Apparatus and method for making solid beads

1. An apparatus for making solid beads, the apparatus comprising at least one liquid droplet generator, each comprising a piezoelectric element operable to generate droplets comprising a solute dissolved in a solvent, and at least one flow channel for carrying a second liquid, each liquid droplet generator being spaced relative to the flow channel so that, in use, the liquid droplets pass through a gas into a second liquid provided in said flow channel, the solvent being soluble in the second liquid so as to cause the solvent to exit the droplets, thus forming solid beads, the apparatus further comprising at least one camera arranged to monitor a region in which said droplets impact the second liquid.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid droplet generator is operable to eject the liquid droplets with a non-zero initial velocity through the gas into contact with the second liquid.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one liquid droplet generator is located above the flow channel so that the droplets generated by the droplet generator may impact the second liquid provided in the flow channel.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of flow channels for carrying the second liquid, each liquid droplet generator being typically arranged to said deposit liquid droplets into the flow channel.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one How channel is substantially U or V shaped in cross-section.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the droplet generator comprises a droplet-generating orifice, the closest spacing between the droplet generating orifice and the surface of a flow of second liquid being from 1 to 50 mm.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a heater for heating the liquid prior to the formation of the droplets.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a cooler operable to cool the second liquid.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flow channel is laterally and/or pivotally movable.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising means for aligning the flow channel and the liquid droplet generator relative to one another to ensure that the liquid droplet generator is operable to dispense the droplets into the second liquid in the flow channel, wherein the flow channel is formed in a flow channel carrier and the means for aligning the flow channel and the liquid droplet generator comprises one or more alignment surfaces for contacting the flow channel carrier, contact of the one or more alignment surfaces with the flow channel carrier causing the flow channel carrier to be aligned to receive the droplets from the liquid droplet generator.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is provided with a liquid droplet generator support, in which case the one or more alignment surfaces is integral with, or attached to, the liquid droplet generator support.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a flow channel tilter.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the flow channel tilter comprises one or more first surfaces associated with the flow channel and one or more second surfaces associated with the liquid droplet generator, each first surface engaging with a corresponding second surface to tilt the flow channel.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein one or more of the first surfaces faces substantially downwards, and one or more of the second surfaces faces upwards and at least one of the first surfaces is provided by a laterally-projecting lip, and at least one of the second surfaces is provided by a projection.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is operable such that movement of the liquid droplet generator causes movement of the at least one second surface, movement of the at least one second surface relative to the first surface causing the degree of tilt of the flow channel to change.

16. An apparatus for making solid beads, the apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid droplet generators operable to generate a solute dissolved in a solvent, each liquid droplet generator comprising a piezoelectric component operable to generate droplets and a heater operable to heat the liquid to be dispensed as droplets, the apparatus comprising at least one flow channel for carrying a second liquid, the at least one flow channel and each of the said droplet generators being arranged and spaced relative to one another so that each droplet generator is operable to dispense droplets through a gas into the second liquid carried in the at least one flow channel, the apparatus comprising a cooler for cooling the second liquid in the said at least one flow channel, the solvent being soluble in the second liquid so as to cause the solvent to exit the droplets, thus forming solid beads, the apparatus comprising at least one camera arranged to monitor a region in which droplets impact the second liquid.

17. An apparatus for making solid beads, the apparatus comprising at least one liquid droplet generator operable to generate droplets comprising a solute dissolved in a solvent, and at least one flow channel for carrying a second liquid, at least one liquid droplet generator and at least one flow channel being spaced relative to one another so that, in use, liquid droplets pass through a gas into a second liquid provided in said flow channel, the solvent being soluble in the second liquid so as to cause the solvent to exit the droplets, thus forming solid beads, the apparatus being provided with a movable flow channel carrier and one of more alignment surfaces for contacting the flow channel carrier, contact of the one or more alignment surfaces with the flow channel carrier causing movement of the flow channel carrier relative to the liquid droplet generator, thereby facilitating alignment of the flow channel carrier and flow channel with the liquid droplet generator.