Kit and system for laser-induced material dispensing

Abstract

The laser-induced dispensing system includes a cartridge assembly having a supply reel for supplying a foil having a light transmissive layer wound around the supply reel, and a take-up reel for taking up the foil. There is provided a coating device for coating the foil by a donor material during a motion of the foil. The laser-induced dispensing system also includes an irradiation head having optics configured for focusing a laser beam. Additionally, a controller, for controlling the cartridge assembly to establish motion of the foil, and the optics to focus the laser beam onto the foil at a location downstream of the outlet of the coating device so as to release droplets of the donor material from the foil is provided.

1 . A laser-induced dispensing system, comprising:
 a foil;   an irradiation head configured to emit a laser beam towards the foil;   a coater having a first material dispenser, a second material dispenser, and a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the first material dispenser and the second material dispenser, wherein the mixing chamber mixes a first coating material from the first material dispenser and a second coating material from the second material dispenser and wherein the coater dispenses a mixture of the first and second coating materials from the mixing chamber onto the foil; and   a controller configured to control a first pressure within the first material dispenser and a second pressure within the second material dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first pressure to be greater than the second pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first pressure to be equal to the second pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure and the second pressure provide a predetermined mixing ratio of the first and second coating materials. 
     
     
         5 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first material dispenser comprises a first cavity and a first plunger that is displaceable within the first cavity, and the second material dispenser comprises a second cavity and a second plunger that is displaceable within the second cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 5 , wherein the first pressure is controlled by adjusting a first position of the first plunger within the first cavity, and wherein the second pressure is controlled by adjusting a second position of the second plunger within the second cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 6 , further comprising a pump system for controlling the first position of the first plunger and controlling the second position of the second plunger. 
     
     
         8 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first coating material is distinct from the second coating material. 
     
     
         9 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a leveling device so as to remove a portion of the mixture of the first and second coating materials from the foil. 
     
     
         10 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 9 , wherein the leveling device is one or more of a blade, a rod or an air knife. 
     
     
         11 . The laser-induced dispensing system of  claim 9 , wherein the leveling device is included within the mixing chamber.