Agitating – Having specified feed means – Impinging jets
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-03-13
Soohoo, Tony G. (Department: 1723)
Agitating
Having specified feed means
Impinging jets
C366S162400, C366S167100, C366S184000, C366S348000, C422S257000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200013
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a method for uniform mixing of materials using droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type, as well as to an apparatus therefor.
In recent years, mixing and reaction of very small amounts of materials have been necessary in, for example, semiconductor production, chemical reaction or analysis of very small amounts of materials and researches in biotechnology field represented by quick analysis of small amounts of biocompounds (e.g. analysis of small amounts of secretions from particular cells such as nerve cells and the like).
Also in mixing of materials of very high reaction speed or in chemical reaction wherein it is desired to achieve an accurate polymerization degree, it is necessary to mix the materials batchwise each time in a given very small amount to achieve uniform reaction constantly, because when the materials are mixed and reacted in a large amount, the portion of material mixture (wherein mixing has progressed) is already in a reaction stage before the completion of complete mixing, the portion of materials (wherein material mixing is not made) is not yet in a reaction stage, consequently no uniform reaction product is obtained.
When mixing and reaction such as mentioned above is insufficient, there is taken a measure of, for example, maintaining the reactor at low temperatures in order to reduce the reaction speed.
The present invention has been completed in view of the above-mentioned necessities and is intended to provide a method for uniform mixing of materials, which enables mixing and reaction of very small amounts of materials, and an apparatus used in the method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a method for uniform mixing of materials, which comprises arranging two or more droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type, discharging fine droplets from respective droplet-discharging means, and colliding them with each other to achieve uniform mixing.
In the present invention, it is possible that two droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type are arranged and the fine droplets discharged from respective droplet-discharging means are collided with each other at an angle of about 90°, i.e. about right angles or at a small angle of 0 to 20°.
Also in the present invention, it is preferable that two droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type are arranged, fine droplets are discharged in parallel from respective droplet-discharging means, and the respective fine droplets are electrified with opposite charges and, during parallel flight, are attracted to each other and combined by the static electricity of opposite charges.
Further in the present invention, it is possible that two droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type are arranged, first fine droplets are discharged from the first droplet-discharging means and adhered onto a slope coated with an inactive material, and then second fine droplets are discharged from the second droplet-discharging means and collided with the first fine droplets.
According to the present invention, there is also provided an apparatus for uniform mixing of materials, which comprises two or more droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type and a means for colliding the fine droplets discharged from respective droplet-discharging means, with each other.
In this mixing apparatus, it is possible that two droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type are arranged and the directions of discharging from respective droplet-discharging means are set so that the fine droplets discharged from respective droplet-discharging means are collided with each other at an angle of about 90° or at an angle of 0 to 20°.
Also in the mixing apparatus, it is preferred that two droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type are arranged, the fine droplets discharged from respective droplet-discharging means are beforehand electrified with opposite charges, and the directions of discharging from respective droplet-discharging means are set so that fine droplets are discharged in parallel from respective droplet-discharging means. Also in the mixing apparatus, it is preferred that two (first and second) droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type are arranged and a slope coated with an inactive material is provided, and the direction of discharging from the first droplet-discharging means is set so that the fine droplets discharged from the first means can adhere to a given position on the slope and the direction of discharging from the second droplet-discharging means is set so that the fine droplets discharged from the second means can adhere to the position of the slope where the fine droplets discharged from the first means have adhered.
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Takahashi Nobuo
Takeuchi Yukihisa
Burr & Brown
NGK Insulators Ltd.
Soohoo Tony G.
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