Ultrasonic applicators with uv light sources and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A material applicator includes an array plate and at least one ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the array plate. The array plate includes a plurality of micro-applicators and each of the micro-applicators has a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate in mechanical communication with the at least one ultrasonic transducer. Each of the plurality of micro-applicator plates has a plurality of apertures and the at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate each of the plurality of micro-applicator plates such that at least one material is ejected through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets. At least one ultraviolet light source is positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators and the at least one UV light source is configured to irradiate the atomized droplets ejected through the plurality of apertures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A material applicator comprising:
 an array plate and at least one ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the array plate, the array plate comprising a plurality of micro-applicators, wherein:
 each of the plurality of micro-applicators has a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate in mechanical communication with the at least one ultrasonic transducer; 
 each of the plurality of micro-applicator plates has a plurality of apertures; and 
 the at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate each of the micro-applicator plates such that at least one material is ejected through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets; and 
   at least one ultraviolet (UV) light source positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators, wherein the at least one UV light source is configured to irradiate the atomized droplets ejected through the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The material applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer is a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and each of the micro-applicators has one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers directly coupled to the micro-applicator plate. 
     
     
         3 . The material applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one UV light source is a UV light ring. 
     
     
         4 . The material applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one UV light source is a UV light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         5 . The material applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one UV light source comprises a plurality of UV light rings positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators such that each UV light ring is positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the micro-applicators. 
     
     
         6 . The material applicator according to  claim 5 , wherein each UV light ring is configured to irradiate the atomized droplets ejected through the plurality of apertures of the corresponding one of the micro-applicators. 
     
     
         7 . The material applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one UV light source comprises a plurality of UV LEDs positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators such that each UV LED is positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the micro-applicators. 
     
     
         8 . The material applicator according to  claim 7 , wherein each UV LED is configured to irradiate the atomized droplets ejected through the plurality of apertures of the corresponding one of the micro-applicators. 
     
     
         9 . The material applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of micro-applicators comprises a frame with a back wall and at least one sidewall, wherein the reservoir is between the back wall and the micro-applicator plate. 
     
     
         10 . The material applicator according to  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the material inlet and a material source. 
     
     
         11 . The material applicator according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer is a plurality of ultrasonic transducers with each ultrasonic transducer being positioned between the micro-applicator plate and the frame of a given micro-applicator of the plurality of micro-applicators. 
     
     
         12 . A material applicator comprising:
 an array plate and at least one ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the array plate, the array plate comprising a plurality of micro-applicators, wherein:
 each of the plurality of micro-applicators has a frame with a material inlet, a backwall, at least one sidewall, a micro-applicator plate in mechanical communication with the at least one ultrasonic transducer, and a reservoir between the backwall and the micro-applicator plate; 
 each of the plurality of micro-applicator plates has a plurality of apertures; and 
 the at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate each of the micro-applicator plates such that at least one material is ejected through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets; and 
   at least one ultraviolet (UV) light source positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators, wherein the at least one UV light source is configured to irradiate the atomized droplets ejected through the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         13 . The material applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer is a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and each of the micro-applicators has one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers directly coupled to the micro-applicator plate. 
     
     
         14 . The material applicator according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of ultrasonic applicators is positioned between the micro-applicator plate and the at least one sidewall of a given micro-applicator. 
     
     
         15 . The material applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one UV light source is a UV light ring. 
     
     
         16 . The material applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one UV light source is a UV light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         17 . The material applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one UV light source comprises a plurality of UV light rings positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators such that each UV light ring is positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the micro-applicators. 
     
     
         18 . The material applicator according to  claim 17 , wherein each UV light ring is configured to irradiate the atomized droplets ejected through the plurality of apertures of the corresponding one of the micro-applicators. 
     
     
         19 . The material applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one UV light source comprises a plurality of UV LEDs positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators such that each UV LED is positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the micro-applicators. 
     
     
         20 . The material applicator according to  claim 19 , wherein each UV LED is configured to irradiate the atomized droplets ejected through the plurality of apertures of the corresponding one of the micro-applicators.