| CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B29C 64/106 (2017.08); B29C 64/35 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12)] | 10 Claims |
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1. A print head for producing a fiber structure, the print head comprising:
a dispensing channel comprising a proximal end having a first diameter and a distal end having a second diameter;
a dispensing orifice located at the distal end of the dispensing channel;
a core channel having a third diameter converging with the dispensing channel at the proximal end of the dispensing channel, wherein the third diameter of the core channel is less than the first and second diameters of the dispensing channel;
a first shell channel converging with the core channel and the dispensing channel at a first fluidic focusing intersection at the proximal end of the dispensing channel, wherein the first shell channel comprises a plurality of sub-channels that converge toward the dispensing channel via a first fluidic focusing chamber disposed within the print head, and wherein the first fluidic focusing chamber comprises a conical frustum shape configured to focus fluid toward the dispensing channel;
a sheath flow channel converging with the dispensing channel at a sheath fluid intersection located between the first fluidic focusing intersection and the distal end of the dispensing channel, wherein the sheath flow channel comprises a plurality of sheath flow sub-channels that converge toward the dispensing channel via a sheath fluid chamber, wherein the sheath fluid chamber comprises a conical frustum shape configured to focus fluid toward the dispensing channel, wherein the second diameter is equal to the smallest diameter of the conical frustum shape at the outlet of the sheath fluid chamber where the diameter of the dispensing channel increases from said first diameter to said second diameter;
wherein the core channel, the first shell channel and the sheath flow channel are in fluid communication with the dispensing channel.
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