Quantitative dosing head for quantitative dosing system

Abstract

The invention relates to a dosing device (1) having at least one dosing device (2) having at least one dosing system (3) having at least one dosing head (5) for releasing an added substance, and at least one replacement system (6, 6 ') assigned to the dosing device (2). The dosing device (2) and / or the changing system (6, 6 ') and / or the dosing system (3) are / is designed and drivable by a control device (7) in such a way that, in order to form the dosing head (5), the at least one first dosing head assembly (A) can be detachably coupled to the at least one second dosing head assembly (B) via the changing system (6, 6') during an automation process. The invention further relates to an exchange system (6, 6 ') and to a dosing device (2) for such a dosing device (1), as well as to a dosing system (3) and to a dosing head (5) for a dosing system (3). The invention also relates to a method for automatically coupling at least a first dosing head assembly (A) with a second dosing head assembly (B) to form a dosing head (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a dosing device, which has at least one dosing device, which has at least one dosing system for adding a substance, and which has at least one dosing head for releasing the added substance. The invention also relates to a replacement system and a dosing device for such a dosing device, as well as a dosing system and a dosing head for the dosing system. The invention also relates to a method for automatically coupling at least a first dosing head component with a second dosing head component to form a dosing head. Background Art

[0002] Dosing systems of the type mentioned at the beginning are usually used to apply the medium to be dosed to the target surface in a targeted manner, i.e. at the right time, in the right place and in an accurately dosed amount. In addition to the dosing head for the actual release of the dosing material, the dosing system usually also includes other elements, such as a control unit for operating the dosing head. The release of the dosing material can be achieved by releasing the metered medium or the dosing material in drops through the nozzle of the dosing head. Usually, the dosing head includes a corresponding dosing valve or is configured as a dosing valve, so in the description of the present invention, the two terms "dosing head" and "dosing valve" are used synonymously.

[0003] In the context of so-called "micro-metering technology", very small quantities of dosing substances often need to be placed on a target surface precisely and contactlessly, i.e. without direct contact between the metering system and the target surface. Typical examples of this are the metering of glue dots, solder paste, etc. when assembling circuit boards or other electronic components, or the application of converter materials for LEDs.

[0004] Such non-contact methods are usually referred to as "spraying methods", and metering valves that operate according to the spraying method are called "spraying valves". The release of the (metered) medium from the spraying valve usually takes place in such a way that a movable spraying element arranged inside the nozzle of the spraying valve is moved at a relatively high speed in the spraying direction toward the nozzle opening, so that individual drops of the medium are sprayed out of the nozzle. After such a spraying process has ended, the spraying element is retracted again in the opposite retraction direction in order to spray the next drop.

[0005] As an alternative or in addition to a movable ejection element, the nozzle of the injection valve itself can be moved in the ejection or retraction direction to release the dosing substance. To release the dosing substance, the nozzle and the ejection element arranged inside the nozzle can be moved in a relative movement towards or away from each other, wherein the relative movement can be carried out only by the movement of the nozzle or at least partially also by a corresponding movement of the ejection element.

[0006] Instead of the injection valve, the dosing system mentioned at the beginning for releasing the dosing substance may also include a contact dosing valve. In addition, the dosing valve may also be implemented as a needle dosing valve. Correspondingly, although the injection valve described above is preferred, the present invention is not limited to a specific type of dosing valve, but can be applied to all common dosing valves or dosing systems of the above-mentioned type.

[0007] During operation of a dosing system, it often becomes necessary after a certain operating time that certain parts of the dosing system have to be replaced. The reasons for replacing parts vary and are sometimes related to the type of dosing valve. For example, before changing the dosing substance, it may be necessary to replace the flow guide element of the dosing valve that comes into contact with the dosing substance. Depending on the nature of the dosing substance, it may be necessary to replace the flow guide element for cleaning at regular intervals or in response to corresponding messages from the control of the dosing valve in order to ensure a constant metering result during operation. For dosing systems that are equipped with their own dosing substance reserve, it may be necessary to replace the dosing substance cartridge regularly during operation.

[0008] The replacement of components during operation may also be caused by a configuration change of the dosing system. For example, the configuration of the dosing system can be set via the design of the nozzle and / or the ejection element and / or via the properties of the feed material in order to obtain a specific metering pattern. A configuration change may be necessary, for example, when another (manufactured) product with a specific feed material pattern needs to be manufactured on the plant, or when a different feed material or a different size of feed material point is required for the same product.

[0009] Especially in the injection valves mentioned at the outset, it is necessary to replace certain parts for maintenance reasons or to replace them with new parts during operation. In particular, in the case of those parts that are subject to high wear during operation, regular replacement or replacement in response to wear information is important for constant metering results.

[0010] Although it is possible in principle to replace or substitute certain parts or elements in existing dosing systems. However, the replacement usually requires that the dosing system be out of service for the time required to replace the part and, if appropriate, even have to be removed from the superior device. The replacement is usually carried out in that the operator of the dosing system removes the part to be replaced from the dosing system, installs the new part, and then reassembles the dosing system and, if appropriate, performs manual adjustments. Depending on the design and modularity of the dosing system, the replacement of parts may require a considerable amount of time, which results in unnecessary long downtime of the dosing system and thus reduces the efficiency of the dosing system and generates unnecessary costs.

[0011] Especially for large production plants, in which several metering systems are integrated in a superordinate device and are jointly operated by the superordinate device, replacing components of only one of the metering systems will cause the entire plant to be shut down for a period of time, which has a negative impact on the efficiency of the plant.

[0012] On the other hand, as already mentioned above, the regular or, if necessary, replacement of certain parts of the metering system, for example wearing parts, is crucial in operation with regard to constant metering results. Summary of the invention

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a dosing device and modules or dosing device components required for operating the dosing device which avoid or at least reduce the disadvantages mentioned above and enable the most efficient possible operation of the dosing system.

[0014] This object is achieved by a dosing device according to claim 1 , a changing system according to claim 5 , a dosing device according to claim 6 , a dosing head according to claim 7 and a dosing system according to claim 20 and a method according to claim 21 .

[0015] The metering device according to the invention has at least one metering device having at least one metering system for adding a substance or a metering medium, preferably two or more metering systems.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, a dosing device is understood to be a superordinate unit or device which at least comprises (provides) means by which the dosing substance can be released in accordance with the intended use via at least one dosing valve, preferably a dosing system, coupled to the dosing device. The corresponding dosing system is preferably coupled to the dosing device in a detachable manner during operation, i.e. for releasing the dosing substance, is in particular arranged in a detachable manner at the dosing device and is preferably individually controllable. The dosing device can preferably comprise at least one supply device and / or control device, which is used to cause the coupled dosing system to perform a metering operation in accordance with the intended use.

[0017] The dosing system of the invention comprises at least one dosing head or a dosing valve for controlled release of the dosing substance onto the substrate. The dosing valve can be constructed according to the type mentioned at the beginning, in particular as an injection valve, and has at least one actuating unit and a fluid unit coupled to the actuating unit during operation and functionally cooperating. The dosing head or the dosing valve comprises at least the components involved in the actual release of the dosing substance.

[0018] In addition to the dosing head, the dosing system at least also has a dosing material storage or a dosing material reserve and a control device for controlling the operation of the dosing head. The dosing material storage and / or the control device can be configured as a part of the corresponding dosing system, for example, as a carried dosing material cartridge. Alternatively or additionally, the dosing head can be coupled with an external dosing material reserve and / or with a superior control device during operation to form a dosing system. Detailed information about the dosing system will be provided later.

[0019] According to the present invention, the corresponding dosing system comprises at least one dosing head for releasing the dosing substance from the dosing system. The dosing head or the dosing valve can be particularly configured as a subunit of the corresponding dosing system. Within the scope of the present invention, the dosing head (assembled according to the intended use) comprises at least one actuating unit and a fluid unit coupled to the actuating unit and cooperating with it in operation. The dosing head can have other elements of the dosing system, which will be described later. Preferably, the dosing head comprises at least the components of the dosing system that participate in mechanically releasing the dosing substance from the dosing system.

[0020] The dosing device of the invention comprises at least one changing system which is assigned to a dosing device at least for a period of time during operation. In particular, the changing system can be assigned at least temporarily to a specific dosing system during operation of the dosing device.

[0021] The replacement system and / or the metering device and / or the metering system are configured and can be driven controllably by a control device so that, in order to form or construct a corresponding metering head, at least one first metering head component can be coupled to at least one second metering head component in a detachable manner, in particular reversibly, via the replacement system in an automated process.

[0022] An automated process is understood to be a coupling process that can be performed or carried out without direct manual involvement of personnel, preferably in accordance with the intended use, to form a dosing head. Individual method steps based on the automated coupling process and / or means associated with the coupling process can be controlled by a control device, in particular by a superior control device of the dosing device, so that the coupling process and / or decoupling process is carried out fully automatically. Detailed information will be provided later.

[0023] In order to couple the first dosing head assembly and the second dosing head assembly to form a dosing head, the replacement system can temporarily functionally interact with the dosing device and / or with at least parts of the dosing system of the dosing device. In particular, the replacement system provides means, which are designed to form a dosing head by coupling the two dosing head assemblies, in particular by interaction with the dosing device and / or the dosing system, and / or to perform a decoupling of the two dosing head assemblies.

[0024] Preferably, the first dosing head assembly comprises at least one nozzle element of the nozzle. The second dosing head assembly can be arranged at the associated dosing device and / or at the actuating unit and / or at the fluid unit. Correspondingly, in order to couple and / or decouple the two dosing head assemblies, the second dosing head assembly can preferably be arranged directly, but at least indirectly, at the dosing device. This means that only a part of the dosing system is replaced in the automation process, wherein another part of the same dosing system is not replaced, in particular remains at the dosing device.

[0025] The first dosing head assembly can also be a complete fluid unit, i.e. including the nozzle and the dosing system, and the second dosing head assembly can be an actuating unit. It is also feasible that, for example, the first dosing head assembly is configured as a first part of the fluid unit, such as the nozzle, and the second dosing head assembly is configured as another part of the same fluid unit, i.e. the second part, such as the fluid matrix. This will be described in more detail later.

[0026] The first dosing head assembly and the second dosing head assembly can be coupled to each other or can be coupled to each other in an automated process, so that a properly functioning dosing head can be formed or can be formed. A properly functioning dosing head is understood to mean a dosing head which is configured, for example, as a subunit of a dosing system, in particular as a component of a superordinate dosing device, so that during operation of the dosing system, the dosing substance is released via the dosing head in accordance with the intended use, in particular under control of the dosing head via an associated control device.

[0027] According to the present invention, the first dosing head assembly and the second dosing head assembly are configured for detachable, reversible coupling. The feature of "detachable coupling" or "detachable coupling" means that the first dosing head assembly and / or the second dosing head assembly are configured so that they can be coupled to each other and can be decoupled from each other again later. This means that the two dosing head assemblies can be separated from each other again, particularly when keeping their respective technical specifications. Such a decoupling process can be carried out in an automated process via a replacement system of the present invention. In particular, decoupling two dosing head assemblies and coupling other dosing head assemblies subsequently, i.e., component replacement, can be realized in a common method flow, for example as a replacement process. This will also be described later.

[0028] Advantageously, via a dosing device according to the present invention, the dosing device has a dosing device, and the dosing device has a dosing system of corresponding structure, the efficiency of the dosing device can be improved relative to conventional devices. Due to the modular design of several dosing heads in the dosing device, combined with the replacement system, the coupling of dosing head components to form a dosing head, as well as the decoupling of dosing head components of the same dosing head can be automatically realized, that is, the dosing head can be at least partially disassembled. For example, a (decoupled) component can be replaced by a (new) component with the same function in a fully automated process, wherein relatively few situations require direct manual intervention in the operation of the dosing device. For example, control software for controlling the coupling or decoupling process can be manually created, wherein the actual replacement process in the dosing device can be carried out without the direct involvement of an operator.

[0029] Advantageously, due to the modular design of the dosing head, the special coupling mechanism and the cooperation of the replacement system, the replacement of the dosing head components can be carried out faster than manual replacement, so that the downtime of the dosing system can be reduced. In particular, in large-scale manufacturing plants with multiple dosing systems, this can increase the efficiency of the dosing system. In addition, by automating the replacement process, human error sources when replacing dosing system parts can be reduced, which improves the manufacturing quality.

[0030] The invention also relates to a replacement system for a dosing device, in particular for a dosing device according to the invention, wherein the dosing device has at least one dosing device, the dosing device has at least one dosing system, the dosing system has at least one dosing head, preferably the dosing head described above. According to the invention, the replacement system is configured and can be driven by a control device so that in order to form a dosing head, at least one first dosing head component can be coupled to at least one second dosing head component in a detachable manner via the replacement system in an automated process, in particular reversibly coupled thereto.

[0031] The replacement system is preferably designed and can be driven controllably by the control device such that at least one first metering head component of a metering head can be decoupled from at least one second metering head component via the replacement system in an automated process.

[0032] The present invention also relates to a dosing device for a dosing device, in particular for the dosing device of the present invention, wherein the dosing device has at least one dosing system, the dosing system has at least one dosing head, preferably the dosing head described above, and wherein the dosing device is constructed and can be driven by a control device so that in order to form a dosing head, at least one first dosing head component can be coupled to at least one second dosing head component in a detachable manner, in particular reversibly, via a replacement system of the dosing device in an automated process.

[0033] The metering device is preferably designed and controllably drivable by the control device such that at least one metering head component of a metering head can be decoupled from at least one second metering head component via a replacement system in an automated process.

[0034] The invention also relates to a dosing head for a dosing system, in particular for a dosing device according to the invention, wherein the dosing head has at least one actuating unit and a fluid unit detachably coupled to the actuating unit. In principle, the dosing head according to the invention can also be used in a dosing system independent of a dosing device and / or independent of a dosing device. However, it is preferred to use the dosing head as part of a dosing device, since this offers particular advantages.

[0035] The actuating unit preferably has at least one actuator to move a particularly mobile ejection element of the dosing head for releasing the dosing substance. Preferably, the actuator can be a piezoelectric actuator. Particularly preferably, the actuator can be a pneumatic actuator. The pneumatic actuator can preferably include a membrane, which can be pressurized and / or deflected by a pressure medium in order to thereby move the ejection element in the ejection direction. The fluid unit includes at least one conveying channel for the dosing substance and a nozzle for releasing the dosing substance from the dosing head. Detailed information about the actuating unit and the fluid unit will be provided later.

[0036] According to the present invention, (assembled) dosing head has at least one first dosing head assembly, which is assigned to the first interface part of the interface, particularly for constituting the interface. In addition, (assembled) dosing head has at least one second dosing head assembly, which is independently constituted relative to the first dosing head assembly. The second dosing head assembly is assigned with the second interface part of the same interface, particularly for constituting the same interface. The first interface part can be configured as a part of the first dosing head assembly, wherein the second interface part can be configured as a part of the second dosing head assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the first interface part can be arranged at the first dosing head assembly at least in sections, wherein the second interface part can be arranged at the second dosing head assembly at least in sections.

[0037] According to the invention, the first interface part and / or the second interface part, in particular both interface parts, are configured so that in order to form a dosing head, the first dosing head assembly is coupled to the second dosing head assembly in a detachable manner in the case of forming an interface in an automated process. The interface between the first dosing head assembly and the second dosing head assembly is configured in particular in such a way that after the two dosing head assemblies are coupled, the dosing head is correctly configured or functional, wherein in operation, the dosing substance is released via the dosing head according to the intended use.

[0038] In order to couple the two dosing head assemblies, the first dosing head assembly has a coupling area or "access area", which is configured to interact with a replacement system that is assigned to the dosing head (to be formed) at least for a period of time in an automated process in order to couple the first dosing head assembly with the second dosing head assembly. The replacement system is preferably the replacement system of the invention described before for the dosing device. The replacement system is assigned to a specific dosing head at least during the replacement period of the dosing head assembly. The replacement system can be alternately assigned to different dosing heads and / or different dosing devices.

[0039] The coupling region or access region at the first dosing head assembly is designed such that the replacement system can interact with the first dosing head assembly via the access region, in particular can act on the first dosing head assembly in such a way that the first dosing head assembly and the second dosing head assembly are brought into active contact for coupling. The access region is preferably designed such that the replacement system can interact with the first dosing head assembly via the access region in such a way that a decoupling of the first dosing head assembly from the second dosing head assembly can also be performed.

[0040] The present invention also relates to a dosing device for a dosing device, in particular a dosing system for a dosing device of the dosing device of the present invention. The dosing system has at least one dosing head, in particular a dosing head of the present invention. The dosing system is configured and can be driven by a control device so that in order to form a dosing head of the dosing system, at least one first dosing head assembly can be coupled to at least one second dosing head assembly in a detachable manner via a replacement system, in particular via a replacement system of the present invention, in an automated process.

[0041] The metering system is preferably designed to be drivable by a control device such that at least one metering head component of a metering head of the metering system can be decoupled from at least one second metering head component via a replacement system in an automated process.

[0042] Advantageously, all previously described modules of the dosing device or dosing device components are based on the same inventive concept, namely the ability to replace specific components of the dosing head of the dosing system in an automated process. Therefore, the same advantageous effects described for the dosing device according to the invention also apply in a corresponding manner to the dosing device, the replacement system, the dosing system and the dosing head.

[0043] In a method according to the invention for automatically coupling at least one first dosing head assembly with a second dosing head assembly to form a dosing system, preferably a dosing system according to the invention and / or a dosing head for a dosing system of a dosing device according to the invention, the automated coupling preferably comprises at least replacing at least one dosing head assembly. Preferably, the automated coupling can be performed during operation of the dosing device, in particular during continued metering operation of at least one other dosing system of the same dosing device.

[0044] The method may at least include the following steps:

[0045] In an optional step, at least one interface of the (assembled) dosing head (which has a first interface part and a second interface part) can be brought into a transfer state of the interface so as to enable an automated replacement of the first dosing head assembly with the first interface part. Preferably, the transfer state can be achieved by switching at least some interface elements of at least one interface part to be powerless and / or pressureless. Preferably, the supply connection can be switched to be powerless and / or pressureless. In particular, the transfer state of the interface can be established via a control drive assigned to a preferably superior control device of the dosing system.

[0046] In an optional step, the first dosing head assembly can be transferred to a replacement system, preferably using a coupling region of the first dosing head assembly assigned to the replacement system. Preferably, the first dosing head assembly can be transferred to a mobile replacement manipulator.

[0047] In an optional step, the interface can be transferred to the decoupled state, preferably by a control device assigned to the metering system, preferably a superordinate control device. To transfer to the decoupled state, the coupling, preferably mechanical coupling, between the first interface part and the second interface part can be released.

[0048] In an optional step, the first (detached) dosing head assembly with the first interface part can be transferred to a magazine, preferably to a magazine of the changing system. Preferably, the transfer can be carried out by a mobile assembly of the changing system, in particular via a mobile changing manipulator.

[0049] Preferably, the previously described optional method steps are carried out when it is necessary to replace a dosing head assembly, i.e. a dosing head assembly is replaced directly or in the same method flow by another, for example, functionally identical dosing head assembly. The method may therefore be referred to herein as a combined decoupling / coupling method or simply as a "replacement method". Therefore, the previously described steps do not have to be carried out in strict accordance with the described sequence, several steps may also be carried out substantially simultaneously, or individual steps may also be omitted.

[0050] In any case, the method according to the invention comprises the method steps described below. If the method is carried out as a “replacement method”, the method steps described below can essentially follow directly after the decoupling step described above.

[0051] Alternatively, the subsequent steps can also be carried out independently of the preceding optional steps, for example when a (specifically shaped) dosing head is constructed for the first time or after the dosing system has not been in operation for a longer period or has no functioning dosing head.

[0052] First, a first dosing head assembly is provided, which is provided with a first interface part. Preferably, the first dosing head assembly is provided by a replacement system. The provision at least means that the replacement system can access the first dosing head assembly, in particular can interact with the first dosing head assembly.

[0053] The first interface part assigned to the first dosing head assembly is then joined to a complementary second interface part assigned to a second dosing head assembly, preferably arranged at the dosing device, to form an interface using the replacement system.

[0054] At least one interface element of the interface is snap-connected so that the first dosing head assembly is coupled to the second interface part assigned to the second dosing head assembly in a detachable or reversible manner via the first interface part to form a dosing head. Preferably, the snap connection of the interface element can be controlled by a control device assigned to the dosing system, preferably a superior control device.

[0055] In an optional step, the actuator of the actuating unit can be calibrated. In particular, for injection valves with a movable ejection element, it is advantageous to perform calibration with regard to metering accuracy. Preferably, the calibration can be performed in such a way that, in a defined operating state of the actuator, in particular in a deflected operating state of the actuator, a specific pressing force is generated by the actuator, which presses the ejection element into the nozzle of the fluid unit. The calibration process can be controlled via a superior control device assigned to the metering system. Preferably, the calibration process can be controlled via the metering system's own (local) control unit. It is also feasible that the calibration process is triggered by the superior control device, wherein the actual calibration is controlled here by the metering system's own (local) control unit.

[0056] Preferably, in a method for controlling at least one dosing system with at least one dosing head, in particular a dosing system according to the invention and / or a dosing system for a dosing device according to the invention, in order to control the release of the dosing substance from the dosing head, a first dosing head assembly can be coupled at least once in an automated process via a first interface part assigned to the first dosing head assembly in a detachable manner to a second interface part assigned to a second dosing head assembly to form a dosing head. Preferably, the automated coupling is performed according to the automated coupling method described above.

[0057] Preferably, the control method can also provide that the first dosing head component of the dosing head is replaced at least once in an automated process, i.e., for example, by a functionally identical component, in particular after the automated coupling method described above. This means that an automated replacement process can be integrated into the control method.

[0058] Advantageously, the automated change method or automated change process is also based on the same inventive concept as described with reference to the metering device. Correspondingly, the same advantageous effects described at the outset also occur for this method.

[0059] Other particularly advantageous designs and improvements of the present invention are revealed in the dependent claims and the subsequent description, wherein an independent claim of one claim category can also be improved similarly to the dependent claims and embodiments of another claim category, and in particular, individual features of different embodiments or variants can also be combined into new embodiments or variants.

[0060] The dosing device described at the beginning comprises at least one, preferably several, i.e. two or more separate dosing devices. The dosing device can be, for example, a complete production facility and can include at least the modules required for implementing the invention. This means that the dosing device preferably includes at least one dosing device, a replacement system, a dosing system, a dosing head and a control device.

[0061] If a dosing device has two or more dosing devices, different products can be produced on a single dosing device, for example. Correspondingly, the respective dosing devices can be operated separately from each other. In particular, the respective dosing devices can be individually controllable and driven by the control device.

[0062] Preferably, the dosing device can have a control device, which can individually control all modules of the dosing device. This control device can have all hardware components, such as interfaces with the individual modules of the dosing device, etc., and can be programmed accordingly in order to apply control signals to the corresponding modules for automating coupling and / or decoupling processes and / or in order to control the metering processes of the individual dosing valves. Such a control device is called a "superior" control device and can be implemented as a centralized one. Preferably, however, the superior control device is configured as a decentralized one.

[0063] For example, the preferably decentralized control device can include a system of several cooperating subcontrol units, which can also be arranged at different locations in the dosing device. It is also possible that the respective dosing system is assigned its own subcontrol unit, which can also be arranged in the dosing system itself, for example. Preferably, the respective subcontrol units can communicate with one another, in particular in order to exchange control signals and / or measurement signals.

[0064] Preferably, the superior control device can include at least two sub-control units that act in synergy. Preferably, the (first) sub-control unit can be configured here to control specific device functions of the dosing device, in particular device functions that do not involve the metering process itself. Preferably, such a "device control unit" can at least control the positioning of the dosing valve in the dosing device and / or the processing of the product, in particular the transportation of the product to or from the metering point, and / or perform monitoring functions, in particular with regard to the metering accuracy of the corresponding dosing valve, for example via a camera. Such a device control unit can be implemented, for example, by a standardized programmable logic controller (SPS). Preferably, the specific design of the dosing device, in particular the position of the module in the dosing device, can be stored in the device control unit.

[0065] Preferably, the device control unit can interact with a (second) sub-control unit, which controls the actual metering process of the corresponding dosing valve in the dosing device and / or the automatic coupling and / or decoupling process at the specific dosing valve (hereinafter referred to as "operating control unit"). Preferably, the device control unit and the operating control unit can communicate with each other, in particular for the purpose of exchanging control signals. The operating control unit can preferably control and drive at least the following elements of the dosing device separately: the replacement system, in particular the library for dosing head components, and the corresponding dosing head of the dosing device, in particular the interface of the corresponding dosing head.

[0066] In principle, it is possible to control the entire coupling and / or decoupling process solely by operating the control unit.

[0067] However, preferably, two or more sub-control units cooperate to carry out the automated coupling or decoupling of the dosing head assembly. Preferably, the device control unit can control the participating modules of the dosing device in such a way that a specific (partially to be replaced) dosing head is placed in the replacement position. In order to carry out the actual replacement method, the operating control unit can, preferably according to the control signals of the device control unit, control the driving of the modules participating in the replacement process, i.e. in particular the replacement system and the interface part of the specific dosing head. After the replacement process is over, the dosing head can be placed in the working position again via the control of the device control unit, in particular according to the control signals of the operating control unit.

[0068] Preferably, the operating control unit can also generate a control signal and / or transmit a control signal to the device control unit in order to arrange a specific (partially to be replaced) dosing head in the replacement position, in particular according to the state value collected by the operating control unit. This will be described later.

[0069] For the sake of completeness, it should be pointed out that in principle it is also possible for a single, if appropriate centralized, superior control device to both execute the method steps for automating the coupling or decoupling and control the metering process of the metering valve, i.e., to control the metering device according to the invention as a whole. For example, the device control unit can also be designed to carry out the described replacement method.

[0070] In the description, it is assumed that a superordinate control device has at least two cooperating sub-control units, since this can bring particular advantages, but is not limited to this. For example, when implementing the invention in an existing dosing plant, it may be possible to use the already existing control device, so that, for example, only a special operating control unit needs to be retrofitted to control the automated change process.

[0071] The superior control device can preferably also have a regulating function. For example, the operating parameters of the corresponding dosing system or its subassemblies can be fed into the control device and processed there. Preferably, the superior control device can intervene in the metering operation of a specific dosing system or dosing head and / or a specific dosing device in a regulating manner, taking into account at least one operating parameter, so that a target value of the operating parameter is achieved. Such a parameter may be, for example, an actuator deflection or a plunger stroke in operation.

[0072] Preferably, the superordinate control device can be designed to continuously and actively monitor at least the state value of preferably at least one component of the dosing system, in particular of the dosing head, during operation of the dosing device. Such state values ​​can be, for example, wear parameters, temperatures or degrees of wear of individual components of the dosing system, for example the degree of wear of the ejection element.

[0073] Other status values ​​may be a defined (predetermined) number of injection cycles; a (sensor) signal of a droplet detection, in particular a droplet interruption; a signal of a flow sensor in the conveying channel, in particular a flow rate that deviates from a target value; a signal of a level sensor of a dosing substance cartridge; the expiration of a defined time interval, in particular with regard to the processing time of the dosing substance or the reaching of a scheduled maintenance interval for a component. Preferably, the replacement process can be triggered by operating the control unit as a function of these status values.

[0074] The state value may also be the metering performance or metering accuracy of a specific dosing valve that deviates from a target value. Preferably, the state value may be the mass of the dosing material released from the dosing head during the corresponding ejection process and / or the shape of the dosing material droplets released. Preferably, the corresponding measured values ​​may be delivered to a superior control device, such as an equipment control unit, where the replacement process may be triggered based on these measured values ​​or state values. These corresponding measured values ​​may be generated, for example, by a weighing device or a camera system that is part of the dosing device. Preferably, the control device, in particular the superior control device, may compare the corresponding state value in operation, in particular in real time, with the associated predetermined target value, whereby the remaining service life of the component may be determined and / or the time point (replacement time point) for replacing the dosing head assembly may be (pre)determined.

[0075] For example, the control device can perform an automated replacement of a component when a specific status value, such as a wear parameter, reaches and / or exceeds a maximum permissible value and / or a specific value deviates from an associated target value. Optionally, a replacement message or a wear message can be generated in advance by the control device, which message must be confirmed by the user if appropriate. Preferably, the control device can decide which type of dosing head component should be replaced based on the status value of the dosing system, in particular based on the status value of a specific component of the dosing system or of the dosing head.

[0076] Preferably, a higher-level control device, such as an equipment control unit, can be designed, for example, to create a process plan for the automated replacement method, in particular if the dosing device comprises several dosing systems and / or dosing devices. Preferably, the control device can plan the replacement of components in the dosing device taking into account the status values ​​of different dosing systems or dosing heads in such a way that the operation of the device can be performed as uninterrupted as possible. In this process plan, the remaining service life of the component, the type of dosing head component to be replaced, the exact time of replacement, the location of replacement, i.e. the spatial position of the dosing system or dosing head and / or dosing device in the device can preferably be taken into account.

[0077] Alternatively or additionally, the control device may also be programmed to replace specific parts and / or specific dosing head components regularly, for example at specific intervals. Correspondingly, the control device may be able to perform automated replacement when a predeterminable value (state value) is reached, or may be able to take into account the replacement planned in the process planning. Such parameters may be, for example, the maximum service life of the ejection element, or the maximum allowable number of stretch cycles of the piezoelectric actuator, or a specific number of injection cycles. In principle, it is also feasible, for example, when (in exceptional circumstances) a specific dosing head component must be replaced regardless of whether a state value is reached or a specific dosing head component needs to be replaced for other reasons, to manually intervene in the automated replacement process, that is, the replacement method may also be implemented by manual (user) input.

[0078] For the sake of completeness, it should be pointed out that in the case of a metering device which is designed for an automated changing method, it is also possible that the metering head arrangement can be coupled and / or decoupled (purely) manually by the user.

[0079] Preferably, a superior control device, such as an equipment control unit and an operating control unit cooperating with the equipment control unit, is configured to independently perform all method steps of the automated coupling and / or decoupling method (replacement method), preferably also all method steps of the control method, and / or, to apply corresponding control signals to the participating modules in order to perform the corresponding method, in particular taking into account the previously generated process plan.

[0080] In principle, as already mentioned, it is also possible that the individual dosing systems and / or the individual dosing devices each have their own, separate (local) control unit, in particular in the form of a subcontrol unit. Preferably, the subcontrol unit of the dosing system is at least designed to control the metering operation of the respective dosing system locally, for example by controlling the cooling device and / or heating device of the dosing system in order to set a specific temperature in the dosing substance, or by setting a clock frequency for the release of the dosing substance.

[0081] Preferably, the respective sub-control unit of the dosing system can communicate with other sub-control units of the dosing device, in particular also with the operating control unit and / or the device control unit. In particular, the sub-control unit of the dosing system can also be configured to constitute the operating control unit. This means that the sub-control unit of the dosing system can itself constitute the operating control unit as part of the superior control device.

[0082] The local control unit of the dosing system, in particular the sub-control unit, can be arranged, for example, in the actuator housing of the corresponding dosing system. In this case, the dosing head with the portable dosing material reserve can itself possibly constitute a complete dosing system. In principle, it is possible, in particular if a dosing device has only one dosing system, for the control device of the dosing device to be implemented as part of a specific dosing system. For example, the (local) control unit of the dosing system can in principle also be configured to control both the metering operation of the dosing system and the method of automatic changeover.

[0083] However, it is preferred that the respective dosing head can be driven by a (whole) superordinate control device, in particular by an operating and / or device control device, in addition to its own, preferably integrated, sub-control unit. Preferably, the superordinate control device can here, as described above, control at least the functions of the dosing head in connection with the coupling and / or decoupling process of the dosing head assembly.

[0084] This means that the dosing system is preferably configured such that the corresponding dosing valve or dosing head is assigned, for example, an external superior control device during operation, preferably each is assigned the same superior control device, wherein the superior control device can individually control the driving of individual dosing valves or dosing systems. This does not exclude that, as mentioned above, the dosing head also additionally has an (internal) sub-control unit, in particular for controlling the metering operation.

[0085] It is assumed below that the dosing device includes a superior control device described above, but is not limited thereto, and the superior control device is also configured to separately control and / or regulate the metering operation of the corresponding dosing valve or dosing system. In the configuration described below, the corresponding dosing head constitutes the dosing valve, and is configured as a subunit of the corresponding dosing system, wherein the metering operation can be at least partially controlled by the superior control device (external when appropriate). Correspondingly, the corresponding dosing head can be combined with the associated superior control device, the preferably existing (local) sub-control unit and the associated dosing material storage device to form a complete dosing system. The superior control device can preferably be at least partially implemented as a part of the dosing device, or can be independently of each other and / or dispersedly constructed at several locations, particularly when a dosing device has several dosing devices.

[0086] As mentioned at the beginning, the dosing equipment can include two or more dosing devices. For ease of understanding, the invention will be described below by a single dosing device, unless otherwise specified and without limitation, wherein the dosing device includes a supply device and a superior control device. Exemplarily, the dosing device only has a dosing system or a dosing head. However, it should be noted that the dosing device according to the present invention can usually have several dosing systems or dosing heads, which can also be operated independently of each other. It is feasible that the dosing device has different dosing systems, for example, different configurations. Correspondingly, although the advantageous improvements of the present invention are described based on a single dosing head, they are also applicable to several or more dosing heads or dosing systems.

[0087] A particular advantage of the invention is that, during operation of the dosing device, a specific dosing head assembly can be replaced in a targeted manner. Depending on the design of the dosing system and / or the dosing head assembly to be replaced, the first dosing head assembly or the second dosing head assembly can be formed by different components or elements of the dosing system. Preferably, the first dosing head assembly, in particular depending on the design of the component to be replaced, can be assigned a specific (matching) second dosing head assembly, wherein the different components of the dosing system (as the first dosing head assembly or the second dosing head assembly) can be combined with each other, i.e. can be coupled with each other.

[0088] Preferably, the first metering head assembly can comprise at least one of the following elements, in particular selected from the following components: a fluid unit, a fluid base body, a nozzle, a nozzle base body, a nozzle element or a dosing substance reservoir.

[0089] Preferably, the second dosing head assembly may comprise at least one of the following elements, in particular selected from the following components: an actuation unit, a fluid unit, a fluid base or a nozzle base.

[0090] For example, the first dosing head assembly can include the (entire) fluid unit or be formed thereby. In this case, the second dosing head assembly can preferably include the actuation unit or be formed thereby.

[0091] In another combination, the first dosing head assembly can be a fluid matrix, wherein the second dosing head assembly can be an actuating unit. The fluid matrix is ​​a part of a (complete) fluid unit, which preferably has at least one frame, a conveying channel and a functional coupling element for forming a functional coupling part and further elements when appropriate. Preferably, the fluid matrix and the associated (complete) nozzle that can preferably be coupled to the fluid matrix can constitute the fluid unit.

[0092] The combination of the fluid matrix as the first dosing head assembly and the actuating unit as the second dosing head assembly as described above can preferably be an intermediate step in the replacement method. Correspondingly, in subsequent method steps, the (same) fluid matrix can form the second dosing head assembly here, wherein the nozzle such as the first dosing head assembly can be coupled here. Therefore, at least as an intermediate step in the replacement method, it is feasible that the same dosing head assembly is used as the first dosing head assembly in one combination and as the second dosing head assembly in another combination.

[0093] It is also possible that in the replacement method, the fluid base body constitutes the second dosing head component from the outset, wherein the (entire) nozzle or nozzle base body or a specific nozzle element can be coupled as the first dosing head component. The nozzle base body is part of the (complete) nozzle and can possibly be coupled to the fluid base body as the first dosing head component, for example in an intermediate step of the replacement method, wherein in a further step the nozzle element (as the first dosing head component) can be coupled to the nozzle base body to form the nozzle or the dosing head, wherein the same nozzle base body is here the second dosing head component.

[0094] Furthermore, the nozzle basic body can also form the second metering head component from the outset during the replacement method, wherein a specific nozzle element can here form the first metering head component which can be coupled to the nozzle basic body.

[0095] In another combination, the portable dosing substance reservoir can be coupled as a first dosing head assembly to the fluid unit as a second dosing head assembly. Preferred coupling variants will be described in more detail below.

[0096] The preferred dosing device comprises a replacement system having at least one storehouse or (intermediate) warehouse for storing at least one first dosing head assembly. Preferably, the storehouse can be configured to store two or more separate dosing head assemblies therein at the same time. The terms "dosing head assembly" and "assembly" are used synonymously in describing the present invention.

[0097] In its simplest form, the magazine or replacement magazine can be a static, for example linear, magazine with at least one storage location, preferably two or more separate storage locations, for each metering head assembly. Such a static magazine has the advantage that it is relatively inexpensive and is suitable for situations where only a small number of metering head assemblies need to be stored at the same time.

[0098] However, the storehouse can preferably be configured such that at least one dosing head assembly is stored in a removable manner in the storehouse. For example, the storehouse can be realized by a rotating disk (rotating disk storehouse), wherein for example a horizontally rotatable wheel disk has several storage locations. In addition, the storehouse can be configured in the form of a "free track" with at least one removable chain, wherein the removable chain has several storage locations for each dosing head assembly. Storing in a removable manner in the storehouse may be realized, for example, also by a controllable conveyor belt in the storehouse.

[0099] Advantageously, a relatively large number of metering head assemblies can be temporarily stored simultaneously in the magazine for mobile storage, which is particularly advantageous in large metering plants in order not to have to keep too many magazines unnecessarily ready.

[0100] Regardless of the specific embodiment, the library of the replacement system is preferably configured to store, in particular to store simultaneously, dosing head assemblies of different designs, particularly preferably to store the elements described above as possible first dosing head assemblies. Correspondingly, at least two storage locations or receiving points in the library can be configured differently, so that dosing head assemblies of different embodiments can be stored therein.

[0101] In order to deposit the dosing head assembly in the storehouse, the storehouse may include a preferably controllable locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is preferably configured to keep the assembly stored in the storehouse in the storehouse when the storehouse moves according to the intended use, for example when the storehouse moves in the dosing device. Preferably, each storage position in the storehouse may be assigned a sub-locking mechanism that needs to be operated separately. For example, the locking of the corresponding dosing head assembly in the storehouse may be carried out by a separate quick-release buckle mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, locking may also be carried out by a form-fitting connection. For example, it may be possible to insert a specific dosing head assembly in the storage position on a complementary construction partner. In principle, it may also be feasible to hang the dosing head assembly in the storage position, wherein the dosing head assembly is maintained by its own weight at this.

[0102] Regardless of the specific embodiment, the library can be arranged in a fixed position in the dosing device. For example, the fixed position library can be arranged in a maintenance area of ​​the dosing device, in particular spatially separated from the dosing system or the dosing head and / or the dosing device. It is then preferred that the dosing device is designed to be at least partially mobile so that the second dosing head assembly at the dosing device can be placed in a specific replacement position, for example at the location of the library, in particular under control drive via the device control unit.

[0103] Preferably, the dosing device can be at least partially mobile, in particular mobile with respect to the library, and can be configured and controllably driven so that in an automated process the second dosing head assembly at the dosing device is brought into operative contact with the first dosing head assembly in the library to couple the dosing head assemblies. In particular, the first dosing head assembly and the second dosing head assembly can be coupled due to the operative contact.

[0104] If a dosing device comprises several dosing systems, it is preferably configured to be controllably driven so that a specific second dosing head assembly at the dosing device can be brought into action contact with a specific first dosing head assembly in the library during the automation process. This means that at least one element of the dosing device, preferably the entire dosing device, can be controlled in this way so that a specific second dosing head assembly is moved to the library to couple the two dosing head assemblies. The dosing device can include, for example, a mobile robot system or another positioning system, such as a three-axis positioning system, for this purpose. Preferably, at least one mobile part of the dosing device can be configured to be able to approach or go to a specific position in the library. The mobile part of the dosing device or the mobile dosing device as a whole can be referred to as a "working manipulator".

[0105] Preferably, the dosing device can have at least one, preferably several individually controllable robot arms as working manipulators, such as multi-axis articulated arm robots, wherein each robot arm can be assigned a dosing system. Preferably, a part of the corresponding robot arm can be arranged in a fixed position in the dosing device, and / or can be in contact with the action of a supply device or a control device. The second part of the same robot arm can be movable in the dosing device, in particular movable with respect to a library and / or a replacement position and / or a metering point. The dosing system, in particular the second dosing head assembly, can be arranged at the movable part of the working manipulator in a detachable manner. In this embodiment, the corresponding first dosing head assembly can be provided in a library as a part of a replacement system via a coupling region so that a working manipulator with a second assembly can access the first assembly in the library to constitute a dosing head.

[0106] Preferably, the at least partially mobile metering device, such as a corresponding working manipulator, is designed to be controllably drivable, in particular controllably drivable by a superior control device, so that the first metering head component of the (assembled) metering head is placed in the library, preferably at a specific position, in an automated process (decoupling process).

[0107] The stationary magazine can also be arranged stationary at the actuation unit and / or stationary at the fluid unit and / or stationary at the nozzle of the metering system, ie stationary with respect to them. Detailed information will be provided later.

[0108] Alternatively or additionally, the library can be configured to be mobile with respect to the dosing device and can be driven controllably by a preferably superior control device, so that in the automation process, the first dosing head assembly in the library is brought into operative contact with the second dosing head assembly at the dosing device to couple the dosing head assembly, which in particular leads to coupling. In addition, the library can be configured to be mobile and can be driven controllably, so that in the automation process, the first dosing head assembly of the (assembled) dosing head is placed in the library, preferably at a specific position.

[0109] In this case, the magazine is thus moved spatially towards the dosing device and / or the dosing system or away from the dosing device and / or the dosing system. The mobile magazine may comprise, for example, a controllable robot system. Particularly advantageously, the mobile magazine can be used in combination with a static (fixed in position in the dosing device) dosing system or a "static manipulator". This is the case, for example, with a dosing system of a dosing device that carries out metering on a conveyor belt. In principle, a combination of the previously described embodiments may also be possible. For example, it may be possible to place the dosing head assembly in a specific replacement position by means of an at least partially mobile dosing device, such as a working manipulator, wherein the mobile magazine (as part of the replacement system) is moved to the same replacement position for coupling or decoupling.

[0110] Particularly preferably, the changing system can have a mobile changing device, which is referred to as a "changing manipulator". Preferably, the changing manipulator is designed and can be driven controllably by a preferably superordinate control device so that the at least one first metering head component can be transferred between the magazine and the metering device and / or the metering system or the metering head by the changing manipulator in an automated process.

[0111] In particular, the replacement device can be configured to be controllably driven so that in the automation process, the first dosing head assembly from the warehouse is brought into contact with the second dosing head assembly at the dosing device via the replacement device for coupling, and / or so that the decoupled first dosing head assembly from the dosing device is transferred to the warehouse. In this case, the replacement position of the dosing head assembly can be directly located on site, i.e. directly at the dosing device. In particular, the replacement position can be the operating position of the dosing device and / or a specific dosing head.

[0112] The change manipulator is preferably represented as a separate intermediate system and can transport at least one dosing head assembly from the store to the dosing device and vice versa. For this purpose, a preferably superior control device applies a signal to the change manipulator accordingly. The change manipulator can have two or more receiving positions for each dosing head assembly, optionally each with an associated controllable locking mechanism.

[0113] Particularly preferably, the change manipulator can have at least one controllable "access element" which is configured to cooperate functionally with the coupling region of the first dosing head assembly to couple and / or decouple the assembly. In particular, the access element can be configured so that it interacts with the coupling region of the dosing head assembly in such a way that a coupling and / or decoupling of the two assemblies can be performed due to this interaction.

[0114] Preferably, the access element can be realized by a controllable gripping element. For example, the access element may include a controllable pneumatic and / or electrical gripper or be realized by such a gripper. It is also possible that the access element has a recess that is complementary to a corresponding coupling region of the dosing head assembly, so that when the recess and the coupling region are combined, a form-fitting connection is produced, wherein coupling and / or decoupling is performed thereby.

[0115] Preferably, the respective receiving positions in the change manipulator can each be assigned a separate access element. Preferably, the respective access element itself forms a receiving area for the dosing head assembly.

[0116] The change manipulator can preferably include a controllable robot arm. It is also possible to design the change manipulator in the form of a movable, for example movable, base in the metering device, wherein the base can optionally have at least one controllable robot arm. In particular, the base can be designed to be freely movable in the metering device, wherein the direction of movement can preferably be determined by a (superior) control device.

[0117] Alternatively or additionally, the replacement manipulator can also be realized by a transport device, which can preferably be fixedly mounted in the dosing device. For example, the transport device can have a guide system, wherein at least one access element and / or a receiving position for a dosing head assembly is configured to be movable along at least one guide surface of the guide system, in particular in a linear motion. Preferably, the guide system can also have two or more guide surfaces or guide axes, wherein the guide system can be configured in particular as a two-axis or three-axis robot (XYZ system). In principle, the dosing device can also have different replacement manipulators as part of the replacement system.

[0118] Advantageously, the spatial distance between the storehouse and the dosing device can be overcome by means of a (mobile) replacement manipulator. The advantage of this is, on the one hand, that the storehouse and / or the dosing device can be configured to be fixed in position relative to each other or fixed in position within the dosing device (static), which makes the module more cost-effective. Further advantageously, the replacement manipulator can be completely removed from the working area of ​​the dosing device again after replacing the dosing head assembly, so that no permanent restrictions are imposed on the working area. Further advantageously, in a fixed dosing device with several dosing systems, component replacement can also be carried out during the operation of the dosing device, i.e. during the activation of the remaining dosing systems. Compared to manual replacement of components, in a controllable replacement manipulator, it is not necessary to shut down the dosing device for safety reasons.

[0119] It should be noted that in principle, the mobile changing device can also be used in combination with a mobile magazine and / or an at least partially mobile dosing device, in particular with a working manipulator. For example, the (partial) dosing head to be replaced can be transferred to a specific replacement position by the working manipulator, wherein the mobile changing device is driven and controlled in such a way that it is arranged in the same replacement position in order to carry out the replacement of the component.

[0120] Preferably, the replacement system can be configured to and can be driven by the control device control, so that the specific first dosing head assembly from the storehouse is brought into contact with the action of the specific second dosing head assembly at the dosing device, for example, the working manipulator, to couple the dosing head assembly. The "specific" first dosing head assembly can be, for example, an assembly that is set to a substitute for the assembly to be replaced that is identical in structure. Specific assembly may also be characterized thereby, that is, specific metering diagrams can be realized by this assembly. For example, a specific dosing head assembly can have a special nozzle shape and / or a special ejection element, so as to realize the desired configuration of the dosing system in operation, particularly in view of the property of the actuating unit.

[0121] In order to selectively couple a first dosing head assembly from a magazine to a second dosing head assembly, a movable magazine (as part of a replacement system) can be positioned spatially relative to the second dosing head assembly on the dosing device in a corresponding manner, for example.

[0122] Preferably, the library may include a kinematic mechanism inside the (library) in order to bring a specific dosing head assembly and / or a specific (free) storage location to a defined position, in particular to a "transfer point". The transfer point or transfer position of the library part may preferably be identified by a spatial arrangement with respect to the dosing device, wherein at the transfer position, for example, a coupling and / or decoupling of the first assembly may be performed. For example, it may be possible to control the working manipulator for the automated replacement in such a way that the dosing head assembly to be decoupled is placed in the same transfer position. Preferably, for coupling and / or decoupling, in particular during coupling and / or decoupling, the transfer position of the library may substantially coincide with the replacement position of the dosing head assembly.

[0123] Alternatively or additionally, the replacement manipulator (as part of the replacement system) can be configured to be controllably driven so as to selectively extract a specific dosing head assembly from a library. Preferably, the replacement manipulator can have an identification means for contactless identification and / or distribution of a specific dosing head assembly. Preferably, identification can be performed via an RFID system (radio frequency identification). Alternatively or additionally, the corresponding dosing head assembly can be identified, for example, via a machine-readable code such as a barcode, which can be detected by the replacement manipulator. It may also be feasible that the replacement manipulator has a position determination system and can preferably be driven to a predetermined position in the dosing device, in particular a specific position in the library, by a control drive preferably of a superior control device.

[0124] Advantageously, what can be realized via this controllable replacement system is that the storehouse can store a large amount of for example different dosing head assemblies simultaneously, thereby reducing the storehouse required in the equipment, wherein still ensure that two limited dosing head assemblies are coupled.In the storehouse with internal motion mechanism, increase such advantage, i.e. can for example be (local) mobile storehouse so close to the first assembly to be decoupled of dosing head, so that the idle storage position in the storehouse has been arranged at the transfer position.After the assembly is decoupled and accommodated in the storehouse, specific "new", i.e. dosing head assembly to be coupled can be provided via internal motion mechanism in the transfer position, to couple, for example by moving a rotary wheel disc.Advantageously, when actually changing, there is almost no need to relatively move the storehouse and / or dosing head and / or dosing device.Due to the particularly short replacement path, it is feasible to additionally save time when changing.The same advantage can be drawn in the dosing device with a working manipulator.

[0125] Further advantages are obtained when a mobile change manipulator is combined with a magazine with an internal kinematic mechanism. The magazine can be controlled, for example, in such a way that a free storage location is arranged in the transfer position, which can then cooperate with the change manipulator in such a way that the "old", i.e., decoupled components are accommodated. After the transfer of the old component is completed, the "new", i.e., the component to be coupled, can be provided at the same transfer position via the internal kinematic mechanism and accommodated by the change manipulator without the change manipulator itself having to be moved. As a result, the transfer time of the component between the magazine and the change manipulator or the dosing device can be reduced.

[0126] In principle, it is also possible to combine the previously described embodiments. This means that the dosing device can include at least one fixed-position library and / or at least one mobile library, each with or without an internal movement mechanism, and / or at least one at least partially mobile dosing device, such as one or several working manipulators, and / or at least one static dosing device and / or at least one mobile change manipulator, which can each interact with each other to couple or decouple. According to different embodiments, the dosing device, preferably the corresponding working manipulator, can have the previously described identification means for contactless identification and / or allocation of a specific (first) dosing head assembly.

[0127] Regardless of the specific design, the library of the replacement system can have at least one maintenance coupling element, which is configured to cooperate with a coupling element, in particular a supply coupling element described below, of the first dosing head assembly to form a maintenance coupling. Preferably, a mechanical interface and / or an electrical interface and / or a fluid interface can be formed via the maintenance coupling element. Preferably, each storage location for an assembly in the library can be assigned an individually controllable maintenance coupling element to form a corresponding maintenance coupling.

[0128] The maintenance connection is preferably configured to connect at least one supply line of the first dosing head assembly to an external maintenance device, in particular when the assembly is stored in a warehouse. The supply line can be, for example, a supply line for a heating device for controlling the fluid unit and / or a supply line for dosing a substance and / or a supply line for dosing a substance pressure.

[0129] Preferably, the maintenance connection is configured to introduce a cleaning agent into the dosing head assembly via the maintenance connection to clean the assembly, in particular during storage in the library. Alternatively or additionally, the maintenance connection can be configured to thereby control a heating device that drives the dosing head assembly and / or read a memory assigned to the dosing head assembly. When forming the maintenance connection, the fluid unit (as the first dosing head assembly) can have a supply connection element, which will be described later.

[0130] Advantageously, the operation of the respective maintenance connection can be controlled by a preferably superior control device, wherein the control device can, for example, read data from an EEPROM of a heating device assigned to the fluid unit. Further advantageously, a (pre-)cleaning of the dosing head assembly, in particular the fluid unit, can be performed via the maintenance connection during storage in the library, thereby preventing the material in the fluid unit from solidifying and simplifying any subsequent maintenance or further cleaning that may be required.

[0131] Advantageously, by controlling the actuation of the heating device in the reservoir, the nozzle and / or the entire fluid unit and / or the dosing material in the fluid unit can be preheated to a specific (operating) temperature, in particular immediately before the corresponding dosing head assembly is replaced. Advantageously, after the dosing head assembly has been replaced, the metering process can be continued directly, wherein waiting or heating times can be avoided.

[0132] In order to form the maintenance coupling, the corresponding maintenance coupling element in the library is preferably configured to complement a specific sub-region of the first interface part of the first dosing head assembly. Correspondingly, it is preferred that the first interface part assigned to the first dosing head assembly is configured as a multi-piece. Particularly preferably, a sub-region of the first interface part constitutes a supply coupling element complementary to the maintenance coupling element.

[0133] Alternatively or additionally, the second interface part assigned to the second dosing head assembly can be configured as a multi-piece. This means that in order to form an interface, in particular to couple the first assembly and the second assembly to form a dosing head, such an interface part can be composed of several individual, preferably spatially separated elements.

[0134] Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first interface part can be assigned to the fluid unit, wherein the fluid unit is the first dosing head assembly. The first interface part can be configured as a part of the fluid unit itself. Alternatively or additionally, the first interface part can be arranged at least sectionally at the fluid unit. In the description, it is assumed that the first interface part is arranged at the first dosing head assembly, but is not limited thereto.

[0135] Correspondingly, in this case, the unit to be replaced is composed of the entire fluid unit and the first interface part. Fluid unit or fluid system refers to the medium guide part of the quantitative dosing system within the scope of the present invention. The fluid unit includes at least one nozzle for releasing the dosing material and at least one fluid matrix with a conveying channel as a main component, and the conveying channel is used to transport the dosing material to the nozzle. Depending on the structural design, the fluid system can have an interface for an external dosing material supply unit and / or a coupling point for a portable dosing material reserve, such as a cartridge. The fluid unit can preferably have a controllable heating device and / or a cooling device for dosing the material. In the injection valve, the fluid unit can mainly have a movable ejection element, a guide for the ejection element, and a sealing portion between the medium guide part and the injection valve drive. Preferably, the described part, except the nozzle, forms a fluid matrix, which can be coupled with the nozzle to form a fluid system.

[0136] The first interface part at the fluid unit is preferably configured as a multi-piece, wherein the first interface element has a supply coupling element to form a supply coupling portion. The supply coupling element is preferably configured to couple at least one supply line of the fluid system with an (external) supply device or to the (external) supply device in the operation of the dosing head or the dosing system. Preferably, the supply coupling element can be configured to couple two or more separate supply lines to each associated pipeline in the second interface part in function. The supply coupling portion is preferably configured to establish at least one, preferably several electrical and / or mechanical and / or signal technology and / or pneumatic and / or fluid technology connections, particularly medium-guided connections, between the first interface part and the second interface part in the operation of the dosing head. The supply coupling element can be arranged directly or only indirectly at the fluid system.

[0137] The supply line can be, for example, a line for medium pressure supply, for example, so as to apply pressure to the dosing material in the barrel or dosing material barrel carried at the fluid system as a dosing material reserve. The supply line can also be configured to directly deliver dosing material to the fluid system (if no barrel is provided). In addition, the supply line can also be configured to control the heating device and / or cooling device in the drive fluid unit. Preferably, the temperature, the pressure of the barrel and the medium delivery to the fluid unit can be controlled via the control device and can be forwarded to the fluid system via the supply connection portion when appropriate.

[0138] To form the supply connection, the second connection part is preferably designed in multiple parts, wherein at least a first connection element of the second connection part is designed to be complementary to a supply connection element of the first connection part of the fluid unit.

[0139] Preferably, the first interface element of the second interface part can be separately constructed relative to the second dosing head assembly, in particular, spatially separated from the second dosing head assembly. Preferably, the first interface element of the second interface part can be assigned to the dosing device, in particular arranged at the dosing device, and / or in contact with the supply device and / or the control device. If the dosing head is arranged at the working manipulator, the working manipulator can provide a second interface part with a first interface element, which is separately constructed relative to the second dosing head assembly. The supply device can preferably be configured as a part of the dosing device, and is preferably controllable and driven, so that several dosing systems can be individually controlled and driven via corresponding supply lines during operation.

[0140] The supply connection is preferably designed as a coupling system for automated change functions. For example, the supply connection can be realized in the form of a multi-connection or multiple connections, preferably in the form of a quick-change connection. Such connection systems are known, for example, in tool change systems or robotic tool changers and can form the connection based on an electrical and / or pneumatic and / or hydraulic connection of the connection parts. In principle, a mechanical connection of the connection parts is also possible.

[0141] The supply connection is preferably configured to be configured and / or released by a control drive of a control device. For example, before mechanically or physically separating the supply connection, the medium-conducting pipeline can be switched to no pressure and / or the electrical pipeline can be switched to no electricity.

[0142] The supply connection element in the first interface part can have at least one closing mechanism, which is configured to close at least one supply line leading to the fluid unit in an airtight and / or liquid-tight manner in the decoupled state. In particular, the corresponding fluid-guiding pipeline can be configured to be self-sealing, so as to prevent the medium from leaking from the pipeline when the interface is opened. Similarly, the interface element of the second interface part may also have at least one closing mechanism. For example, the supply connection element at the first interface part and / or the second interface part can be configured as a "self-sealing connection part" (sealed connection part).

[0143] In order to form a functional dosing head, the first interface part at the fluid unit can also have, in addition to the supply coupling element, a first, preferably separate, functional coupling element. Correspondingly, the second interface part can have a second functional coupling element complementary to the first functional coupling element to form a functional coupling. Preferably, the functional coupling and the supply coupling can be designed to be spatially separated from each other.

[0144] Preferably, the second functional coupling element is assigned to the actuating unit (as a second dosing head component). In particular, the second functional coupling element can be arranged at the actuating unit. The actuating unit can be preferably arranged at the dosing device for coupling, for example at the working manipulator.

[0145] Preferably, the first interface part and / or the second interface part, in particular both interface parts, are configured to couple the fluid unit to the actuation unit in a detachable manner, in particular in an automated process, via an interaction between the first functional coupling element and the second functional coupling element. A coupling region for replacing the system can be provided, for example, by a frame of the fluid system.

[0146] The functional connection is preferably designed to establish a mechanical, reversible connection between the fluid unit and the associated actuating unit, in particular substantially without play. Preferably, the connection between the fluid unit and the actuating unit is established via the functional connection such that during operation of the dosing system, the (assembled) dosing head is subjected to acceleration forces of up to 10 g.

[0147] The supply connection and / or the functional connection is in particular designed to be drivable by a preferably superordinate control device so that the first and second metering head components are coupled via corresponding coupling systems to form a functional metering head.

[0148] Advantageously, via an interface consisting of several individual sub-interfaces, all the medium-guiding components of the metering valve can be replaced together in one process in an automated process. Applications include, for example, the need to clean parts of the fluid unit for a constant metering result. In a metering system with a dosing material reserve carried at the fluid unit, the fluid unit can be replaced in order to replenish the metering medium. In both cases, the entire fluid unit can be removed from the metering head quickly and without manual intervention, and maintenance can be performed outside the working area of ​​the metering system, so that no delays are caused in operation. When the configuration of the metering system is replaced (for example with respect to nozzles, ejection elements, media), the equipment time of the metering system or the metering device can be shortened.

[0149] Advantageously, via such an interface, both dosing systems with a carried (self-contained) dosing material supply and dosing systems with a continuous supply of metered medium via a supply device can be coupled. For example, the supply connection element in the first interface part and the complementary counterpart, for example at the dosing device, can be specially adapted in terms of connection technology to the structural design of the fluid unit or its operating mode. However, it is preferred that the corresponding supply connection element is designed to provide both a medium pressure supply (via which a medium temporarily stored in a cartridge at the fluid unit is pressurized) and a (continuous) medium supply in a single supply connection, wherein the medium pressure supply or the medium supply is preferably separately controllable, for example taking into account the operating mode of the corresponding fluid unit being coupled. Advantageously, the second interface part, for example at the dosing device, can be compatible with dosing valves of different working modes.

[0150] Furthermore, it is advantageous that, via such an interface, it is possible to replace specifically those parts of the dosing system which require particularly frequent maintenance or replacement. This includes in particular the ejection element and its seal, as well as the nozzle insert for the nozzle. Such wearing parts can be removed particularly quickly from the dosing head via the replacement of the fluid unit and replaced by a functionally identical component, with the interruption of the metering operation being as short as possible. As mentioned above, the replacement of the fluid unit may be necessary due to standardized maintenance intervals or in the event of damage messages, i.e. when the metering process is actively monitored by the control device.

[0151] The advantageous effects described above are produced by the possibility of reversible coupling of the fluid unit with the actuating unit, regardless of the specific operating mode of the dosing system. Within the scope of the present invention, the actuating unit is generally understood to be a drive device of the dosing system. As a drive form, it can be set to, for example, a piezoelectric drive, a pneumatic drive, an electromagnetic drive or a combination thereof. The actuating unit generally has a housing that accommodates the drive and other components. The actuating unit can have several sensors, such as a temperature sensor, and has at least one controllable heating and / or cooling device. In addition, the actuating unit can also include the already mentioned local control unit, in particular a sub-control unit.

[0152] In the description of the invention, it is assumed that the dosing system has an injection valve for releasing the dosing substance, but it is not limited to this, because this functional principle brings special advantages. Here, the actuation unit preferably has at least one piezoelectric actuator and / or pneumatic actuator that can be driven in a controllable manner, and an ejection element that cooperates with the actuator to release the dosing substance. In order to achieve a particularly high metering accuracy during operation, the piezoelectric actuator or the pneumatic actuator is preferably configured to be adjustable. Detailed information will be provided later.

[0153] In order to couple the first dosing head assembly and the second dosing head assembly, the functional coupling element at the first interface portion can have a first plug-in coupling portion. Correspondingly, the functional coupling element at the second interface portion can have a second plug-in coupling portion complementary to the first plug-in coupling portion, in particular for forming a plug-in coupling portion. The plug-in coupling portion can be implemented in different ways, wherein some possible examples are described below in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention.

[0154] Preferably, the first plug-in coupling part and the second plug-in coupling part can be inserted into one another along a plug-in axis and coupled to one another in order to couple the fluid unit to the actuation unit, ie, to form a functional connection.

[0155] For coupling, at least one first snap-in element may be arranged at, preferably within, the first plug-in connection part, and / or at least one second snap-in element cooperating with the first snap-in element may be arranged at, preferably within, the second plug-in connection part.

[0156] In a (first) embodiment, the fluid unit can be coupled to the actuating unit via a coupling region for a replacement system in at least two rotational positions around the plug-in axis. Correspondingly, the replacement system, in particular the replacement manipulator, can preferably be configured to rotate the fluid unit around or between at least two rotational positions in an automated process. Alternatively or additionally, the rotational movement may also be performed via a second dosing head assembly or a dosing system.

[0157] The first snap element and the second snap element can be configured, for example, so that the first plug-in coupling part and the second plug-in coupling part each have one or several projections, which cooperate in a bayonet locking manner. In a first rotational position about the plug-in axis, the projections at the first plug-in coupling part and the second plug-in coupling part can first slide over each other like "teeth", wherein (when the two plug-in coupling parts are arranged relative to each other for the intended purpose of coupling) the two plug-in coupling parts are then relatively twisted around the plug-in axis so that the teeth engage each other at the rear.

[0158] However, it is also possible that one plug-in connection part has a corresponding protrusion and the other plug-in connection part has a recess matching the protrusion, for example at least one first channel on one plug-in connection part extending in the longitudinal direction of the plug-in shaft, and at least one matching protrusion (or tooth) on the other plug-in connection part, which extends in the channel when the two plug-in connection parts are inserted into each other, and extends in a channel section connected to the first channel and extending in the azimuthal direction around the plug-in shaft so that the protrusion can be anchored therein by relative twisting of the plug-in connection parts.

[0159] The basic principle of such a coupling mechanism for a metering valve using a bayonet lock has been disclosed in DE 10 2017 122 034 A1, the content of which is hereby incorporated into the present application.

[0160] In a (second) embodiment, alternatively or additionally, the first plug-in coupling part and / or the second plug-in coupling part, preferably at least the second plug-in coupling part, can have an automatically movable locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is configured to, in particular, actively move at least one snap-in element in one plug-in coupling part relative to an associated snap-in element in the respective other plug-in coupling part, in order to couple the fluid unit with or to the actuation unit, by a specific distance.

[0161] Preferably, the first plug-in connection part can have several protrusions as snap-in elements. The second plug-in connection part, in particular configured as part of the actuating unit, can, for example, have a rotatable rotating disk as the second snap-in element. The rotating disk preferably has recesses complementary to the protrusions. Preferably, the rotating disk is configured to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the plug-in axis.

[0162] For coupling, the first plug-in coupling part can be inserted into the second plug-in coupling part along the plug-in axis in an automated process via the coupling region for the replacement system, so that the projection and the recess engage in one another or are arranged matching one another. Once the first plug-in coupling part is positioned relative to the second plug-in coupling part according to the intended use, the rotating disk (as the snap-in element) can be moved or twisted relative to the projection (as the snap-in element) in the first plug-in coupling part via a controllable locking mechanism, so that the projection and the recess slide relative to one another or engage in one another behind one another for a snap-in connection.

[0163] In a (third) embodiment, the first latching element on or in the first plug connection part can be realized by several ball sockets and / or at least one groove which circumferentially extends radially around the base body of the plug connection part.

[0164] The second snap-in element at or in the second plug-in coupling part may have a number of balls corresponding to the number of ball sockets. The second snap-in element may preferably have a movable rotating disk having a number of intermittent protrusions and recesses corresponding to the number of balls. Preferably, the balls are supported in a movable manner.

[0165] In order to couple the plug-in connection parts, the recesses of the rotating disk and the balls can be arranged to match each other, i.e., each ball is arranged in a recess of the rotating disk, so that the first plug-in connection part can be inserted into the second plug-in connection part, in particular by means of an exchange system. Via the locking mechanism of the second plug-in connection part, the rotating disk (as a snap-in element) can be twisted relative to the first plug-in connection part, so that each projection of the rotating disk is assigned to a ball, wherein each ball is pressed into a ball socket in the first plug-in connection part. Preferably, the ball is elastically supported and can be positioned via the locking mechanism in such a way that the ball engages with a defined force in each recess or ball socket of the first snap-in element.

[0166] The locking mechanism can preferably be configured to move the first snap element and / or the second snap element at least sectionally along a circular trajectory, preferably rotate. Correspondingly, the locking mechanism can also be referred to as a motion mechanism. In particular, the first snap element and / or the second snap element can be twisted relative to each other at a specific angle via the motion mechanism.

[0167] In order to move the latching element, the locking mechanism may have at least one actuator controllable by the control device, in particular a controllable drive device, such as a magnetic drive device or an electromagnetic actuator motor.

[0168] Advantageously, by forming the plug-in connection according to the basic principle of bayonet locking, two metering head components can be coupled or uncoupled quickly and reliably during operation. Since only the two components need to be brought into active contact and, if appropriate, rotated for such a coupling, this type of coupling is particularly suitable for an automated coupling process according to the invention for reasons of time saving, with the advantageous effects already described.

[0169] Advantageously, in the (second and third) embodiments with at least one actively rotatable snap-in element, a rotational movement of the fluid unit can be omitted, wherein the structure of the replacement system, for example the replacement manipulator, can be designed to be simpler. As a further advantage, the fluid unit can be introduced into the actuating unit already in a certain position and then snap-connected in this position, for example, by twisting the fluid unit relative to the actuating unit about the plug-in axis during operation.

[0170] Preferably, in the described (first to third) embodiments, the plug-in axis is substantially parallel to the direction of discharge of the feed substance from the nozzle, in particular parallel to the direction of movement of the discharge element for releasing the feed substance.

[0171] Preferably, at least one of the plug-in coupling parts, preferably at least the second plug-in coupling part, can have a controllable eccentric mechanism for locking the two plug-in coupling parts. Preferably, the eccentric mechanism can have at least one movable clamping element, wherein, in order to lock the two plug-in coupling parts, in particular in the coupled state according to the intended use, a controllable drive device can press the clamping element with a defined force into the associated recess of the second plug-in coupling part. The drive device can be, for example, an electromagnetic actuator or a pneumatic actuator.

[0172] In a (fourth) embodiment of the plug-in connection, the fluid unit, in particular the first plug-in connection part, can have at least one recess in the base of the plug-in connection part as a first snap-in element, in particular an annular groove, which is preferably orthogonal to the plug-in axis. The plug-in axis is here substantially parallel to the ejection direction of the dosing substance. The second plug-in connection part at or in the actuating unit can have a preferably linearly movable bearing element as a second snap-in element, which has a recess for the first plug-in connection part. The bearing element is preferably configured so that, for coupling, the bearing element at least partially surrounds the first plug-in connection part, in particular surrounds it substantially in a form-fitting manner. Preferably, for coupling, the bearing element is embedded in the annular groove in the first plug-in connection part.

[0173] Preferably, the bearing element (as a snap element) can cooperate with a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is preferably configured to actively move the first snap element and / or the second snap element, preferably the second snap element, substantially linearly in at least one direction. Preferably, the second snap element, such as the bearing element, is movable in two relative directions. For example, the bearing element may be implemented as a movable slide with a recess, which can be linearly moved to the first plug-in connection part in a direction mainly orthogonal to the ejection direction for coupling. In order to decouple the fluid unit, it may be possible to move the slide away from the first plug-in connection part in the opposite direction, thereby releasing the annular groove in the first plug-in connection part.

[0174] In a (fifth) embodiment of the plug-in connection, the plug-in axis can be substantially orthogonal to the ejection direction of the dosing substance from the nozzle, in particular to the direction of movement of the ejection element. Preferably, the first plug-in connection part at the fluid unit can have at least one, preferably two projections as snap-on elements, in particular two elongated retaining elements in the form of a "key" of a "slot-and-key system", which are arranged on opposite sides of the plug-in connection part.

[0175] The second plug-in connection part can have at least one, preferably two, grooves as snap-on elements, into which each key in the first plug-in connection part is embedded, in particular in a form-fitting manner, to form the plug-in connection. The plug-in connection part can be designed in the manner of a preferably double "groove-key system". Preferably, the first plug-in connection part can be inserted into the actuating unit, in particular the second plug-in connection part, via the coupling region at the first dosing head assembly or pushed from the side in a linear direction by means of a replacement system.

[0176] In order to lock the fluid unit during operation, a pin, for example a spring-loaded pin, can be provided in the plug-in connection part as a further snap-in element, which pin is preferably in active contact with the respective other plug-in connection part, preferably the first plug-in connection part, in a direction mainly orthogonal to the plug-in axis, i.e. mainly parallel to the ejection direction.

[0177] It is also possible that the second plug-in connection part has a locking mechanism which can move a fixing as a (further) snap-in element in a linear direction, for example a pin which is movable in two opposite directions. In order to lock the two plug-in connection parts, the pin can be moved linearly in the direction of the first plug-in connection part via a controllable drive of the locking mechanism, for example a magnetic drive, an electromagnetic actuator or a pneumatic actuator, and can possibly, for example, engage in a recess provided for this purpose.

[0178] In a (sixth) embodiment, the first plug-in connection part and the second plug-in connection part can be constructed in the manner of a pneumatic quick-change connection part. Preferably, the plug-in axis can be substantially parallel to the ejection direction or movement direction of the ejection element. Preferably, the first plug-in connection part has several recesses and / or notches in the base body as snap-in elements. The second plug-in connection part has a matching number of snap-in elements, in particular (locking) balls supported in a linearly movable manner, wherein in the coupled state, each snap-in element, in particular a ball, is embedded in the associated recess. Preferably, the ball can be elastically supported. In particular, the second plug-in connection part can include a (ball) locking mechanism, which applies pressure by at least one spring so as to press the snap-in element, in particular the ball, into the respective associated recess (by spring force), in particular into the terminal position.

[0179] The second plug-in connection part and / or the actuating unit can have at least one controllable pneumatic actuator as part of the locking mechanism, which is configured to apply pressure medium to the (ball) locking mechanism to decouple the first plug-in connection part, in particular to move the (ball) locking mechanism in a direction opposite to the spring force, thereby releasing the recess in the second plug-in connection part.

[0180] As soon as the first plug-in connection part is positioned in the actuation unit according to its intended use, preferably via the replacement system, the application of pressure can be ended, wherein the second snap-in element, preferably a locking ball, is pressed into the recess for coupling, in particular by the spring force of a spring acting on the associated (ball) locking mechanism.

[0181] Alternatively or additionally, the first plug-in connection part can have at least one, preferably two or more, in particular linearly movable snap-in pins as snap-in elements. Preferably, the respective snap-in pins are elastically supported, in particular by a spring acting on the respective snap-in element. Preferably, the snap-in pins are arranged and / or are movable substantially orthogonally to the ejection direction of the dosing substance. For coupling, the preferably elastically supported snap-in pins can be supported relative to the second plug-in connection part and / or can each be embedded in an associated recess in the second plug-in connection part.

[0182] Advantageously, in the previously described examples of the plug-in connection (fourth to sixth embodiments), the dosing head assembly can also be coupled or decoupled particularly simply and quickly in operation with the advantages already described. Due to the relatively simple coupling mechanism, the structural design requirements of the replacement system can be kept as low as possible. Further advantageously, for a plug-in connection with a linearly movable snap-in element, in particular a resiliently supported snap-in element, the structural design requirements of the plug-in connection part itself can also be kept relatively low, which makes the overall cost of the dosing head assembly even lower.

[0183] It is further advantageous that, regardless of the specific structural design, the arrangement of the locking mechanism in the second plug-in connection part allows a functional connection to be provided more cheaply as a whole, since, for example, the locking mechanism only needs to be constructed once for each actuating unit, rather than separately for each fluid unit, which is advantageous since fluid systems typically have to be replaced more frequently.

[0184] The fluid system can preferably be configured to, after the fluid system and the actuating unit are decoupled, the ejection element of the fluid unit, usually a plunger, pushes itself into the sealing seat of the nozzle and closes it ("normally closed"). For this reason, the ejection element can be, for example, elastically supported.

[0185] Alternatively or additionally, in particular in "normally open" fluid systems, after the fluid system is decoupled from the actuating unit, the ejection element can be pressed into the sealing seat of the nozzle, preferably actively, by replacing a (sealing) mechanism in the system, in particular one still in the library, to prevent leakage of the metered medium.

[0186] Alternatively or additionally, in particular in dosing valves with a "normally open" fluid system, the nozzle opening of the fluid unit can be closed during replacement and / or in the reservoir, preferably actively, by means of a sealing element, preferably from the outside. For example, the sealing material can be actively pressed against the nozzle opening by means of a replacement manipulator or by means of the reservoir. For this purpose, a corresponding control signal can be applied to the replacement system via the control device in an automated coupled method. Alternatively, the sealing can also be achieved via a spring force.

[0187] As described at the outset, a sealing connection for a medium line and / or a medium pressure line (for dosing a substance cartridge) can also be provided alternatively or additionally, so that the medium-conducting area of ​​the fluid system is sealed to the outside even in the decoupled state. The sealing connection is preferably configured as part of the supply connection element in the first interface part.

[0188] Furthermore, it may also be possible to meter the feed material out of the fluid system substantially completely and / or to actively return the feed material from the fluid system to an external medium reservoir, for example by means of negative pressure, before the fluid system is replaced. Measuring the fluid unit empty or returning the feed material to the reservoir can be integrated as a method step into the automated coupling method.

[0189] Advantageously, the fluid system can thereby be replaced particularly cleanly, with the least possible amount of feed material being wasted without being used.

[0190] In some cases, it is desirable not to replace the entire fluid unit, but only certain parts thereof. To achieve this, a first interface part with a first functional coupling element can be assigned to a dosing head or a nozzle of a dosing system, in particular arranged at the nozzle. Preferably, a second functional coupling element with a second interface part complementary to the first interface part can be assigned to a fluid substrate of the same dosing head or the same dosing system and / or the same nozzle, in particular arranged at their fluid substrates, respectively.

[0191] Preferably, the first interface part and / or the second interface part, in particular both parts, are configured to couple at least one nozzle element or nozzle part as a first metering head component to the actuating unit or to the actuating unit in a detachable manner at least indirectly via the interaction between the first functional coupling element and the second functional coupling element, and / or to the fluid substrate or to the fluid substrate, in particular for forming a fluid unit, and / or to the nozzle or to the nozzle.

[0192] This means that in this case only a specific sub-element of the nozzle or the entire nozzle is replaceable. Correspondingly, at least one part of the fluid unit, in particular the fluid matrix, is not replaced here. In particular, during coupling and / or decoupling of at least one nozzle part, at least one part of the same fluid unit, i.e. the fluid matrix, can be coupled to an associated actuating unit, which is preferably arranged at the dosing device. Correspondingly, in these embodiments, i.e. when replacing at least one nozzle element as the first dosing head assembly, the supply connection portion can preferably be omitted, because the remaining medium guiding part of the fluid unit, i.e. the fluid matrix, is arranged at the actuating unit or remains there during the replacement of the assembly. Correspondingly, the first interface part and the second interface part can each be constructed as an integral part here.

[0193] In a (seventh) embodiment, the (entire) nozzle as the first metering head assembly can be replaced. "Nozzle" is understood to be a part of a fluid system that is configured to discharge a dosing substance from a metering valve. The nozzle has at least one nozzle opening as a discharge opening for dosing substances, and a hollow nozzle chamber for dosing substances connected to the inside of the nozzle opening. For an injection valve, a movable ejection element (not part of the nozzle) can be arranged in the nozzle chamber, and the ejection element is pushed forward at high speed in the direction of the nozzle opening to release the dosing substance. In order to eject from the nozzle, the ejection element or plunger contacts the dosing substance to be released, and the dosing substance is "pressed out" or "pushed out" from the nozzle of the metering system due to the movement of the ejection element and / or the nozzle. Through the ejection element, the dosing substance is ejected from the nozzle almost "actively". In particular, in an injection valve, the nozzle usually has a sealing seat in the region of the nozzle opening, and the ejection element for releasing the dosing substance is pressed into the sealing seat with a specific force, wherein the nozzle opening is temporarily closed. The nozzle may also comprise further elements, such as elements for cooling and / or heating the dosing substance in the nozzle chamber.

[0194] Preferably, the functional coupling element of the first interface part can have a first plug-in coupling part, and the functional coupling element of the second interface part can have a complementary second plug-in coupling part. Preferably, the first plug-in coupling part and the second plug-in coupling part can be mutually inserted and coupled to each other along the plug-in axis for coupling at least one nozzle element with the fluid substrate or to the fluid substrate or to the fluid unit. For coupling, at least one first snap-in element can be arranged at the first plug-in coupling part, preferably in the first plug-in coupling part, and / or at least one second snap-in element cooperating with the first snap-in element can be arranged at the second plug-in coupling part, preferably in the second plug-in coupling part.

[0195] For example, the (entire) nozzle itself can constitute the first plug-in connection part, wherein the second plug-in connection part is configured as part of the (rest of the) fluid system, in particular as part of the fluid matrix. Preferably, in order to couple the nozzle to the fluid unit, the first plug-in connection part and the second plug-in connection part can cooperate in the manner of a bayonet lock.

[0196] The plug-in connection is formed to couple the (entire) nozzle to a fluid unit, in particular to a fluid matrix, to form a dosing head, which can be carried out according to the same mechanism previously described for the fluid unit as a first dosing head component. The adjustment is only carried out in such a case that the first plug-in connection part is preferably configured as a part of the nozzle, wherein the second plug-in connection part and any locking mechanism are preferably configured as a part of the remaining fluid unit, in particular the fluid matrix. In addition, the mechanism for the plug-in connection described in the first to sixth embodiments can also be used to reversibly couple the nozzle (as a first dosing head component) to a fluid unit, in particular to a fluid matrix (as a second dosing head component). Since at least some parts of the fluid unit, i.e. the fluid matrix, are preferably coupled to the actuating unit during the replacement of at least one nozzle part, the nozzle element can also be coupled to the actuating unit (at least indirectly) via the interface.

[0197] For example, the nozzle can be coupled as a first plug-in coupling part in at least two rotational positions about the plug-in axis via a coupling region for the exchange system with the second plug-in coupling part. Preferably, the exchange system can be designed to allow the nozzle to be rotated about the plug-in axis into at least two rotational positions, for example via suitable access elements. The exchange system can have, for example, differently configured access elements in order to interact either exclusively with the nozzle or exclusively with the fluid unit for coupling.

[0198] However, it is preferred that the changing system, in particular the changing manipulator, has one or several "universal" access elements. Preferably, the changing system is adjustable to the differently designed coupling regions of different dosing head assemblies. In particular, the adjustment can be made via the control drive of the control device during the automated changing process. For example, the changing system can have one or several pneumatic grippers.

[0199] Alternatively or additionally, the first interface part and / or the second interface part may have an internal locking mechanism that can be automatically (actively) moved, such as a controllable actuator. The locking mechanism may preferably be configured to couple or decouple a nozzle that is arranged relative to the fluid unit according to the intended use. The locking mechanism may be implemented in one of the ways described above, or may generate a rotation or spiral movement of the nozzle to change the nozzle.

[0200] It is also possible that the nozzle is configured to be pluggable on a fluid unit, in particular a fluid substrate, according to the intended use, and then mounted on the fluid unit or the fluid substrate via a nozzle fixing nut for coupling, in particular via a screw connection. In this case, the first functional coupling element and / or the second functional coupling element can be configured as a multi-piece.

[0201] It is also possible that the first dosing head assembly is realized in the form of a nozzle jacket (as nozzle element), which has an internal thread as a first interface part, in particular as a first functional coupling element. In this embodiment, only a part of the nozzle is replaced, wherein the fluid matrix, in particular the remaining nozzle part, such as the nozzle matrix, constitutes the second dosing head assembly. Preferably, the nozzle matrix arranged at the fluid matrix can have a complementary external thread as a second functional coupling element, so that the nozzle jacket can be installed according to the intended use. In this case, the corresponding functional coupling element can correspond to the corresponding interface part.

[0202] For example, the replacement system may be designed and access the coupling region in such a way that the replacement system, preferably the replacement manipulator, performs a spiral or rotational movement of the nozzle jacket and / or the nozzle retaining nut relative to the (rest) fluid unit or fluid matrix and / or the actuating unit for replacement ("external changer"). For example, the nozzle jacket can have a specific, for example hexagonal outer shape as a coupling region for the replacement system, wherein the replacement manipulator (as access element) has a corresponding recess for a form-fitting connection, and wherein the replacement manipulator performs a rotational movement of the nozzle jacket for coupling and / or decoupling.

[0203] Advantageously, in such a dosing head, nozzle parts or the entire nozzle can be replaced quickly and automatically, which is desirable in operation, since the nozzles usually need to be cleaned more frequently than other components of the fluid unit. This is, for example, because the nozzles are more susceptible to clogging due to their geometry than other parts of the fluid system, which can lead to undesirable changes in the metering accuracy. It may also be necessary to replace the nozzles when different metering patterns are required, for example with regard to the nozzle geometry or diameter. By means of automated replacement, the set-up time of the dosing device can be significantly shortened.

[0204] Advantageously, the use of automated nozzle change can also be beneficial when finding parameters for a metering process, for example when testing several different nozzles in order to obtain the best metering result. Since manual change takes a lot of time, time can be saved via automated nozzle change. Further advantageously, the automated nozzle change can be integrated into an automated measurement sequence for finding parameters, when, for example, the corresponding metering diagram is evaluated by a camera system.

[0205] In injection valves, the use of automated nozzle replacement can also be beneficial when dealing with abrasive media that produce high wear in the impact area of ​​the ejection element. For example, the nozzle, in particular the sealing seat, can be made of a relatively soft material, which is advantageous in terms of manufacturing costs, while the ejection element is made of a harder material, so that most of the wear occurs in the nozzle area and the ejection element is protected. The nozzle or the nozzle jacket can be replaced in a short time via the corresponding interface. In the injection valve, through the synergy of the two interface parts and the interaction with the replacement system, it is also ensured during the automated replacement process that the new nozzle is positioned concentrically relative to the ejection element after coupling.

[0206] In an (eighth) embodiment, the nozzle element to be replaced, i.e. the first dosing head assembly, can include a nozzle baffle, in particular, the first dosing head assembly can be configured as a nozzle baffle. Preferably, the nozzle baffle comprises a first interface portion with a first functional coupling element, wherein a second interface portion with a complementary second functional coupling element is arranged at the same nozzle, in particular at the nozzle matrix. In this embodiment, partial compartments of the nozzle can thus be replaced, wherein, for coupling and / or decoupling or during coupling / decoupling, another part of the nozzle is arranged at the fluid unit, in particular at the fluid matrix. The fluid matrix can preferably be coupled to the actuating unit and / or arranged at the dosing device when replaced.

[0207] A nozzle baffle is understood in particular to be a part of the nozzle that surrounds the nozzle opening. Preferably, the nozzle baffle can form the nozzle opening. Preferably, the nozzle baffle comprises at least one nozzle baffle opening for discharging the dosing substance from the nozzle of the dosing head (in the coupled state) and / or comprises a sealing seat of the nozzle. Preferably, the nozzle baffle can be designed as a nozzle insert.

[0208] Preferably, the nozzle baffle itself can form the first interface part. Depending on the embodiment, the bearing component for holding the nozzle baffle can also form at least one part of the first interface part. The second interface part at the nozzle, in particular at the nozzle base body, can preferably be designed as a receiving area or introduction area for the nozzle baffle. For example, the second interface part can be designed by a slit, so that the nozzle baffle can be at least partially introduced into the nozzle or the nozzle base body via the inlet slit.

[0209] In order to couple the nozzle baffle as a first metering head component to another part of the nozzle, in particular the nozzle base as a second metering head component, via an interface to form a properly functioning nozzle, the first interface part, in particular the first functional connecting element and / or the second interface part, in particular the second functional connecting element, can each have a sliding sealing part as a component of the interface.

[0210] Preferably, the nozzle baffle can be introduced into the nozzle in an automated process by means of a controllable baffle replacement system which is designed as a subassembly of the replacement system. Preferably, the nozzle baffle can be introduced into the nozzle (nozzle base body) by means of the baffle replacement system, in particular for forming the nozzle, in a direction of introduction which is transverse to the ejection direction of the feed substance from the nozzle, i.e. substantially orthogonal. In particular, the introduction direction can be substantially orthogonal to the ejection movement direction of the ejection element in the nozzle.

[0211] The flap replacement system can preferably be connected in a detachable manner to a fluid unit assigned to the nozzle, in particular a fluid base body, and / or to an actuation unit and / or to a metering device.

[0212] Preferably, the flapper replacement system has a controllable, automatically movable locking mechanism, which is designed to introduce at least one nozzle flapper into the nozzle, preferably by a linear movement and / or along a circumferential path. "Introducing into the nozzle" is generally understood to mean that the nozzle flapper is positioned relative to the nozzle, in particular the nozzle base body, for the purpose of coupling so that a properly functioning nozzle is formed. For example, it is also possible to "introduce" the nozzle flapper into the nozzle in such a way that the nozzle flapper forms a kind of attachment to the nozzle base body or fits tightly outside the base body in order to thereby close the nozzle chamber.

[0213] In order to move the nozzle flap, the locking mechanism has at least one controllable actuator, for example a pneumatic actuator, a magnetic drive or an electromagnetic actuator motor.

[0214] Preferably, in one embodiment, the nozzle baffle can be held in a separate bearing component for coupling and / or during operation of the dosing head. Preferably, the nozzle baffle, in particular the nozzle insert, engages in an associated recess in the bearing component in a form-fitting manner. Preferably, the outer shape of the nozzle baffle can form a coupling region, which is configured to interact with a baffle replacement system, in particular via the bearing component as an intermediary.

[0215] The bearing component can preferably be configured as part of a baffle replacement system and / or as part of the first interface part. In order to couple and / or decouple the nozzle baffle, the bearing component and the actuator can preferably engage with each other in a form-fitting manner to achieve particularly precise positioning of the nozzle baffle.

[0216] Preferably, the nozzle flap can be positioned in the nozzle base body via the locking mechanism for coupling in such a way that the nozzle flap opening is arranged concentrically relative to the tip of the spray element during operation. Depending on the design, the locking mechanism itself can form a flap replacement system.

[0217] The flapper replacement system can further have a nozzle flapper magazine, in particular for having at least one nozzle flapper, preferably for having in particular two or more individual nozzle flappers. The flapper replacement system with the locking mechanism and the nozzle flapper magazine can preferably be arranged at the fluid unit or fluid base and preferably be constructed as a unit. Correspondingly, the terms "internal flapper replacement system" or "internal magazine" can also be used.

[0218] Preferably, at least two nozzle baffles of the same nozzle baffle bank can have different designs, for example in terms of nozzle geometry and / or material. Preferably, the baffle replacement system can be controlled and driven and is configured to introduce a specific nozzle baffle, preferably corresponding to the respective metering requirement, into the nozzle or nozzle base body.

[0219] In one embodiment, the nozzle baffle bank can be constructed by a preferably one-piece nozzle baffle arrangement, which is also referred to as a "nozzle baffle assembly". Preferably, such a nozzle baffle assembly can have two or more individual nozzle baffle openings, wherein the respective nozzle baffle openings can be designed differently. For example, the nozzle baffle assembly can be an elongated, for example flat or flat metal sheet with several linearly arranged nozzle baffle openings, or a disk (in the manner of a perforated disk) with several annularly arranged nozzle baffle openings. Correspondingly, a single nozzle baffle can be realized here by the respective nozzle baffle openings of the nozzle baffle assembly.

[0220] However, it is preferred that the nozzle baffle, for example the nozzle insert, is held at and / or in the nozzle base body by a bearing component for coupling and / or in the coupled state. In this embodiment, the nozzle insert, which is formed separately from the bearing component (as a first component), can be introduced into the associated nozzle baffle receptacle or retaining portion in the bearing component by a baffle replacement system and / or by replacing the manipulator. In this case, the bearing component can be introduced into the nozzle base body by a locking mechanism while forming an interface for coupling the nozzle baffle. In particular, for coupling, the nozzle baffle can be supported from the outside at the nozzle base body via the bearing component. Preferably, the nozzle baffle can be moved toward or away from the nozzle base body in a linear direction for this purpose.

[0221] For decoupling, the "old" nozzle baffle can be pushed out of the nozzle base body again, preferably laterally, via the bearing component. Preferably, the nozzle baffle can be placed in a defined storage area in an automated process after decoupling. Preferably, the nozzle baffle can be received in the decoupled state, in particular from the bearing component, by a replacement manipulator and transferred to the storage area. In principle, it is also possible to transfer to the storage area via a baffle changing system. The storage area can, for example, include a cleaning tank, thereby advantageously simplifying subsequent cleaning of the nozzle baffle.

[0222] Particularly preferably, a replacement manipulator and / or a baffle replacement system can be used to equip a free, in particular just recently free, nozzle baffle receptacle in a bearing component with a "new" nozzle baffle, wherein the bearing component and thus in particular the nozzle baffle can be reintroduced into the nozzle base body for coupling via the baffle replacement system.

[0223] Particularly preferably, the nozzle baffle magazine can have a bearing part to which several integral, individually constructed nozzle baffles or nozzle inserts can be mounted, in particular the bearing part is equipped with these parts. Preferably, during operation of the dosing head, one nozzle baffle in each case can be arranged in a nozzle baffle receptacle in the bearing part (if no nozzle baffle is being replaced). Preferably, the nozzle baffles in the bearing part (as part of the nozzle baffle magazine) can have different designs. For example, the bearing part can be an elongated, flat metal sheet or disk with several nozzle baffle holders for the nozzle baffles.

[0224] Preferably, the flapper replacement system is configured to introduce a specific nozzle flapper from an internal library via a locking mechanism and an interface into the nozzle base body or to arrange it at the nozzle base body in order to form the nozzle. For example, a specific nozzle flapper can be arranged at the nozzle base body preferably from the outside by a linear movement, such as a lateral (sliding) movement and / or a rotational movement. In a nozzle flapper library with a bearing component, it is also possible that a first nozzle flapper is coupled to the nozzle base body (via the bearing component) according to the intended use, wherein a second nozzle flapper is (simultaneously) removed from the bearing component and / or replaced by another nozzle flapper in an automated process, for example by a replacement manipulator.

[0225] Preferably, regardless of the specific implementation scheme, the locking mechanism is configured to be controllably driven by a control device so that a specific nozzle baffle from a nozzle baffle library, in particular a nozzle baffle with a specific nozzle baffle opening, can be introduced into the nozzle, and in particular can be coupled to the nozzle, by linear movement and / or along a circular trajectory.

[0226] The advantageous effects of a dosing head for the automated replacement of the nozzle baffle largely coincide with the aforementioned advantages which also result when replacing the entire nozzle. An additional advantage results when the nozzle baffle and / or the nozzle baffle combination is made exclusively of a material which is softer than the material of the ejection element. Accordingly, only a relatively small part of the nozzle needs to be replaced, wherein, for example, the base body of the nozzle can remain in operation for a longer period of time.

[0227] The particular advantages of a metering head designed for the automated replacement of nozzle baffles are found in metering processes in which, for example due to the metering configuration, the frequency of replacement of the nozzle baffle is particularly high. Since the baffle replacement system with the baffle magazine can preferably be carried directly on the fluid unit, the nozzle baffle can be replaced at any position of the metering head or the manipulator, thus saving process time. Another reason for the particular time saving is that for the replacement, the nozzle baffle, for example the nozzle baffle combination or the bearing component, only needs to be moved a few millimeters. Further advantageously, in a purely static (fixed position) metering device, it may be possible to dispense with an additional replacement system, for example a mobile replacement manipulator, for bridging the distance between the metering head and the external magazine, since the replacement process can be carried out entirely via the carried baffle replacement system.

[0228] In order to prevent the metered medium from leaking from the fluid matrix as much as possible during the replacement method, during the process of replacing the nozzle baffle or (the entire) nozzle, as mentioned above, at least one functional connection element can have a sliding seal. Alternatively or additionally, a step that can additionally prevent the metered medium from leaking unexpectedly can be implemented in the replacement method. For example, before the first metering head assembly is decoupled, the metered medium, at least the metered medium in the metering head, can be switched to a pressureless state. Alternatively or additionally, the metered medium can be preferably actively removed from at least the nozzle, in particular the nozzle insert, for example by applying a vacuum. In addition, the medium delivery can be interrupted, wherein the residual material (located in the nozzle) is discharged from the nozzle by gravity, and / or, wherein at least the nozzle is rinsed, preferably before decoupling. It should be noted that, regardless of the specific metering head assembly to be replaced, the steps described can be integrated in the replacement method, for example even if the fluid system is the first assembly.

[0229] In order to achieve a certain metering accuracy during operation after replacing at least one nozzle part and / or the entire fluid system, in particular in the case of injection valves, it may be necessary to (re)calibrate the actuating unit or the metering head. Correspondingly, in the injection valve, the (working) actuator can be designed so that it can be adjusted in an automated process, so that in a defined operating state of the actuator, in particular in a deflected operating state, a certain pressing force for pressing the ejection element into the nozzle is generated via the actuator during operation of the metering head.

[0230] In an injection valve having a piezoelectric actuator as a (working) actuator, the actuation unit can preferably have a controllable adjustment actuator for setting the pressing force with which the ejection element is pressed into the nozzle. Preferably, the adjustment actuator is configured to set a specific position of the (working) actuator with respect to the actuator housing and / or the ejection element. Preferably, the adjustment actuator can be configured to be controllably drivable so that the arrangement including the (working) actuator, the ejection element and the nozzle is set in a desired manner, so that a specific pressing force is generated which presses the tip of the ejection element into the sealing seat of the nozzle.

[0231] In injection valves having other types of actuators, such as pneumatic actuators or electromagnetic drives, the corresponding actuators can preferably be constructed to be controllably drivable, in particular controllably drivable by a superior control device, so that under a defined operating state of the actuator, a specific pressing force is generated via the actuator to press the ejection element into the nozzle.

[0232] Advantageously, manufacturing tolerances in the fluid unit can be compensated via an automatically adjustable actuator, so that a high metering accuracy can be achieved after a fluid system change. Since the adjustment process can be carried out fully automatically via the control device, no manual adjustment is required, so that the time between coupling the "new" component and resuming metering operation is as short as possible. An adjustable actuator for a metering valve and a corresponding adjustment method are disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2019 121 679 A1, the content of which is hereby incorporated into the present application in this regard. The adjustment of at least one actuator can preferably be a method step in the automated coupling method.

[0233] In a (ninth) embodiment of the invention, a first interface part with at least one first functional coupling element can be assigned to a dosing material reserve that can be carried during operation, in particular can be arranged at the dosing material reserve. A second interface part with a complementary second functional coupling element can be assigned to a fluid unit, in particular can be arranged at the fluid unit. Preferably, the first interface part and / or the second interface part, in particular both, are configured to couple at least the dosing material reserve to the fluid unit in a detachable manner or to the fluid unit via the interaction between the first functional coupling element and the second functional coupling element.

[0234] The dosing material reserve can preferably be a barrel with dosing material or metering medium, which is carried by the dosing system in the operation of the dosing system. Preferably, the interface can be constructed by rotation or spiral connection. The first interface part may be realized, for example, by an internal thread in the barrel area, and the second interface part complementary to the first interface part may be realized by the matching external thread at the fluid system. In order to replace the barrel in the automation process, the barrel preferably has a coupling area, which is configured to interact functionally with the replacement system of the dosing device. The replacement of the barrel can preferably be carried out by a mobile replacement manipulator, which is particularly configured to make the barrel rotate in different directions. Preferably, the access element of the replacement manipulator for replacing the barrel is adjustable to adapt to the coupling area of ​​the barrel. Alternatively, the barrel may be inserted in the fluid system to couple.

[0235] Preferably, in this embodiment, the first interface part and the second interface part are preferably each constructed in multiple parts and (in addition) preferably include at least one further interface element, each with a supply coupling element, to form a supply coupling. The supply coupling can be constructed as described at the beginning. Preferably, at least one supply line of the cartridge can be functionally coupled to an associated line in the second interface part via the supply coupling, wherein pressure (supply pressure) can be applied to the metering medium in the cartridge via the supply coupling.

[0236] Preferably, the (same) access element of the replacement manipulator can be designed so that it is designed to replace the fluid unit and / or the fluid matrix and / or at least one nozzle part and / or the portable dosing material reserve, preferably in the case of a corresponding control actuation of the control device. Preferably, the gripper of the access element can have (coupling) areas of different designs in order to functionally interact with the corresponding metering head assembly. In addition, the gripper can have one or more grippers, which are adjusted to adapt to coupling areas of different designs and / or wherein the design of the gripper is adjustable during operation, in particular complementary to a specific coupling area, preferably by a control actuation of the control device.

[0237] It should be noted that within the scope of the present invention, the terms "first" and "second" dosing head assembly can be used interchangeably as appropriate. In particular, these terms are not limited to the specific combination described before of the two dosing head assemblies, but according to the special installation situation, these terms can have different meanings. For example, on the one hand, a complete fluid unit can be coupled as the first assembly with the actuating unit as the second assembly in the automation process. On the other hand, when appropriate, even without interrupting and resuming the metering operation, the entire nozzle can be replaced as the first dosing head assembly, wherein in this combination, the same fluid unit is the second dosing head assembly. In addition, the nozzle baffle can be replaced as the first assembly, wherein in this combination, the same nozzle or the same substrate is the second assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0238] The present invention will be described in more detail again by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this regard, in different drawings, the same components are marked with the same reference numerals. These drawings are generally not drawn to scale. The accompanying drawings show:

[0239] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a dosing device according to the present invention is shown;

[0240] Figures 2 to 5 Shows schematic diagrams of different dosing systems according to the present invention;

[0241] Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view through part of a dosing system according to the invention;

[0242] Figure 7 A portion of a first plug coupling portion is shown;

[0243] FIG8 shows a schematic diagram of a decoupling process according to the present invention;

[0244] 9 shows a sectional view of a portion of a dosing system according to the invention having a plug-in connection;

[0245] 10 shows a sectional view of a portion of the dosing system according to the invention, and an enlarged view of a portion of the plug-in connection;

[0246] 11 shows a sectional view and a perspective view of a portion of a dosing system according to the invention with a plug-in connection;

[0247] FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of a portion of a dosing system according to the invention having a plug-in connection;

[0248] Fig.13 shows a schematically represented section through a plug-in connection according to the invention;

[0249] FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a portion of a dosing system according to the present invention;

[0250] Fig.15 shows a schematically represented cross section through a portion of a fluid unit according to the invention;

[0251] FIG. 16 shows a section through a portion of a dosing system according to the invention and a schematic illustration of a nozzle baffle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0252] according to Figure 1 Now, a preferred embodiment of the quantitative dosing device 1 of the present invention is described. The quantitative dosing device 1 comprises a quantitative dosing device 2 as a main component, a replacement system 6 and a maintenance device 9, and the quantitative dosing device has several quantitative dosing systems 3. Figure 1 Different from the purely schematic representation, the metering plant 1 can be a complete production facility and can have two or more metering devices 2. However, it is also possible in principle for the metering plant 1 to have only one metering device 2 which has only one metering system 3.

[0253] The quantitative batching device 2 is Figure 1 There are five individual dosing systems 3, which are arranged at the dosing device 2 in metering operation and are particularly connected to the dosing device in a detachable manner. The individual dosing systems 3 here each have a fluid unit 70 and an actuating unit 20 functionally coupled to the fluid unit. The two components 20, 70 form a dosing head 5 in the coupled state. The dosing head 5 here includes all components that actively, particularly mechanically participate in the release of the dosing substance, and correspondingly forms a dosing valve 5, wherein the terms dosing head 5 and dosing valve 5 are used synonymously.

[0254] The individual metering heads 5 are here coupled, by way of example, in each case in a switching or control manner to a higher-level, decentralized control device 7. Since the control device 7 also has a regulating function here, in which corresponding electrical signals can be transmitted in both directions between the control device 7 and the metering heads 5, the flow of data D or control data D is symbolically indicated by a double arrow.

[0255] The superior control device 7 is simultaneously assigned to several dosing heads 5 in operation and can control their metering operations individually. The corresponding dosing heads 5 and the associated control device 7 and the dosing material storage not shown in detail constitute a dosing system 3. Different from what is shown in this figure, each dosing valve 5 may also be additionally assigned with its own control unit, which can be arranged in the housing of the dosing valve 5, for example, and at least controls the corresponding metering operation. Here, the control unit of the corresponding dosing valve 5 or dosing system 3 may be implemented as a sub-control unit, which can communicate with each other and / or with the superior control device 7, or can at least partially constitute the superior control device.

[0256] The control device 7 is Figure 1 In the figure, a superordinate, external control device 7 is constructed. For the sake of clarity, the individual metering systems 3 do not have their own (internal or local) control unit, which is usually present in reality. The control device 7 is schematically represented here as having two sub-control units, wherein the control device 7 can also be constructed, for example, in such a way that several sub-control units are arranged at different locations in the metering device 1 and cooperate to form the (entire) control device 7.

[0257] exist Figure 1 , the lower right corner area of ​​the dosing device 2 schematically shows a decoupled or partial dosing system, wherein only the actuating unit 20 is arranged at the dosing device 2. At this dosing system or at the rest of it, it is possible that, for example, an automated replacement of a dosing head assembly according to the invention may be in progress. In this example, the fluid unit 70 as a first dosing head assembly A (not shown) is decoupled from the actuating unit 20 as a second dosing head assembly B.

[0258] exist Figure 1 In the figure, a replacement system 6 with a library 60 and a replacement device 61 is shown on the left, for example a movable replacement manipulator 61. The replacement system 6, in particular the library 60 and the replacement manipulator 61, is connected to the control device 7 in a signaling manner and can be driven by corresponding data D, or data D can also be sent to the control device 7.

[0259] The magazine 60 comprises, by way of example, two receiving locations in this figure for each dosing head assembly A, 70. Each receiving location is assigned a maintenance coupling element 62 in the magazine 60. The dosing head assembly A, 70 can be positioned in the magazine 60 such that the supply coupling element 15 of the respective dosing head assembly A, 70 cooperates with each maintenance coupling element 62, so that each maintenance coupling 8 is formed thereby.

[0260] During storage in the magazine 60, heating data can be read out, for example, from an EEPROM of the fluid unit 70 via the service connection 8, wherein a signaling connection to the control device 7 is realized via the service connection 8. Furthermore, a cleaning fluid can be supplied to a specific metering head assembly A, 70 in the magazine 60 via the service connection 8, which is schematically shown here via a fluid flow FS to a service device 9, which is arranged here by way of example at the magazine 60. For this purpose, a cleaning mechanism is realized in the service device 9, wherein the service device 9 is also connected to the control device 7 in a signaling manner and can exchange data D with the latter, for example in order to rinse a specific metering head assembly A, 70 in the magazine 60 according to a cleaning program.

[0261] exist Figures 2 to 5 FIG. 2 shows schematically parts of different metering systems 3 with metering heads 5 of different designs.

[0262] exist Figure 2 In the quantitative batching system 3 and Figure 1 It also consists of a dosing head 5 and an associated control device (not shown) as well as a dosing material reserve 130. The dosing head 5 has an actuating unit 20 installed at the superior dosing device 2 as a first central component. The actuating unit 20 is connected to the dosing device 2, in particular to a control device which is part of the dosing device 2 and is not shown in detail, in a signaling manner in the area of ​​the connection point 17 via a control cable 21. Via the connection point 17'' which is connected to the cooling medium conveying section 22' of the dosing system 3, a cooling medium, for example pre-cooling, can be conveyed to the actuating unit 20 in a controlled and / or regulated manner during operation, in particular by a supply device.

[0263] The second component of the dosing head 5 is the fluid system 70, which is Figure 2 The fluid system 70 is coupled to the actuator unit 20 according to the intended use to form a functioning dosing head 5. The fluid system 70 comprises the medium guide area of ​​the dosing head 5 and mainly has a nozzle 72 for releasing the dosing substance in the ejection direction SR. This will be described later according to Figure 6 Describe in more detail.

[0264] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment, the fluid system 70 is equipped with a dosing substance cartridge 130 which can be carried during operation as a dosing substance reserve 130. The dosing substance cartridge 130 is coupled to the fluid system 70 during metering operation on the one hand and is connected to the first interface part 13 via a supply line 82, here a medium pressure line 82, in the region of the connection point 17' on the other hand. The first interface part 13 is Figure 2 It is constructed in multiple parts and comprises two separate and spatially separated interface elements 15, 16, wherein Figure 2 The upper part of the supply coupling element 15 is shown, and in which Figure 2 A functional coupling element 16 is shown in the region of the fluid system 70 .

[0265] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment, the medium pressure line 82 is connected to the supply connection element 15 as the first interface element 15 of the first interface part 13. The supply connection element 15 is also connected to the heating control interface 84 in the area of ​​the connection point 17", which is in contact with the fluid system 70 via the heating connection cable 83. The heating control interface 84 includes a readable EEPROM 85.

[0266] The supply coupling element 15 is functionally coupled in the upper region of the metering system 3 in this figure to a complementary coupling element 18 , wherein the coupling element 18 is designed here as a first element of the second interface part 14 and is arranged on the metering device 2 .

[0267] The supply coupling element 15 of the first interface part 13 and the supply coupling element 18 of the second interface part 14 form a first part of the interface 12, via which the supply coupling 10 is realized. The supply coupling 10 is designed to connect the two supply lines 82, 83 to an external supply device (not shown) during operation of the dosing system 3, wherein the supply device can be realized, for example, as part of the dosing device 2.

[0268] For functional coupling, Figure 2 In the lower region of the fluid unit 70, the fluid unit 70 is coupled to the actuation unit 20 via a second portion of the same interface 12, wherein a functional connection 11 is constructed via the second sub-interface 12. In the case shown in this figure, the fluid system 70 is the first dosing head assembly A, and the actuation unit 20 is the second dosing head assembly B, which are coupled via the functional connection 11.

[0269] To form the functional connection 11 , a functional connection element 16 is arranged on the fluid system 70 as a second connection element 16 (of the first connection part 13 ), which cooperates functionally with a complementary functional connection element 19 of the second connection part 14 on the actuation unit 20 .

[0270] exist Figure 3 A slightly different embodiment of the dosing head 5 is shown in FIG. Figure 2 The essential difference is that the metering head 5 here has no accompanying dosing substance cartridge but rather an external medium supply.

[0271] Interface 12 Figure 31 and 12. The dosing system 3 is again constructed in two parts, wherein in the upper region of the dosing system 3 in this figure, the supply connection 10 is constructed via the first part of the interface 12. The first connection element 15 of the first connection part 13 is again constructed as a supply connection element 15 and is assigned to the fluid unit 70. The supply connection element 15 is connected to the heating control interface 84 and also to the supply line 82, here a medium line 82 for continuous medium transport, wherein the dosing substance line 82 is constructed here as an integral component of the supply connection element 15.

[0272] The supply connection element 15 comprises a sealing connection (not shown) which acts with respect to the dosing substance line 82, so that the medium-conducting area of ​​the fluid system 70 is also closed to the outside in the decoupled state of the fluid system 70. In the interface 12 shown in this figure, an electrical and fluid-conducting connection between the fluid system 70 and the metering device 2 or a supply device (not shown in detail) is established via two supply connection elements 15, 18.

[0273] The functional coupling between the fluid unit 70 (as the first dosing head assembly A) and the actuation unit 20 (as the second dosing head assembly B) via the second part of the same interface 12 is Figure 2 Correspondingly, the following will be described in detail by way of example, wherein the corresponding functional connection part 11 can be connected to the portable dosing material storage ( Figure 2 ) can also be combined with a continuous dosing material supply unit ( Figure 3 ) combined with implementation.

[0274] exist Figure 6 , a part of a dosing system 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown for this purpose. The dosing system 3 has a dosing head 5, which has a fluid unit 70 as a first dosing head component A and an actuating unit 20 as a second dosing head component B. The dosing system 3 shown in this figure is an injection valve with a movably supported ejection element 40. Since the basic structure of such an injection valve is known, the components related to the present invention will be mainly described below.

[0275] The actuator unit 20 comprises an actuator housing 22, which has a piezoelectric actuator 24 as a working actuator 24 that can be driven under control. The piezoelectric actuator 24, in this figure a piezoelectric stack, is arranged in an actuator chamber 23 in the housing 22 and (at the top of this figure) is adjacent to a ball socket 26. On the opposite side, the piezoelectric actuator 24 is supported on a lever 27 of a movement mechanism 32 via a pressure piece with a tapered bottom, and is clamped between the two components 26 and 27. The lever 27 is in turn supported on a lever bearing 28 at the bottom of the actuator chamber 23. Via this lever bearing 28, the lever 27 can be tilted about a tilting axis K, so that the lever arm of the lever 27 extends into the action chamber 25 through a notch 29, and there into the fitting section of the second plug-in connection part 92 to be described later.

[0276] At its end, the lever arm has a contact surface 30 which points in the direction of a discharge element 40 or a plunger 40 of a fluid unit 70 which can be coupled to the actuation unit 20 and rests on a contact surface 45 of a plunger head 44 in the coupled state.

[0277] In order to enable a virtually constant preload of the lever-piezo drive system of the actuation unit 20 , the end of the lever 27 which is in contact with the plunger 40 is pushed upwards in the direction of the piezo actuator 24 by the actuator spring 31 .

[0278] Fluid unit 70 Figure 6 8, for example during the automated replacement process according to the invention. The fluid system 70 here comprises a frame part 81, containing a heating device 79, which comprises a heating block 80 for regulating the temperature of the dosing substance in the conveying channel 86 and / or the nozzle 72 of the fluid system 70. The heating device 79 has a heating connection cable 83, which is connected at the end side to a heating control interface 84, which in turn contacts the supply connection element of the first interface part ( Figure 2 ).

[0279] The fluid system 70 has a liquid storage port 78 as part of the liquid storage interface 77, in particular for coupling to a dosing substance cartridge ( Figure 2 ). The liquid storage port 78 may have, for example, Figure 6 The screw mechanism shown here is only hinted at as the second interface part, which cooperates with the internal thread of the dosing substance cartridge as the first interface part in the automated replacement process to achieve coupling. In this case, it is possible to selectively replace only the cartridge, wherein this is in conjunction with Figure 6 Unlike the example shown, the substance dosing cartridge may be a first dosing head assembly and the fluid system 70 may be a second dosing head assembly.

[0280] Alternatively, the reservoir port 78 may be Figure 2The illustrated embodiment also provides for the replacement of the dosing substance cartridge via the supply connection 10 , ie together with the entire fluid system 70 , wherein the dosing substance cartridge can be replaced manually after the fluid system 70 has been decoupled.

[0281] exist Figure 6 In the embodiment, a supply channel 86 for adding substance extends from the reservoir port 77 through the fluid system 70 and opens into the nozzle chamber 75 within the nozzle 72 .

[0282] The nozzle 72 in this figure comprises a nozzle jacket 76, which surrounds a nozzle chamber 75 and comprises a nozzle opening 73. The nozzle opening 73 has a nozzle insert 74, which includes an internal conical sealing seat (not shown) that tapers toward the nozzle opening 73, into which the tip 41 of the ejection element 40, for example, the plunger tip 41, can be tightly pressed when the piezoelectric actuator 24 is extended. The nozzle chamber 75 is sealed upward (toward the direction of the plunger head 44) ​​relative to the actuating chamber 25 via the plunger seal 42 in the coupled state. A plunger bearing 43 is connected to the plunger seal 42, which has a plunger spring 46 sleeved thereon, which pushes the plunger head 44 axially upward from the plunger bearing component 43 away from the nozzle 72, thereby also pushing the plunger tip 41 away from the sealing seat. That is, in the absence of external pressure from above on the contact surface 45 of the plunger head 44, when the spring 46 is in the rest position, the plunger tip 41 maintains a certain distance from the sealing seat of the nozzle insert 74 in the coupled state ("normally open" valve).

[0283] Characteristically, as in the present invention and regardless of the specific embodiment of the metering head, in the injection valve, the feed substance is “actively” ejected from the nozzle 72 by the (ejection) movement of the ejection element 40 relative to the nozzle 72, in particular in the ejection movement direction SR of the ejection element 40. In particular, during the ejection process, the ejection tip 41 of the ejection element 40 comes into contact with the feed substance to be released, and due to the ejection element 40 and / or the nozzle 72 ( Figure 6 The (spraying) movement (not shown) "presses" or "pushes" the dosing substance out of the nozzle 72 of the dosing system. Thus, the spray dosing system differs from other distributor systems in which the movement of the closing element merely leads to the opening of the nozzle, wherein the pressurized dosing substance escapes from the nozzle on its own. This is the case, for example, with the fuel injection nozzles of internal combustion engines.

[0284] The first and second dosing head assemblies A and B are coupled to each other according to the intended use. Figure 6The connection is carried out via a plug-in connection 90, which has a first plug-in connection part 91 and a second plug-in connection part 92 that cooperates with the first plug-in connection part. The first plug-in connection part 91 is designed as part of the fluid unit 70, wherein the second plug-in connection part 92 is part of the actuating unit 20. In order to couple the fluid system 70 to the actuating unit 20, the first plug-in connection part 91 of the fluid system 70 can be introduced into the actuating unit 20 axially along the plug-in axis S via the receiving section 104 in the second plug-in connection part 92, for example by means of a mobile replacement manipulator (not shown). This will be explained below by Figure 7 Described in more detail, the figure shows the first plug connection part 91 at the fluid system 70 enlarged and in isolation.

[0285] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the example of the first plug-in connection part 91, several protrusions or teeth 100 extending radially outward at the end are provided as first snap-fit ​​elements. Similarly, the second plug-in connection part 92 or the butt plug-in connection part 92 also has teeth 101 (as second snap-fit ​​elements) matching therewith in its interior ( Figure 6 ), which interact with the teeth 100 of the first plug-in coupling part 91 in order to be able to couple the plug-in coupling parts 91, 92. The design and arrangement of the teeth 100, 101 are selected so that when the plug-in coupling parts 91, 92 are inserted into each other, in at least one first rotational position (with respect to the rotation about the plug-in axis S) of the first plug-in coupling part 91 and the mating plug-in coupling part 92, the teeth 100, 101 slide past each other. The two plug-in coupling parts 91, 92 can be rotated relative to each other about the plug-in axis S (second rotational position), so that the teeth 100 of the first plug-in coupling part 91 engage behind the teeth 101 extending inwardly in the mating plug-in coupling part 92, and the two components 70, 20 are coupled to each other. Such a rotation can be carried out, for example, by a replacement manipulator in an automated replacement process.

[0286] The plug connection 90 is Figure 61, wherein an optional eccentric mechanism 120 is provided, which has an eccentric shaft 122, wherein in the upper section (of this figure) an eccentric spring 121 is arranged on the shaft 122, by which the eccentric shaft 122 is pressed away from the piezoelectric actuator 24 in the coupled state. When the two plug-in coupling parts 91, 92 are in the desired coupling position, in which the teeth 100, 101 of the bayonet coupling mechanism are meshed relative to each other, the eccentric shaft 122 can be twisted about its own axis via the eccentric lever 123, so that the pressure ball 124 is pressed against the outer wall of the first plug-in coupling part 91 through the through hole with a relatively high pressure. In this way, a particularly secure fixing of the two metering head components A, B to each other can be achieved. The eccentric mechanism 120 is shown in this figure only by way of example, wherein, for example, an automatically controllable actuator can be provided instead of the lever 123 to move the eccentric mechanism 120. For example, it is possible to drive the eccentric wheel or the eccentric shaft 122 by an electrical or pneumatic actuator. The basic structure of such a bayonet plug connection and an injection valve is disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2017 122 034 A1, the content of which is hereby incorporated into the present application.

[0287] according to Figure 7 ,right Figure 6 91 in some details. The plug-in connection part 91 has a nozzle section 103 in its lower region (in this figure), which constitutes an important part of the nozzle 72. The plug-in connection part 91 has an external thread 102, onto which the nozzle jacket section 76 can be screwed like a nut.

[0288] In the region adjoining the nozzle section 103 above, the plug-in connection part 91 has a section into which the plug-in connection part 92 of the actuating unit 20 can be inserted, wherein the optional clamping section 98 is first connected to the nozzle section 103. The clamping section 98 has several ball sockets 95, into which the pressure balls 124 of the optional eccentric mechanism can be pressed, as in accordance with Figure 6 Just as described.

[0289] An annular groove 96 for a seal 97, such as a typical O-ring 97, is provided above the clamping section 98 (see Figure 6 The sealing portion 97 ensures that the first plug-in connection part 91 and the second plug-in connection part 92 are relatively sealed in an annular manner in the coupled state. A bayonet connection section 99 or a meshing section 99 is provided above this annular groove 96, and several protrusions 100 or teeth 100 extending radially outward are each arranged on the end face of the section.

[0290] FIG. 8 shows, by way of example and purely schematically, a decoupling of the fluid unit 70 (as first metering head component A) from the actuation unit 20 (as second metering head component B), as can possibly be performed in an automated method. Fig. 8A , a (still) complete dosing head 5 is shown in a side view, wherein a mobile change manipulator 61 as part of the change system is shown below the fluid system 70, which grips the coupling region 50 of the fluid system 70 in a form-fitting manner via an access element 57. The coupling region 50 is designed here primarily on the bottom side of the fluid system 70 facing away from the actuation unit 20.

[0291] exist Figure 8B Shown in Fig. 8A , but this time with a top view of the actuating unit B, 20. The fluid system A, 70 is decoupled by twisting it from a first rotational position to a second rotational position in the direction of rotation BR by a certain angle by replacing the manipulator 61. The actuating unit B, 20 is arranged at the dosing device (not shown) in order to enable a relative twisting of the components 20, 70.

[0292] Figure 8C Shown from the side Fig. 8A Components A and B of the dosing head in the decoupled state, where Fig.8D The top view shows the (twisted) decoupled fluid system A, 70. From the side view it can be seen that the change manipulator 61 has a controllable sealing mechanism 63 in order to tightly close the nozzle opening of the nozzle 72 from the outside during transport.

[0293] Two sectional views of a portion of a dosing system with a plug-in connection and an enlarged top view of a snap-in element are shown in Figure 9. For the sake of clarity, in Figure 9 and also in Figures 10 to 12, only those parts of the actuating unit 20 and the fluid system 70 that are involved in the formation of the plug-in connection are schematically shown respectively.

[0294] exist Fig.9A and Fig. 9B The same dosing system 3 is shown in different (coupled) states, wherein Fig.9A In the embodiment, the first plug-in connection part 91 of the fluid system 70 is inserted downwardly in the coupling direction KR into the mating plug-in connection part 92 of the actuating unit 20, for example by replacing an actuator (not shown). The coupling direction KR or the opposite decoupling direction is shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 and Fig.15 parallel to the plug-in axis (S) of the corresponding plug-in connection.

[0295] The first plug connection part 91 has here as a first latching element 93 an annular groove 93 which surrounds the base body of the plug connection part 91 , wherein a collar adjoins upwards in the direction of the plunger head 44 .

[0296] The second plug-in connection part 92 has a linearly movable bearing element 94 as a second snap element 94. The flat-plate-shaped bearing element 94 has a semicircular recess ( Fig. 9C ), which at least partially surrounds the base of the first plug-in connection part 91 for coupling. For coupling, the bearing element 94 can at least partially and form-fittingly grasp the annular groove 93 in the first plug-in connection part 91, so that the protruding flange lies flat on top of the bearing element 94 in the coupled state ( Fig. 9B ).

[0297] The bearing element 94 can be linearly moved in the direction BR by a controllable actuator 109, which is part of the locking mechanism 107. The actuator 109 comprises a pneumatic actuator having an actuator chamber 105 and a piston elastically supported in the actuator chamber, and a controllable pressure medium supply 106, so as to apply compressed air, for example, to the pneumatic actuator chamber 105 via a compressed air channel.

[0298] In order to decouple the two metering head assemblies A, B, compressed air can be applied to the pneumatic actuator chamber 105, so that the bearing element 94 is moved away from the first plug-in connection part 91. Fig.9A Press the movement direction BR to move right.

[0299] For coupling, the pneumatic actuator can be switched to a pressure-free state, wherein the bearing element 94 is moved by the spring force in the direction BR toward the annular groove 93 in the first plug-in connection part 91 and at least partially around the annular groove ( Fig. 9B ). The bearing element 94 and other parts of the locking mechanism 107 (not shown) form a sliding mechanism.

[0300] Another example of a plug connection is shown in FIG10 . The plug connection shown here is similar in function principle to the Figure 6 The plug-in connection part in the embodiment of the present invention is different from the method of implementing the two plug-in connection parts 91 and 92 by snap-fitting to form a quantitative dosing head. Fig. 10A A sectional view through part of the metering system 3 is shown in FIG. Fig. 10B , an enlarged view of a portion of a fluid system 70 is shown, which has portions of a first plug connection part 91 and a second plug connection part 92 .

[0301] In order to couple the two metering head assemblies A and B, the first plug-in connection part 91 can be inserted into the second plug-in connection part 92 in the actuating unit 20 from below in the coupling direction KR as shown in Figure 9 (in this figure) until the two plug-in connection parts 91, 92 and thus the two metering head assemblies A and B are also positioned relative to each other according to the intended use in order to perform the coupling.

[0302] In order to snap-connect the two plug-in connection parts 91, 92, the second plug-in connection part 92 has a rotating disk 94' as a second snap-in element 94', which includes a plurality of intermittent protrusions 101' and grooves 101*. Fig. 10B This is particularly evident in FIG. 9 , and shows a structural design principle that is different from the sliding mechanism in FIG. 9 .

[0303] The first plug-in connection part 91 has several teeth 100' as first snap-in elements 93', wherein when the two plug-in connection parts 91, 92 are inserted into each other, one tooth 100' is assigned to a recess 101* in the rotating disk 94' in order to guide the tooth 100' in the axial direction along the coupling direction KR ( Fig. 10A ) passes the rotary disk 94 ′ from below in the direction of the actuating unit 20 .

[0304] Once the two plug-in coupling parts 91, 92 are positioned for the intended purpose for coupling, the rotating disk 94' is twisted along a circumferential path by a certain angle in the direction of rotation BR by the locking mechanism 107' so that the teeth 100' in the first plug-in coupling part 91 and the protrusions 101' in the rotating disk 94' engage with each other at the rear. Fig. 10B As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the tooth 100 ′ lies “on top” of the projection 101 ′ of the rotary disk 94 ′ in the coupled state.

[0305] For the movement, the second plug-in connection part 92 comprises a controllable locking mechanism 107', which has an actuator 109', which comprises an electric motor 105' and a gear 105", wherein the gear 105" is in active contact with an external gear ring 106' (as part of the locking mechanism 107') at the rotating disk 94'. Fig. 10B Since the rotary disk 94' here both participates in the snap connection of the two plug-in connection parts 91, 92 and is at least indirectly in operative contact with the actuator 109', the same element 94' can on the one hand constitute a snap element 94' and on the other hand, preferably in another area, can be part of the locking mechanism 107'.

[0306] FIG. 11 shows another example of a plug-in connection, wherein in this figure, Figure 6 to Figure 1 0, the plug-in axis is substantially orthogonal to the ejection direction SR of the dosing substance from the nozzle 72 and extends in the coupling direction KR. Fig.11A 2 shows a perspective view of an actuating unit B, 20 and a fluid system A, 70 decoupled therefrom. The fluid system 70 has a first plug-in connection part 91, wherein a first snap-in element 93" has two elongated retaining elements 51 or two "keys" 51 which laterally protrude from the base of the plug-in connection part 91 and are arranged on opposite sides of the plug-in connection part 91. Fig. 11C The longitudinal section through the (here) coupled fluid system 70 can be seen particularly clearly.

[0307] The second plug-in connection part 92 has two elongated recesses 52 or grooves 52 in the actuation unit 20 as second snap-in elements 94″. Fig. 11B When the actuator unit 20 is inserted from the side in the coupling direction KR, a key 51 is embedded in each of the two elongated recesses or grooves in a shape-fitting manner to form a plug-in connection. Since two keys 51 are provided for coupling in this figure, the two keys 51 may also be referred to as two (first) snap-in elements 93", wherein the grooves 52 in the actuator unit 20 may correspondingly form two (second) snap-in elements 94".

[0308] In order to lock the two plug-in connection parts 91, 92 in the position according to the intended use, the second plug-in connection part 92 comprises a locking mechanism, which has a spring-loaded snap-in pin 108 as a snap-in element. Different from FIG. 11, the locking mechanism may alternatively or additionally have a controllable actuator, such as a pneumatic actuator, via which the locking bolt can be actively moved as a further snap-in element in a direction substantially orthogonal to the coupling direction KR, preferably using a linear movement.

[0309] FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of a portion of the metering system 3 with a decoupled state ( Fig. 12A ) and in the coupled state according to the intended use ( Fig. 12B ) of the two metering head components A, B having a plug-in connection with a different design again.

[0310] The first plug-in connection part 91 has several spherical ball sockets 95' as snap-in elements 93'" in the upper part of the plug-in connection part 91 in this figure. Alternatively, the ball sockets 95' may also be constructed in the form of a circumferential annular groove. The ball sockets 95' may also each constitute a snap-in element 93'" by themselves.

[0311] The second plug-in connection part 92 has several locking balls 54 (only two can be seen in this figure) as snap-in elements 94'", wherein each locking ball 54 is assigned a through hole 53 in the accommodating area of ​​the second plug-in connection part 92. The second plug-in connection part 92 includes a controllable actuator 109', which has a pneumatic actuator chamber 105 and a compressed air supply part 106. The pneumatic actuator chamber 105 is realized here by an annular channel, wherein when pressure is applied, the locking ring 106'" (in this figure) supported on the ball 54 via a spring 106" is pushed upward, so that the ball 54 is no longer pressed into the through hole 53. Fig. 12A In the state shown, the plug-in connection is "open" because there is enough space for the ball 54 to be pressed into the annular channel 106", wherein the first plug-in connection part 91 can be inserted along the plug-in axis (corresponding to the coupling direction KR) into a position according to the intended use of the actuating unit 20 so that each ball socket 95' is at the same height as a through hole 53.

[0312] In order to snap-fit ​​the two dosing head assemblies A, B, the pneumatic actuator is switched to a depressurized state, wherein the locking ring 106'', which is wedge-shaped in radial section, presses the locking ball 54 through the through hole 53 into the respectively associated ball socket 95' ( Fig. 12B ).

[0313] exist Fig.13 3 shows schematically a section through another example of a plug connection, in which a first snap-in element 93 ″″ is realized by several ball sockets 56 .

[0314] The second snap-in element 94"" includes a number of through holes corresponding to the number of ball sockets 56, which through holes can be, for example, similar to Figure 12, in which only the webs between the corresponding through holes or between the locking balls 54 are visible in the sectional view. The second snap-in element 94"" has a number of balls 54 corresponding to the number of through holes, and a rotating disk 55' having intermittent protrusions 55 and recesses 55". As shown in this figure, the number of balls 54 corresponds to the number of recesses 55" in the rotating disk 55'. The second plug-in connection part 92 has a controllable actuator 109 (as part of the locking mechanism) to actively move the second snap-in element 94"" and, in particular, the rotating disk 55', in sections along a circular trajectory according to the direction of rotation BR. In order to couple the two plug-in connection parts 91, 92, the recesses 55" and the through-holes in the rotating disk 55' can be arranged in a mutually matching manner as shown in the figure, so that each ball 54 is arranged in the corresponding recess 55", wherein the rotating disk 55' is twisted via the actuator 109 and the resulting rotational movement, so that each ball 54 is pressed radially inwardly into a ball socket 56 via a projection 55 of the rotating disk 55'. Although the balls 54 are movably mounted, they are held by the fixed through-holes in the second plug-in connection part 92 and basically do not perform a rotational movement.

[0315] 14 to 16 schematically show other dosing heads according to the invention or parts thereof, wherein in these figures, Figures 6 to 13 In contrast, a specific nozzle element is detachably coupled to the fluid base body or the same nozzle as the first dosing head component via an interface, ie at least some parts of the fluid system, in particular the fluid base body, are coupled to the actuation unit during the replacement process.

[0316] In FIG. 14 , the component A to be replaced is a nozzle housing 76 having an internal thread as a first interface portion, such as in Fig. 14B The second interface part complementary to the first interface part is arranged at the (same) nozzle, where the second dosing head assembly B is connected by an external thread ( Fig. 14B ). In this case, the dosing head is thus formed by coupling the first nozzle part A, 76 with the further nozzle part B, 71 via an interface to form the nozzle 72. Fig.14A In the embodiment, the nozzle housing 76 is still coupled to the fluid matrix, thereby constructing the fluid system 70, while Fig. 14B The decoupled nozzle housing A, 76 is shown, wherein the fluid base body 70 ′ with the nozzle base body B, 71 remains on the actuation unit 20 .

[0317] For replacement, the first metering head assembly A has a coupling region 50, which is realized in this figure by a special shape of the nozzle jacket 76, for example a basic shape with a hexagonal cross section. Fig. 14C It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the change system 6 has a nozzle receptacle 58 which is complementary to the outer shape of the coupling region 50 , ie to the nozzle sleeve 76 , and into which the coupling region 50 can be engaged in a form-fitting manner.

[0318] The replacement system 6 comprises a locking mechanism 107"' with a controllable actuator 109"', for example an electric motor, in order to actively twist the hexagonal nozzle receptacle 58 relative to the nozzle base body B, 71 in different directions for coupling or decoupling ( Fig.14A The nozzle receptacle 58 is connected to the actuator 109 ′″ via a swivel mechanism 64 (as part of a locking mechanism 107 ′″). The respective nozzle receptacle 58 remains in the replacement system 6 after replacement.

[0319] In the example of FIG. 14 , the locking mechanism 107 ″′ is configured as an integral part of the magazine 60 of the replacement system 6. Fig. 14C , a magazine 60 with five subunits 60' is shown by way of example, each of which has a receiving position for a nozzle jacket 76, wherein each subunit 60' has a separate locking mechanism. In this example, for replacing components, either the metering system 3 can be moved to the magazine 60 or the magazine can be moved to the metering system, wherein a combination is also conceivable in principle.

[0320] In contrast to what is shown in this figure, it is also possible to replace the nozzle jacket 76 via a mobile replacement manipulator, for example, by the replacement manipulator actively moving two or more subunits 60' to the metering system 3 in order to position a specific nozzle jacket A, 76 to a matching position relative to the nozzle base B, 71 for coupling.

[0321] exist Fig.15 , a further example of a metering system according to the invention is partially and schematically shown in FIG. 1 , in which the entire nozzle 72 is coupled as a first metering head component A to the (remaining) fluid unit, i.e., the fluid base body 70 ′, as a second metering head component B, in order to thereby form a metering head.

[0322] exist Fig.15 In the embodiment, the fluid system is constructed in two parts in the manner of a plug-in connection and comprises a first plug-in connection part 91 ′, which is constructed here by a nozzle base body 71 , and a fluid base body 70 ′, which is only partially shown. The plug-in connection can have a plurality of components, such as Figure 6The functional principle is similar to that described above. Correspondingly, the first plug-in coupling part 91 ′ has a first snap-in element 93 * at the upper end (in this figure) of the nozzle base body 71 , which has a plurality of teeth 100 ″.

[0323] The second plug-in connection part 92' is configured in this figure as the (remaining) fluid system part, namely the fluid base body 70', and has a second snap-in element 94*, which has a plurality of teeth 101". For coupling, the first plug-in connection part 91' can be inserted into the second plug-in connection part 92' in the direction KR, wherein the first snap-in element 93* and the second snap-in element 94* can then be connected as described in accordance with Figure 6 As described, the coupling region 50 for replacing the actuator (not shown) corresponds here to, for example, a side subregion comprising the bottom of the nozzle opening 73 and the nozzle base body 71. A sliding seal 114 is arranged between the first and second plug-in coupling parts 91 ′, 92 ′.

[0324] Previously based on Fig.15 The dosing system 3 described in part Figure 4 1 , with an associated dosing device 2. In the example shown, the interface 12 is formed via a first interface part 13' with a first functional coupling element 16' and a second interface part 14' with a second functional coupling element 19'. The first functional coupling element 16' is according to Fig.15 The first plug-in connection part 91' described above, wherein the second functional connection element 19' corresponds to the butt plug-in connection part 92' at the fluid matrix 70'. Figure 4 As shown, a fluid substrate 70' and a nozzle 72 coupled to the fluid substrate according to a predetermined purpose form a fluid system 70. Figure 4 In the example, with Figure 2 In contrast, the interface 12 is designed in one piece. In this case, no separate supply connection element is required at the first interface part or the second interface part to form the metering head 5.

[0325] FIG. 16 schematically shows another example of the dosing system according to the present invention, wherein the first dosing head assembly A is configured in the form of a nozzle baffle 111 , and the second dosing head assembly B is configured as a part of the nozzle base 71 .

[0326] exist Fig.16A and Fig. 16B, a cross section of a portion of a fluid system 70 or a fluid matrix 70' is shown, wherein the fluid system 70 or the fluid matrix 70' comprises a locking mechanism 107"" having a controllable actuator 109"" and a slider 115 (in this figure, a bearing component 115), which form an integrated linear drive. In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 107"" and the subassemblies 109"" and 115 form a replacement system, in this case a baffle replacement system 6'. The slider 115 (as part of the replacement system) has a nozzle baffle receptacle 116 for the nozzle baffle A, 111 (as a first metering head assembly A) and is, in this figure, fixedly connected to the actuator 109"" for example. The slider 115, and thus the nozzle baffle 111, can also be moved horizontally in the direction BR to couple or decouple the nozzle baffle 111.

[0327] exist Fig.16A and Fig. 16B In the embodiment shown, the nozzle baffle 111 is realized as a nozzle insert 74, which is held for coupling and / or decoupling and during operation of the metering system 3 in a separately designed bearing part 115, which here simultaneously has the function of a slide 115. The nozzle insert 74, i.e. the nozzle baffle 111, forms an outer lower closure of the nozzle 72 in the coupled state and delimits the nozzle chamber downwards.

[0328] The bearing component 115 has a nozzle baffle receiving portion 116, into which the specific nozzle baffle 111 is inserted in a form-fitting manner ( Fig. 16C ). In the case shown in this figure, the outer contour of the nozzle baffle 111 is the coupling region of the nozzle baffle 111 for automated replacement, via which the nozzle baffle 111 is in contact with the bearing component 115, wherein the replacement is performed via the baffle replacement system 6'.

[0329] exist Fig.16A In the example, the nozzle baffle A, 111 is coupled to the nozzle base body B, 71 according to the intended use to form a dosing head, wherein the nozzle baffle opening 112 is arranged centered relative to the plunger tip, which nozzle baffle opening forms the nozzle opening 73 of the dosing system 3. In this example, the nozzle baffle 111 is arranged at the nozzle 72 in such a way that the nozzle baffle 111 forms an additional part of the nozzle 72 and fits the nozzle 72, in particular the nozzle base body B, 71, from below in the figure on the outside in a liquid-tight manner.

[0330] For decoupling, the slide 115 can be moved to the right in this figure by the locking mechanism 107″″, so that the nozzle baffle 111, in particular the nozzle baffle opening 112, is pushed away from the nozzle 72 laterally. To this end, the plunger must first be removed from the nozzle baffle opening 112, and the dosing substance cylinder is preferably also switched to a pressure-free state, or the dosing substance supply is interrupted. The sliding seal 114 (here as a component of the second interface part) fits tightly against the bearing component 115 to make the replacement process possible and prevent leakage of the dosing substance during the replacement. In the example shown in this figure, the bearing component 115 is, on the one hand, part of the baffle replacement system 6′, and on the other hand, for example, (together) constitutes a part of the first interface part via interaction with the sliding seal 114.

[0331] exist Fig. 16B In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , the nozzle baffle A, 111 is decoupled and has been moved away from the nozzle 72 to the side or is located outside the metering valve 3, wherein the fluid base body 70 ′ remains at the actuating unit 20. In this decoupled state, the nozzle baffle A, 111 can be removed from the bearing part 115, in particular from the nozzle baffle receptacle 116 upward in this figure, for example, by a replacement manipulator (not shown here), and transferred, for example, to a cleaning tank. Subsequently, the "new" nozzle baffle A, 111 can be inserted into the now free nozzle baffle receptacle 116 from above in the figure, for example, by the same replacement manipulator. Subsequently, the slide 115 can be moved to the left in the figure again in the direction BR to the nozzle base body B, 71 in order to couple the nozzle baffle A, 111, or arranged at the nozzle base body from below in the figure. The slide 115 itself remains at the metering system 3 during the replacement process.

[0332] and Fig.16A and Fig. 16B Different from the example shown, the baffle replacement system 6' can have nozzle baffle magazines 113, 113', such as Figure 5 As schematically shown. The flapper replacement system 6' with the nozzle flapper magazine 113, 113' is arranged here by way of example on the actuation unit 20 and may also be arranged on the fluid system 70. Figure 5 It can be clearly seen in FIG. 7 that in this example, a first interface part 13 ″ with a first functional coupling element 16 ″ and a second interface part 14 ″ with a second functional coupling element 19 ″ are arranged at the same nozzle 72 to form the interface 12 .

[0333] exist Figure 516 , the first interface part or the first functional coupling element is realized by the nozzle baffle 111 itself, for example via the properties of the outer surface and possibly a sliding seal. As described above, the bearing component 115 can participate in the formation of the first interface part. The second interface part or the second functional coupling element is realized by the design of the receiving area in the nozzle base body 71 , for example, the nozzle baffle 111 can be precisely inserted into a slit in the base body 71 and / or is held there in operation for its intended use by the base body 71 and / or the locking mechanism 107″″, for example via the bearing component 115 and by the sliding seal 114.

[0334] Figure 5 The nozzle baffle library 113 in the embodiment can be constructed to store several individual nozzle baffles 111. However, it is also possible that the nozzle baffle library 113' is implemented in the form of a nozzle baffle combination 113' having several nozzle baffles 111'. Fig.16D The upper part shows a strip-shaped nozzle baffle assembly 113 ′ having several nozzle baffles 111 ′, wherein each nozzle baffle 111 ′ has a nozzle baffle opening 112 .

[0335] According to the design, a specific nozzle baffle 111' from the magazine 113' can be introduced into the nozzle 72 or the nozzle base body B, 71 via the locking mechanism 107"", for example with Fig.16A Similarly, a specific method is, for example, to linearly move the nozzle baffle strip 113' in the (introduction) direction ER.

[0336] exist Fig.16D The lower part of the nozzle baffle library 113 is shown, which is connected to the nozzle baffle library by a bearing component 115' and a plurality of nozzle baffle accommodating portions 116 ( Fig. 16B ) is realized, wherein a nozzle baffle 111 is arranged in each nozzle baffle receptacle 116. The nozzle baffle 111 can be removed from the bearing component 115', for example, in an automated process. Fig.16DAs shown in the figure (lower part), the nozzle baffle openings 112, 112' of the nozzle baffles 111 in the same magazine 113 or also in the same nozzle baffle combination 113' can have different designs. Correspondingly, the bearing part 115' can be positioned relative to the nozzle base body B, 71, for example, along a circumferential path or in the introduction direction ER via a controllable locking mechanism 107"" and a corresponding twisting of the bearing part 115', so that a specific nozzle baffle 111 or a specific nozzle baffle opening 112, 112' is inserted or arranged at the nozzle base body B, 71 for coupling, in particular, so that the tip of the plunger 40 and the specific nozzle baffle opening 112, 112' are concentric with each other during operation. As a result, the desired metering diagram can be set during operation in an automated replacement process, wherein, in this embodiment, the nozzle baffle 111 can be replaced even without an external replacement manipulator, because the magazine 113 or the bearing part 115' includes several or even different nozzle baffles 111.

[0337] Finally, it is pointed out again that the dosing head or dosing system described in detail above is only an embodiment, and the skilled person can modify it in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. That is, for example, the first snap element or the second snap element can also each include two or more separately constructed snap elements or sub-snap elements. In addition, the snap element, such as a rotating disk, can also constitute a part of the locking mechanism at least in sections, in particular when the rotating disk is in contact with the actuator. In addition, the use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude that the relevant feature can also exist multiple times.

[0338] List of reference numbers

[0339] 1. Dosing equipment

[0340] 2. Dosing device

[0341] 3. Dosing system

[0342] 5Quantitative dosing head / quantitative dosing valve

[0343] 6. Replacement System

[0344] 6' Baffle Replacement System

[0345] 7 Control Devices

[0346] 8 Maintenance connection

[0347] 9 Maintenance device

[0348] 10Supply connection part

[0349] 11 Functional connection part

[0350] 12 interfaces

[0351] 13, 13', 13" first interface part

[0352] 14, 14', 14" second interface part

[0353] 15 Supply connection element (first interface part)

[0354] 16, 16', 16" functional connection element (first interface part)

[0355] 17, 17', 17", 17' connection points

[0356] 18 Supply connection element (second interface part)

[0357] 19, 19', 19" functional connection element (second interface part)

[0358] 20 Actuation unit

[0359] 21 Control cable

[0360] 22 Actuator housing

[0361] 22'Cooling medium conveying unit

[0362] 23 Actuator cavity

[0363] 24 Actuators / Piezoelectric Actuators

[0364] 25 Action Chamber

[0365] 26 Ball and Socket

[0366] 27 Leverage

[0367] 28 Lever bearing

[0368] 29 Gap

[0369] 30 contact surface (lever)

[0370] 31 Actuator spring

[0371] 32 Sports Mechanism

[0372] 40 ejection element / plunger

[0373] 41 Plunger tip

[0374] 42 Plunger seal

[0375] 43 Plunger bearing

[0376] 44 Plunger head

[0377] 45 contact surface (plunger)

[0378] 46 Plunger spring

[0379] 50 Coupling area

[0380] 51 Spring

[0381] 52 slots

[0382] 53 Through Holes

[0383] 54 Locking Ball

[0384] 55 bulge

[0385] 55' rotating disc

[0386] 55” recess

[0387] 56 Ball Socket

[0388] 57 Accessing components

[0389] 58 Nozzle accommodating portion

[0390] 60 Library

[0391] 60' subunit

[0392] 61 Replacement device / Replacement of manipulator

[0393] 62 Maintenance connection element

[0394] 63 Sealing mechanism

[0395] 64 Rotating mechanism

[0396] 70 Fluid Units

[0397] 70' Fluid Matrix

[0398] 71 Nozzle base

[0399] 72 Nozzle

[0400] 73 Nozzle opening

[0401] 74 Nozzle Insert

[0402] 75 Nozzle chamber

[0403] 76 Nozzle Cover

[0404] 77 Liquid reservoir interface

[0405] 78 Reservoir Port

[0406] 79 Heating device

[0407] 80 Heating Block

[0408] 81 Frame parts

[0409] 82 medium pressure pipeline / medium pipeline

[0410] 83 Heating connection cable

[0411] 84 Heating control interface

[0412] 85EEPROM

[0413] 86 Conveyor Channel

[0414] 90 plug-in connection

[0415] 91, 91' first plug-in connection part

[0416] 92, 92' second plug-in connection part

[0417] 93, 93', 93", 93"', 93"", 93* first snap-fit ​​element

[0418] 94, 94', 94", 94"', 94"", 94* Second snap-fit ​​element

[0419] 95, 95' ball socket

[0420] 96 annular groove

[0421] 97 Sealing part (O-ring)

[0422] 98 Clamping section

[0423] 99 meshing section

[0424] 100, 100', 100" teeth (first plug-in connection part)

[0425] 101, 101', 101" teeth (second plug-in connection part)

[0426] 101* groove (second plug-in connection part)

[0427] 102 External thread

[0428] 103 Nozzle section

[0429] 104 Accommodation Section

[0430] 105 Pneumatic actuator chamber

[0431] 105' electric motor

[0432] 105" gear

[0433] 106 Pressure medium supply department

[0434] 106' gear ring

[0435] 106" spring

[0436] 106" Locking ring

[0437] 106”” Circular Channel

[0438] 107, 107', 107", 107"', 107"" locking mechanism

[0439] 108 snap pin

[0440] 109, 109', 109", 109'', 109"" actuators

[0441] 111, 111' nozzle baffle

[0442] 112, 112' nozzle baffle opening

[0443] 113, 113' nozzle baffle library / nozzle baffle combination

[0444] 114 Sliding seal

[0445] 115, 115' bearing parts / slide block

[0446] 116 Nozzle baffle receiving portion

[0447] 120 Eccentric mechanism

[0448] 121 Eccentric spring

[0449] 122 Eccentric shaft

[0450] 123 Eccentric lever

[0451] 124 Stress Ball

[0452] 130 Dosing material storage / dosing material cylinder

[0453] A. First quantitative dosing head assembly

[0454] B. Second quantitative dosing head assembly

[0455] D data / control data

[0456] BR Movement direction / rotation direction

[0457] KR coupling direction

[0458] ER introduction direction

[0459] FS Fluid Flow

[0460] K Tilt axis

[0461] S plug shaft

[0462] SR: The ejection direction of the dosing material / the ejection movement direction of the ejection element.

Claims

1. A dosing device (1), comprising at least one dosing device (2) and at least one replacement system (6, 6') assigned to the dosing device (2), the dosing device (2) having at least one dosing system (3), the dosing system having at least one dosing head (5) for releasing a dosing substance, in, The metering device (2) and / or the replacement system (6, 6') and / or the metering system (3) are configured and can be driven by a control device (7) so that in order to form a metering head (5), at least one first metering head component (A) can be coupled to at least one second metering head component (B) in a detachable manner via the replacement system (6, 6') in an automated process.

2. The dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the replacement system (6, 6') has at least one magazine (60, 60', 113, 113') for at least one first dosing head assembly (A), and wherein preferably - the magazine (60, 60') is arranged in a fixed position in the metering device (1), and the metering device (2) is constructed to be mobile and can be driven by the control device (7), so that in the automated process, the second metering head assembly (B) at the metering device (2) is brought into active contact with the first metering head assembly (A) in the magazine (60, 60') to couple the metering head assemblies (A, B), and / or, so that in the automated process, the first metering head assembly (A) of the metering head (5) is placed in the magazine (60, 60'), and / or - the magazine (60, 60') is configured to be movable relative to the metering device (2) and can be driven by the control device (7), so that in an automated process, the first metering head assembly (A) in the magazine (60, 60') is brought into active contact with the second metering head assembly (B) at the metering device (2) to couple the metering head assemblies (A, B), and / or, so that in an automated process, the first metering head assembly (A) of the metering head (5) is placed in the magazine (60, 60'), and / or - The replacement system (6) has a mobile replacement device (61), which is configured and can be driven by the control device (7) so that in an automated process, at least one first metering head component (A) is transferred between the library (60, 60') and the metering device (2) by the replacement device (61), in particular, so that the first metering head component (A) from the library (60, 60') is brought into active contact with the second metering head component (B) at the metering device (2) for coupling, and / or the first metering head component (A) is transferred from the metering device (2) to the library (60, 60').

3. A dosing device according to claim 2, wherein the magazine (60) of the replacement system (6) has at least one maintenance coupling element (62), which cooperates with the coupling element (15), preferably the supply coupling element (15), of the first dosing head assembly (A) to form a maintenance coupling portion (8), wherein the maintenance coupling portion (8) is configured to connect at least one supply line (82, 83) of the dosing head assembly (A) to a maintenance device (9), wherein preferably via the maintenance connection (8) a cleaning agent can be introduced into the dosing head assembly (A) and / or a heating device (79) of the dosing head assembly (A) can be controlled and driven and / or a memory (85) assigned to the dosing head assembly (A) can be read.

4. A dosing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the library (60, 60', 113, 113') of the replacement system (6, 6') is configured to store, in particular simultaneously store, dosing head assemblies (A) of different designs, and / or wherein the replacement system (6, 6') is configured and can be driven by a control device (7) so that a specific dosing head assembly (A) from the library (60, 60', 113, 113') is brought into active contact with a second dosing head assembly (B) at the dosing device (2) to couple the dosing head assemblies (A, B).

5. A replacement system (6, 6') for a metering device (1), in particular for a metering device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein the metering device (1) has at least one metering device (2), the metering device has at least one metering system (3), the metering system (3) has at least one metering head (5), wherein the replacement system (6, 6') is constructed and can be driven by a control device (7) so that in order to form a metering head (5), at least one first metering head component (A) can be coupled to at least one second metering head component (B) in a detachable manner via the replacement system (6, 6') in an automated process.

6. A dosing device (2) for a dosing device (1), in particular for a dosing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein the dosing device (2) has at least one dosing system (3), the dosing system has at least one dosing head (5), and wherein the dosing device (2) is constructed and can be driven by a control device (7) so that in order to form a dosing head (5), at least one first dosing head component (A) can be coupled to at least one second dosing head component (B) in a detachable manner via a replacement system (6, 6') of the dosing device (1) in an automated process.

7. A dosing head (5) for a dosing system (3), in particular for a dosing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, the dosing head (5) having at least one actuating unit (20) and a fluid unit (70) coupled to the actuating unit in a detachable manner, and - wherein at least one first dosing head assembly (A) is assigned a first interface part (13, 13', 13") of the interface (12), - wherein at least one second dosing head assembly (B) is assigned a second interface part (14, 14', 14") of the interface (12), - wherein the first interface part (13, 13', 13") and / or the second interface part (14, 14', 14") are configured to detachably couple the first dosing head component (A) to the second dosing head component (B) in an automated process in order to form the dosing head (5), and - wherein the first metering head assembly (A) has a coupling region (50) which is designed to interact with a replacement system (6, 6') assigned to the metering head (5) at least for a period of time in the automation process in order to couple the metering head assembly (A, B).

8. The dosing head according to claim 7, wherein the first dosing head assembly (A) comprises at least one of the following elements: - a fluid unit (70), - a fluid matrix (70'), - a nozzle (72), - a nozzle base (71), - a nozzle element (76, 111, 111'), - a dosing material reserve (130), And / or, wherein the second dosing head assembly (B) comprises at least one of the following elements: - an actuating unit (20), - a fluid unit (70), - a fluid matrix (70'), - Nozzle base (71).

9. The metering head according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first interface part (13) assigned to the first metering head component (A) and / or the second interface part (14) assigned to the second metering head component (B) are constructed in multiple parts.

10. The dosing head according to any one of claims 7 to 9, - wherein the first interface part (13) is assigned to the fluid unit (70), and / or - wherein the first interface part (13) has a supply coupling element (15) to form a supply coupling portion (10), wherein the supply coupling element (15) is configured to couple at least one supply line (82, 83) of the fluid unit (70) to the supply device (2) during operation of the dosing head (5), and / or wherein the supply coupling element (15) comprises a closing mechanism, which is configured to close at least one supply line (82) leading to the fluid unit (70) in an airtight and / or liquid-tight manner, and / or - wherein the first interface part (13) has a first functional coupling element (16), and wherein the second interface part (14) having a second functional coupling element (19) is assigned to the actuating unit (20) to form a functional coupling portion (11), and wherein the first interface part (13) and / or the second interface part (14) are configured to couple the fluid unit (70) to the actuating unit (20) in a detachable manner via interaction between the first functional coupling element and the second functional coupling element (16, 19).

11. The dosing head according to claim 10, wherein the functional coupling element (16) of the first interface part (13) has a first plug-in coupling part (91), and the functional coupling element (19) of the second interface part (14) has a second plug-in coupling part (92), The first plug-in connection part (91) and the second plug-in connection part (92) can be inserted into and coupled to each other along a plug-in axis (S) in order to couple the fluid unit (70) to the actuating unit (20), and for coupling, at least one first snap-in element (93, 93', 93", 93"', 93"") is arranged at the first plug-in connection part (91) and / or at least one second snap-in element (94, 94', 94", 94"', 94"") is arranged at the second plug-in connection part (92), wherein preferably, the fluid unit (70) can be coupled to the actuating unit (20) via a coupling area (50) for the replacement system (6) in at least two rotational positions around the plug-in axis (S).

12. A dosing head according to claim 11, wherein the first plug-in connection part (91) and / or the second plug-in connection part (92), preferably at least the second plug-in connection part (92), has an automatically movable locking mechanism (107, 107', 107"), and wherein the locking mechanism (107, 107', 107") is configured to move at least one snap-in element (94, 94', 94"', 94"") in one plug-in connection part (92) relative to an associated snap-in element (93, 93', 93"', 93"") in the respective other plug-in connection part (91) to couple the fluid unit (70) with the actuation unit (20).

13. The dosing head according to claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism (107) is configured to move the first snap-fit ​​element and / or the second snap-fit ​​element (94) substantially linearly in at least one direction, and / or The locking mechanism (107') is configured to move the first snap element and / or the second snap element (94') at least in sections along a circular trajectory, and / or The locking mechanism (107, 107', 107") has at least one controllable actuator (109, 109', 109") for moving at least one latching element (94, 94', 94'", 94"").

14. A dosing head according to any one of the preceding claims 7 to 13, wherein a first interface part (13') having a first functional coupling element (16') is assigned to the nozzle (72) of the dosing head (5), and wherein a second interface part (14') having a second functional coupling element (19') is assigned to the fluid substrate (70') and / or the nozzle (72), and wherein the first interface part (13') and / or the second interface part (14') are configured to be able to couple at least one nozzle element (72, 76, 111, 111') to the actuation unit (20) and / or to the fluid substrate (70') and / or to the nozzle (72) in a detachable manner via interaction between the first functional coupling element and the second functional coupling element (16', 19').

15. Dosing head according to claim 14, wherein the functional coupling element (16') of the first interface part (13') has a first plug-in coupling part (91') and the functional coupling element (19') of the second interface part (14') has a second plug-in coupling part (92'), The first plug-in connection part (91') and the second plug-in connection part (92') can be inserted into each other and coupled to each other along a plug-in axis (S) in order to couple at least one nozzle element (72) to the fluid substrate (70'), and for the coupling, at least one first snap-in element (93*) is arranged at the first plug-in connection part (91') and / or at least one second snap-in element (94*) is arranged at the second plug-in connection part (92'), wherein preferably, the first plug-in connection part (91') can be coupled to the second plug-in connection part (92') via a coupling area (50) for the replacement system (6) in at least two rotational positions around the plug-in axis (S).

16. A dosing head according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the nozzle element (111, 111') comprises a nozzle baffle (111, 111'), and wherein the nozzle baffle (111, 111') is introduced into the nozzle (72) in an automated process by means of a baffle replacement system (6') which is configured as a component of a replacement system (6), wherein the introduction direction (ER) of the nozzle baffle (111, 111') into the nozzle (72) via the baffle replacement system (6') is transverse to the ejection direction (SR) of the dosed substance, in particular transverse to the ejection movement direction (SR) of the ejection element (40).

17. The dosing head according to claim 16, wherein the baffle replacement system (6') is preferably detachably connected to the fluid unit (70) and / or to the actuation unit (20) and / or to the dosing device (2), And / or, the baffle replacement system (6') has an automatically movable locking mechanism (107""), which is configured to introduce the nozzle baffle (111, 111'), preferably by linear movement and / or along a circular trajectory, into the nozzle (72), wherein at least one first functional connecting element and / or the second functional connecting element has a sliding sealing portion (114).

18. A dosing head according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the baffle replacement system (6') has a nozzle baffle magazine (113, 113') for at least one nozzle baffle (111, 111'), preferably for several nozzle baffles (111, 111'), wherein preferably at least two nozzle baffles (111, 111') have different designs, and wherein the baffle replacement system (6') can be controlled to drive and is configured to introduce a specific nozzle baffle (111, 111'), in particular a nozzle baffle (111, 111') having a specific nozzle baffle opening (112, 112'), into the nozzle (72).

19. A metered dosing head according to any one of the preceding claims 7 to 18, wherein a first interface part having at least one first functional connecting element is assigned to a dosing material reserve (130), and wherein a second interface part having a second functional connecting element is assigned to the fluid unit (70), and wherein the first interface part and / or the second interface part are configured to at least couple the dosing material reserve (130) to the fluid unit (70) in a detachable manner via interaction between the first functional connecting element and the second functional connecting element.

20. A dosing system (3) for a dosing device (2) of a dosing device (1), in particular for a dosing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein the dosing system (3) has at least one dosing head (5), in particular a dosing head (5) according to any one of the preceding claims 7 to 19, wherein the replacement system (3) is constructed and can be driven by a control device (7) so that in order to form the dosing head (5) of the dosing system (3), at least one first dosing head component (A) can be coupled to at least one second dosing head component (B) in a detachable manner via the replacement system (6, 6') of the dosing device (1) in an automated process.

21. A method for automatically coupling at least a first dosing head assembly (A) with a second dosing head assembly (B) to form a dosing system (3), preferably a dosing head (5) of a dosing system (3) of a dosing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein the automated coupling preferably includes at least the replacement of the dosing head assembly (A) and / or is performed during operation of the dosing device (1), wherein the method includes at least the following steps: - providing at least one first dosing head assembly (A) which is assigned a first interface part (13, 13', 13"), preferably by means of a replacement system (6, 6'), - using the replacement system (6, 6') to combine the first interface part (13, 13', 13") assigned to the first dosing head assembly (A) with the second interface part (14, 14', 14") assigned to the second dosing head assembly (B) to form an interface (12), - snap-fitting at least one interface element (10, 11) of the interface (12), preferably by means of a control device (7), so as to detachably couple the first dosing head assembly (A) via the first interface part (13, 13', 13") to the second interface part (14, 14', 14") of the second dosing head assembly (B) to form the dosing head (5), - Optionally, the actuator (24) of the actuating unit (20) is calibrated so that in a defined operating state of the actuator (24), in particular in a deflected operating state, a specific pressing force of the ejection element (40) on the nozzle (72) is generated by the actuator (24), wherein the calibration process is preferably controlled by the control device (7).

Images