Apparatus for manufacturing piezoelectric actuators
View Patent ↗An apparatus for peripherally encapsulating a plurality of piezoelectric elements includes a first fixture with a fixture base and a plurality of protrusions extending from the fixture base. Each protrusion includes a distal support surface that is approximately the same size as an exposed portion of a first side of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. The apparatus includes first and second alignment combs, each including a plurality of tines that are spaced to position each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements there between. The tines of the second alignment comb are oriented approximately orthogonally relative to the tines of the first alignment comb.
1. An apparatus for peripherally encapsulating a plurality of piezoelectric elements, the apparatus comprising:
a first fixture including a first fixture base and a first plurality of protrusions extending from the first fixture base, each of the first plurality of protrusions including a distal support surface that is facing and approximately the same size as an exposed portion of a first side of a corresponding one of the plurality of piezoelectric elements;
a first alignment comb including a plurality of first tines, the first tines being spaced to position each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements between respective ones of the first tines; and
a second alignment comb including a plurality of second tines, the second tines being spaced to position each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements between respective ones of the second tines, the second tines being oriented approximately orthogonally relative to the first tines.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements defines a thickness, the protrusions have a protrusion height, and the first alignment comb has a comb height that is greater than the protrusion height but less than the sum of the thickness and the protrusion height.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second fixture including a second fixture base and a second plurality of protrusions extending from the second fixture base, each of the second plurality of protrusions including a distal support surface that is facing and approximately the same size as an exposed portion of a second side of a corresponding one of the plurality of piezoelectric elements, the second side being opposite the first side.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of clamps that secure the plurality of piezoelectric elements between the first fixture and the second fixture.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is disposed between the distal support surface of one of the first plurality of protrusions, and the distal support surface of a corresponding one of the second plurality of protrusions.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is disposed between and in contact with the distal support surface of one of the first plurality of protrusions, and the distal support surface of a corresponding one of the second plurality of protrusions.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the distal support surface of each of the first plurality of protrusions faces the distal support surface of a corresponding one of the second plurality of protrusions.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the distal support surface of each of the first plurality of protrusions is parallel with the distal support surface of each of the second plurality of protrusions.
9. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the distal support surface of one of the second plurality of protrusions is coplanar with the distal support surface of every other of the second plurality of protrusions.
10. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the distal support surface of each of the second plurality of protrusions has a closed rectangular shape.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal support surface of one of the first plurality of protrusions is coplanar with the distal support surface of every other of the first plurality of protrusions.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first fixture comprises steel or plastic.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal support surface of each of the first plurality of protrusions has a closed rectangular shape.