Cl aims
1 Method for applying a viscous material, having suitable electric conductivity and surface tension to be jetted by electric forces, comprising generating at least one jet of said material, m a longitudinal direction m a jetting treatment chamber, treating the et and collecting the material from the treated jet.
2 Method according to claim 1, wherein the material is heated before being jetted
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one additive such as a colorant, filament, filler and the like is added to the jet.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, nerein at least one jet of other material such as an additive, monomer or initiator, from an auxiliary jet forming device is mixed with the material from the first j et .
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the jet forming device is placed on a robotized arm, and moving said arm along a predetermined pattern m a predetermined direction
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the et is heat treated over at least part of its trajectory.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of bio materials, cement, ceramic, concrete, coating compounds, controlled release-substances, enamels, fats, glycerine, glues, grease, lubricants, medicaments, metals, metal oxides, oils and fuel oils, organic materials / binders / monomers or partly polymerized monomers/ paint resins / polymers (including thermoset and thermoplastic)/ precursors / primers, rare earth, rubbers, waxes such as paraffins, petrolatums, taste altering substances, electric ink, solvents, possibly m the form of emulsions, gels, melt, slurries and/or suspensions
8 Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby said material, has a viscosity from 0.5 to 50.000 Pa s . , an electrical conductivity of between 0,01 and 100 micro Siemens per cm and a surface tension of between 1 and 500 dyne/cm, preferably a viscosity from 1.5 to 10 000 Pa s . , an electrical conductivity of between 0,05 and 50 micro Siemens per cm and a surface tension of between 10 and 100 dyne/cm, more preferably a viscosity from 5 to 2.000 Pa s . , an electrical conductivity of oetween 0,1 and 20 micro Siemens per cm and a surface tension of between 15 and 50 dyne/cm
9 Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby if the object or substrate are nonconductive , a charge opposite m polarity from the dispersion is placed on the ob ects/substrate, possibly by corona wire.
10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the material is deposited on dielectric material and at least a portion of the charge on the dielectric material is maintained while the charged coating particles are applied thereon.
11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the charge imposed on the material is optimized m order to also enable deposition on the back side of objects
12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the charge on the substrate is neutralized after deposition.
13 Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby a plurality of jets, having opposite polarities is used, resulting m that the positively charged jets are attracted by the negatively charged jets and are mixed by electric forces .
14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the jets of said material are formed into continuous elongated filaments
15. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the jet is made to break up into droplets so that particulate material is formed.
16 Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby, polymerization of tne material is performed prior to or during forming
17 Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the filament forming is gas assisted.
18. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the filamentary material is tensioned 19 Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the filaments are deposited on a substrate m a predetermined pattern m order to form a material with predetermined openness and porosity 20 Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby a foam or hollow particle material is obtained by adding to the jet of material blowing or foaming agent and heating the jetted material so that a quick evaporation of the agent results in the forming of hollow particles
21. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the obtained particulate material is further treated in-line, such as by coating, heating, mixing with other materials, pyrolyzation , spraying, stacking and pressing
22. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the particles formed are applied for m-line coating/impregnation of fiber bundles and/or filaments, traveling trough the jet. 23 Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the fibers are chosen from the group of inorganic fibers such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, boron fibers, ceramic fibers derived from alumina, and silicon carbide fibers, organic fibers such as aramids, polyethylene, poly (benzimidazole) , aromatic polyesters, and metal fibers such as steel and stainless steel
24. Method according to one of the preceding claims for coating/ impregnation of said continuous fiber
bundles and/or filaments and collecting and/or further treating the coated/impregnated materials, comprising at least one of the steps of :
Unwinding bobbins of said fiber and/or filaments or pulling the fiber and/or filaments out of a box or otner methods of supply.
Tensiomng said fibers and/or filaments.
Pre-opemng the fiber bundles.
Guiding continuous fiber bundles and/or filaments through the jet.
Spreading said fibers and/or filaments prior to coatmg/impregnation and keep them substantially spread during coatmg/impregnation.
Guiding the spread fibers and/or filaments over grounded rollers or surfaces prior to- and/or m between of several coatmg/impregnation steps.
Heating said fibers and/or filaments prior and/or during coatmg/impregnation.
Discharging the charged particles on said spread fiber/filaments , whereby the particles homogeneously coat/impregnates said fibers/filaments ; applying a conductive flowable material and/or sizing; preferably with adhesion/bonding and/or electrical conductivity promoters, to the spread fibers and/or filaments prior to optional further coatmg/impregnation.
Applying the dispersions from two or possibly more sides from said spread fibers/filaments .
Applying additional air-jets case of powder coatmg/impregnation . In case of powder coating/ impregnation, applying droplet coating of the powder impregnated fibers/filaments m order to prevent powder outfall .
Chopping the coated/impregnated fibers/filaments . Further treating said coated/impregnated fibers/filaments in-lme, e.g. by calendaring, heating, pressing, pultrusion, pyrolyzation, tensiomng, winding or any other applicable processes.
Applying jets and dispersions of flowable materials on
spread) non- or partly coated/impregnated fiPers /filaments during processing of ibers/filaments m praidmg, rope forming, twisting, weaving, winding and the like.
25. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby coatmg/impregnation of fibers/filaments is performed during praidmg, knitting, weaving, filament winding and the like, at or before the moment that the fibers/filaments are intermingled or wound.
26. Method according to one of the preceding claims, supplying said fiPers/filaments directly m the veil of the jet, resulting m intermingling with said streams in converting and thereafter common flight. 27. Method according to one of the preceding claims, for forming of tnree-dimensional objects comprising at least one of the steps of:
Depositing successive layers by at least one jet, on a movable and possibly grounded substrate/surface,
Adjusting the size and/or shape of the jet. Guiding the jet by computer control into the desired direction.
Depositing the material m the jet m a pattern defining a shape of the three-dimensional article onto a target, the deposited material forming a layer-by- layer three-dimensional article.
Moving the deposition areas and/or spot on the forming substrate or the layers already formed m at least one direction by computer control.
Optionally heating and or cooling sa d deposition areas and/or spot on the forming substrate or the layers already formed
28. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the jetting device is installed on at least one robotized arm, and moving said arm, along a predetermined pattern a predetermined direction,
thereby depositing layer-Joy- layer along said predetermined pattern m said predetermined direction.
29. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereoy an object is placed on the substrate prior to jetting and/or dispersion or on the layers already formed
30. Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the object is fixed by the jetted material 31. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the layers are of different types (e.g. binder, primer, shielding) and/or of successively higher temperature materials.
32. Method according to one of the claims 27 and following, comprising the three dimensionally scanning of an object to oe reproduced, loading scanned data m a computer memory and wherein the guiding of the jet by computer control into the desired direction is done by means of the scanned data, so as to reproduce the obj ect .
33. Method according to one of the claims 27 and following, comprising the three dimensionally scanning of an object surface, loading scanned data m a computer memory whereby the scanned data is manipulated such that three dimensional data is obtained of an object fitting onto the scanned object surface and wherein the guiding of the jet by computer control into the desired direction is done by means of the scanned data, so as to produce the fitting object and fitting said object to the scanned object surface
34. Method according to claim 33, wherein the object to be reproduced is first scanned, a part of the object is removed and the remaining part of the object is scanned again, whereby the scanned data is manipulated such that three dimensional data is obtained of the removed part of the object and the removed part is reproduced, and fitting the removed part.
35. Method according to claim 34, wherein the scanned object is a dental object such as a tooth and the viscous material is a tooth compatible material
36 Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby the viscous material is present on a surface and is applied on a carrier for removal.
37. Method according to claim 36 wherein the viscous material is a waste oil product.
38. Apparatus for applying a viscous material having suitable electric conductivity and surface tension to be electrohydrodynamically jetted by, by generating an electrically charged fluid path of said material, comprising a hydrodynamic jetting device having at least one nozzle means for supplying said material to said jetting device means for energizing a charging electrode of the jetting device to apply an electrostatic charge to said viscous material as said material passes through said jetting device means for controlling and guiding said jet
39. Apparatus according to claim 38, comprising an electrically insulated housing encapsulating said device to prevent unwanted interferences with foreign equipment
40. Apparatus according to claim 38 or 39, comprising means for assisting said jetting with corona, gas and/or heat-source (e.g. halogen, induction, infrared, laser) . 41. Apparatus according to one of tne claims 38 and following, whereby said electro hydrodynamic jetting device is provided with at least one charging electrode at the front end thereof to effect the downstream discharge of said materials from said nozzles m the form of electrically charged jets.
42. Apparatus according to one of tne claims 38 and following further comprising at least one charging capillary nozzle
43. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, whereby said electro hydrodynamic jetting device is of the cone- jet type.
44. Apparatus according to claims 6, whereby said cone-jet type jetting is provided with at least one control electrode m order to enhance the stability of the jet
45. Apparatus according one of the claims 6 and following, whereby the distance of a capillary opening slit or tube of the cone-jet system to the control electrode is adjustable between 0.1 and 15 cm, and preferably is 0.5 to 4 cm. m order to control the nature, dimensions and pattern of the resulting jet.
46. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, whereby said jetting device is provided with at least one deflector electrode for guiding the jet.
47. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising a jet and filament forming chamber and means supplying inert gas m the chamber
48. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising means for heating and/subsequently cooling the filament forming trajectories.
49. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising means to deposit the filamentary materials on an object, substrate or conveyor belt, m a predetermined crisscross pattern or position-directed.
50. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising means for chopping filamentary materials made
51. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, whereby said jetting is a piezo electro/ultrasonic jetting device.
52. Apparatus for coating/ impregnation of fibers, comprising
Means fc- supplying said fibers
Means for guiding said fibers tnrough said chamber; downstream tne jetting device
53 Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising means for tensiomng said fibers
54. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising means for spreading said fibers. 55 Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising means for heating said fibers.
56 Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising means for discnargmg charged particles on said spread fiber.
57. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising means for chopping the coated/impregnated fibers
58. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, comprising means for supplying fibers while deposited on a conveyor belt passing trough said coatmg/impregnation chamber and means for supplying sa d fibers directly the veil of the jet and droplet streams m the chamber, resulting m intermingling with sa d streams common flight .
59. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, whereby said means for supplying said fibers directly the veil of jet and droplet streams is at least one computer or otherwise controlled robotized arm .
60. Apparatus according to one of the claims 38 and following, for forming of three-dimensional objects from viscous material, comprising the steps of: means for depositing successive layers by at least one jet on a movable and possibly grounded surface,
means for adjusting the size and/or shape of the jet, means for guiding the jet by computer control into tne desired direction, means for depositing material from the jet in a pattern defining a shape of the three-dimensional article onto the surface, the deposited jet forming a layer-by- layer three-dimensional article
61 Apparatus according to claim 54 comprising means for heating and or cooling said deposition areas on the forming surface or the layers already formed
62 Apparatus according to claim 60, further comprising scanning means and scanning data manipulating means and said means for guiding the jet being controllable on the basis of manipulated scanning data