjusting the period of the unit lattice forming the pattern.

A unit grid can be created using various geometries. The shape of the metal wire of the unit grid can be a line segment, a cross, a square, a circle, a patch, a split ring resonator, and the like. The dielectric substrate is used as a pedestal to form metal lines. Such a frequency selective surface can be used in military / home appliances having functions such as stealth function, electromagnetic wave shielding, and the like.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. will be. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be determined by all changes or modifications derived from the scope of the appended claims and equivalents of the following claims.

1: inkjet printer cartridge 10: polymer substrate
11: Glass top plate 13: Glass bottom plate
20: liquid metal droplet 30: fluid channel
301: storage space 303: main channel
305: auxiliary channel 40: nozzle
50: inlet 501: first inlet
503: second inlet 51: liquid metal inlet
53: outlet 531: first outlet
533: second outlet 2: stage
3: CCD camera 5:
51: Display 7: First pump section
71: ink pump 73: air pump
75: suction pump
9: Second pump section

Claims (13)

A fluid channel into which liquid metal flows;
An injection port connected to the fluid channel, through which gas or liquid is injected so that the liquid metal can flow through the fluid channel; And
And a nozzle connected to the fluid channel and through which the liquid metal is injected.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the injection port has a first injection port into which gas is injected,
Wherein the liquid metal flows along the fluid channel by an air pressure of the injected gas.
The method according to claim 1,
The fluid channel
And an auxiliary channel spaced apart from the main channel so that the vapor can flow into the main channel and the main channel through which the liquid metal flows.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the injection port has a second injection port into which acid is injected,
And an acid injected into the second injection port flows through the auxiliary channel.
The method according to claim 1,
The acid may be hydrochloric acid (

). ≪ / RTI >
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the liquid metal is an alloy of gallium, indium and tin.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the fluid channel is formed with a micro-nano pattern.
A printer cartridge in which liquid metal is stored;
A first pump unit for injecting the liquid metal; And
And a second pump unit for injecting an acid so that the liquid metal can flow through the fluid channel,
The printer cartridge includes:
A fluid channel through which the liquid metal flows from the first pump section;
An inlet port connected to the fluid channel and connected to the first pump section and the second pump section; And a nozzle connected to the fluid channel and through which the liquid metal is ejected.
9. The method of claim 8,
The injection port
A first injection port through which gas is injected; And
And a second injection port through which an acid is injected,
Wherein the liquid metal is removed by the injected acid and flows along the fluid channel by the pressure of the injected gas.
9. The method of claim 8,
The first pump unit includes:
An ink pump for injecting the liquid metal; And
And an air pump for injecting gas,
Wherein the liquid metal flows along the fluid channel by the atmospheric pressure of the injected gas.
9. The method of claim 8,
Further comprising a controller for interrupting a gas injection amount of the air pump so that the liquid metal can be ejected in a droplet form.
9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the liquid metal is an alloy of gallium, indium and tin.
9. The method of claim 8,
The fluid channel
A main channel through which the liquid metal flows and an auxiliary channel spaced apart from the main channel so that steam can be introduced into the main channel,
And an acid injected from the second pump unit flows into the auxiliary channel.

Images