Human-eye-inspired inkjet nozzle prevents clogging

‘The eye and an inkjet nozzle have a common problem: they must not be allowed to dry while, simultaneously, they must open,’ said Jae Wan Kwon, associate professor in the university’s College of Engineering. ‘We used biomimicry, the imitation of nature, to solve human problems.’

According to the university, Kwon’s invention uses a droplet of silicone oil to cover the opening of the nozzle when not in use, similar to the film of oil that keeps a thin layer of tears from evaporating off the eye. On the surface of the human eye, eyelids spread the film of oil over the layer of tears.

However, at the scale of the inkjet nozzle, mechanical shutters such as eyelids would not work, as they would be stuck in place by surface tension. Instead, the droplet of oil for the nozzle is moved in and out of place by an electric field.

To clear a clogged nozzle in most inkjet printers, a burst of fresh ink breaks through the crust of dried ink that forms if the machine isn’t used constantly.