Air circulation nozzle

Abstract

The invention relates to a nozzle (1) for activating a coating material (5) by means of a fluid, comprising a nozzle body (2) with a feed gas inlet (8), a feed gas line (4) and a first outlet (3), the feed gas inlet (8) and the first outlet (3) being in flow communication (7) with one another via the feed gas line (4). In order to enable the nozzle to operate in an energy-saving manner, the nozzle body has a working surface (6) with an exhaust gas inlet (9) and an exhaust gas outlet (12), the exhaust gas inlet (9) and the exhaust gas outlet (12) being in flow communication (10) with each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a nozzle for activating a coating material and a method for activating a coating material. Background Technology

[0002] Such nozzles are well-known, for example, see patent documents WO2017 / 114792A1 or DE102015004015A1. These nozzles are used to activate coating materials, such as edge banding strips for coating workpieces, especially narrow facets of sheet materials, typically wood, plastic, or metal, before pressing the coating material onto the workpiece. This activation process typically involves heat or chemical activation in conjunction with the coating operation, often requiring interruptions to adjust the thickness, material, or decorative texture of the coating material to suit the workpiece. Consequently, the nozzles are frequently in standby mode. In existing nozzle models, this results in nozzle cooling or high, unproductive energy consumption. While devices for recovering the hot air expelled from these nozzles are known, for example, see patent document DE102020131506A1, such devices are bulky and complex to manufacture. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to provide a nozzle and a method for activating a coating material, thereby enabling the nozzle to operate in an energy-efficient manner.

[0004] The solution of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned task is the nozzle according to claim 1 and the method according to claim 13.

[0005] The nozzle according to the invention for activating a coating material by means of fluid has a nozzle body, the nozzle body having:

[0006] - Air inlet;

[0007] - Gas supply piping; and

[0008] - First Exit

[0009] The gas inlet and the first outlet are in flow communication via a gas delivery chamber, characterized in that...

[0010] According to the first alternative, the nozzle body also has:

[0011] - First exhaust inlet; and

[0012] - First exhaust outlet,

[0013] The first exhaust inlet and the first exhaust outlet open into the working surface of the nozzle body and are in flow communication with each other through the first exhaust pipe; and / or

[0014] According to the second alternative, the nozzle body also has a second exhaust inlet, which is in flow communication with a second exhaust pipe inside the nozzle body; and the nozzle body has a second exhaust outlet, which does not open into the working surface and is in flow communication with the second exhaust pipe.

[0015] These two alternatives propose guiding the discharged fluid (generally temperature-controlled, i.e., mostly heated fluid) back into the nozzle body to maintain a constant temperature. In principle, the fluid can also be cooled, but in practice, it is often heated to temperatures exceeding ambient temperature, preferably up to 1500°C. A key feature of the nozzle of this invention is that it has at least a first exhaust inlet that at least partially receives the exhaust gas discharged from the first fluid outlet. The temperature of this exhaust gas is generally no longer the temperature at which the heated fluid exits from the first outlet. However, for heated fluids, the exhaust temperature is still significantly higher than ambient temperature, or for cooled fluids, the exhaust temperature is still significantly lower than ambient temperature, and according to the invention, the exhaust gas is used to temperature-control the coating material, the workpiece, and / or the nozzle body. By repeatedly applying the fluid to the coating material to be activated, the energy consumed for activation (here, the heated fluid) can be utilized more efficiently, whereas previously this energy would dissipate into the environment. The nozzle structure of this invention is extremely compact and space-saving, so the exhaust gas loses almost no heat energy during its delivery path. The nozzle of this invention preferably does not provide reheating or cooling of the exhaust gas. However, in principle, mechanisms for heating or cooling the exhaust gas can be provided, such as mechanisms for heating or cooling the first and second exhaust pipes, in order to maintain, increase, or decrease the exhaust gas temperature. An unexpected advantage of the nozzle of this invention is its extremely low noise during operation compared to existing nozzles. This is a significant advantage from an occupational safety perspective. Another advantage of the nozzle of this invention is its compact configuration and small size, thus allowing for easy replacement of existing nozzles on workpiece coating equipment.

[0016] In operation, before the coating material is directly guided to the working surface, exhaust (i.e., fluid discharged from the first outlet, typically heated and pressurized fluid) is supported to enter the first exhaust inlet. Advantageously, the coating material is guided between the lower and upper guide portions. The upper and lower guide portions can be separate. However, it is preferable, particularly, to have guide elements with both upper and lower guide portions, so that coating materials of different widths can be processed. The upper guide portion is preferably height-adjustable, thus enabling the processing of coating materials of different widths. The guide portion or guide element advantageously guides on the nozzle body, for example, by having the guide element segmentally engage at least one edge of the nozzle body. The guide element can also segmentally cover the outlet of the supplied fluid and / or one or more exhaust outlets on the working surface or in the nozzle body (e.g., in the air supply line or exhaust line). The height adjustment mechanism for the guide portion can be arranged separately from the nozzle and the equipment on which the nozzle is mounted. However, it is preferable that the height adjustment mechanism for the guide portion is connected to the nozzle or the workpiece coating equipment. According to the first alternative, height adjustment can be achieved via a spindle, particularly connected to the upper guide section. According to the second alternative, a guide section for the coating material is connected to the coating equipment and automatically adjusted according to the edge height of the workpiece to be coated, for example, via a lever assembly or a lever and hinge assembly. The width of the coating material matches the edge height of the workpiece, thereby covering the entire narrow surface of the workpiece with the coating material.

[0017] The guide portion can be designed with a flat surface, which preferably abuts against the narrow side of the coating material or preferably at least segmentally abuts against the outer side of the coating material away from the nozzle. Advantageously, the guide portion can also be designed at an angle, such that a first segment of the guide element abuts against the narrow side and a second segment of the guide element abuts against the outer side of the coating material at least segmentally. Preferably, the guide element abuts only against the upper and / or lower narrow surfaces of the coating material to avoid damaging the outer surface after coating. Advantageously, the coating material is guided between the guide portion and the working surface, thereby allowing a defined distance from the working surface to be set; alternatively, this distance can be "zero".

[0018] During standby operation, the return flow of exhaust gas to the first exhaust inlet and / or, where applicable, to the second exhaust inlet is preferably supported by a guide section having a plate-like cover that, during standby operation, is pressed against the working surface, for example, by spring pressure, a piston-cylinder assembly, etc. The cover is advantageously configured to be oriented parallel to the working surface and to cover the working surface at least in sections, wherein the cover preferably covers at least the first fluid outlet and / or the upper and lower ends abutting the working surface, or the upper and lower ends abutting the fluid and exhaust outlets and the upper and lower ends abutting the exhaust inlet; the cover may, for example, be U-shaped. The cover may also completely cover the working surface.

[0019] The cover may have a fluid inlet opening and an exhaust outlet, and optionally a fluid exhaust channel mating with them. Through this exhaust channel, exhaust gas discharged from the cover can be directed in any direction during standby operation, for example, away from the nozzle, but can also be directed back to the nozzle, for example, towards the exhaust inlet. The exhaust channel can be designed according to the requirements of various nozzles or workpiece coating equipment. The cover may have at least one seal that, during standby operation, preferably abuts against the nozzle body, particularly fully or partially abutting against the working surface, at least against the first fluid outlet or the surrounding environment of the working surface.

[0020] During standby operation, fluid is discharged from the first outlet, impacts the cover or is received by the inlet opening of the covered part and guided to the exhaust outlet of the cover, where the fluid is discharged into the environment or transferred to an exhaust channel, which optionally allows the fluid to return to the nozzle or allows the fluid to be discharged from any part.

[0021] According to an alternative configuration, the cover has a fluid channel extending from an inlet opening opposite the first outlet to an outlet opening opposite the second exhaust outlet of the nozzle body. Fluid flows from the first outlet of the nozzle body through the cover toward the second outlet. Exhaust then exits from the outlet opening of the cover and enters the exhaust inlet of the nozzle body. Advantageously, the fluid then exits from the exhaust outlet, which does not open into the working surface of the nozzle body. This cover configuration allows fluid to return to the nozzle body, and particularly preferably, the nozzle body remains at a constant temperature during standby operation, meaning that newly supplied coating material can be reactivated quickly without power loss. The cover can be designed as a separate component, but is preferably also designed as part of the guide element.

[0022] Alternatively, the advantage of the cover is that when it is in close contact with the working surface of the nozzle body during standby operation, it completely captures and diverts exhaust gas; especially when the cover is not completely sealed against the working surface, it generates suction, drawing ambient air into the space between the cover and the nozzle body, thereby cooling the cover or guide element and the surrounding equipment. This avoids unintended heating of the equipment and the surrounding environment of the nozzle body (especially the shear blades and pressure rollers used for coating materials) at minimal cost.

[0023] As described above, during operation, exhaust gas can successively pass through one or more first exhaust inlets and first exhaust outlets opening into the working surface and the exhaust pipe connected to them within the nozzle body. The exhaust gas then passes through an exhaust inlet, the exhaust outlet of which is not located within the working surface of the nozzle body, thus allowing the exhaust gas to exit the nozzle body at a freely selectable location. During operation, the cover is arranged at a certain distance from the working surface, typically at most 15 mm, preferably at most 10 mm, and more preferably at most 5 mm, so that the coating material can be guided along the working surface between the cover and the nozzle body. Switching between operating and standby operation can be done manually in the simplest case, but is preferably automatic, for example, by controlling the position of the cover by pressing a piston or spring. According to another preferred embodiment, a guide element is employed, having at least two recesses on its outer surface facing the nozzle body and a closed guide chamber adjacent to the outer surface. Preferably, the outer surface can also be used as a cover in standby operation, particularly as a spring-loaded cover or a cover movable by an adjustable motor. In operation, the cover is in close contact with the outer guide of the coating material, i.e., it is preferably positioned opposite the coating material at a certain distance, which is at most 10 mm, preferably at most 5 mm, and more preferably at most 0.1 mm. The outer surface has at least two exhaust recesses, namely a third exhaust inlet and a third exhaust outlet, wherein the third exhaust inlet is opposite to the first fluid outlet and guides the exhaust into the guide chamber, and the third exhaust outlet is opposite to the first exhaust inlet and / or the second exhaust inlet and guides the exhaust into one or more of the exhaust inlets. The exhaust is guided through a third exhaust conduit that connects the third exhaust inlet and the third exhaust outlet. With this embodiment, the exhaust can be used particularly effectively to adjust the nozzle temperature in standby operation. Another advantage of this embodiment is that the path between the fluid outlet and the inlet where the exhaust enters or re-enters the nozzle is very short. The exhaust loses or gains almost no heat or temperature outside the nozzle. Optionally, the exhaust can also be heated or cooled as it passes through the third exhaust conduit.

[0024] A particular advantage of this invention is that, in operation, the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port of the nozzle body can also be advantageously used for temperature control, i.e., preheating or precooling, of the narrow side of the coating material and / or the workpiece to be coated. In operation, the coating material (which can be single or multiple layers, preferably adhesive-free, especially heat-activated plastics, or alternatively adhesive-coated materials, especially those coated with hot melt adhesive) is guided along the working surface at a distance of at most 10 mm, preferably less than 5 mm, more preferably 0.1 mm or less. The smaller the distance between the coating material and the working surface, the better. Advantageously, the coating material is guided between a lower guide portion and an upper guide portion, wherein the upper guide portion is preferably height-adjustable. The fluid discharged from the first outlet (typically heated and generally under pressure) or the exhaust gas discharged from the first exhaust port (its temperature still above room temperature) directly impacts the coating material, wherein heat energy is exchanged between the fluid or exhaust gas and the coating material. During heating, energy is transferred from the fluid to the coating material; during cooling, energy is transferred from the coating material to the fluid. In the context of this invention, the transfer of heat energy from a fluid to a coating material is generally referred to, but the cooling of the coating material is always involved. Here, first, exhaust gas acts on the coating material along the working direction, and then the generally heated fluid exiting from the first outlet acts on the coating material. The thermal energy of the heated and pressurized fluid at the first outlet is sufficient to fully activate the surface of the coating material, i.e., it will generally soften or melt, while the impact of the exhaust gas probably only serves to preheat the coating material. If the generally heated fluid acts on the coating material preheated by the exhaust gas, the thermal energy required for activation is less than that required for activating an unpreheated coating material. The energy saved is beneficial for reducing fluid consumption or increasing the feed rate of coating equipment using nozzles.

[0025] Alternatively, during operation, a spring (such as a leaf spring) can be used to press the coating material toward the nozzle body. When activated by heated fluid, the smaller the distance between the fluid outlet and the surface to be activated, the better the activation effect; therefore, a spring helps to achieve optimal activation of the coating material.

[0026] The fluid typically heated is a gas (preferably air) or a gas-liquid mixture (e.g., water-rich air), generally under pressure. Activation is preferably performed using compressed air or water-rich compressed air, used here to heat the coating material. Alternatively, other gases, such as nitrogen, may be used; other liquids, such as acidic or alkaline solutions or liquids capable of chemically activating the coating material, may also be used. The liquid is preferably heated to a temperature of about 250°C to 1500°C. In operation, the liquid is typically subjected to a pressure of up to 10 bar, which is generally selected as the maximum pressure permissible by the nozzle body material. An unexpected advantage of the nozzle of the present invention is that only an average of no more than about 50% (preferably about 40%) of the usual fluid volume is required to activate the coating material. For example, where about 1000 liters / minute of compressed air would normally be required to activate the coating material, only a maximum of about 500 liters / minute is needed. This energy saving not only reduces operating costs but also investment costs, as only a smaller compressor is required to provide the necessary fluid. The alternative is that only one compressor is needed to replace the two compressors previously required.

[0027] The nozzle body is preferably made of metal, but may also be made of ceramic, glass, or other materials, provided that the material can withstand the operating pressure and corresponding operating temperature of the heated and generally pressurized fluid, for example, up to 1500°C. Advantageously, the nozzle body is manufactured using additive manufacturing processes, particularly 3D printing. Such processes enable the non-destructive manufacturing of even complex structures. Nozzles manufactured using 3D printing are lighter, thus saving material.

[0028] The nozzle of the present invention has an air inlet for a heated and generally pressurized fluid and a first outlet, which are in flow communication with each other via an air supply line. The air supply line is designed so that the heated fluid exits from the first outlet with minimal temperature and pressure changes. The first outlet is arranged in the working surface, wherein preferably, the periphery of the first outlet is recessed relative to the working surface into the nozzle body by at most 3 mm, more preferably at most 0.1 mm. The first outlet may advantageously consist of one or more openings, each opening having a generally circular or elliptical outlet and an elongated section, shaped like a keyhole, recessed relative to the working surface and extending in the opposite direction to the working direction, the length of which is preferably 5 mm to 15 mm. The first outlet may also have two or more rows of openings. In operation, the normally heated fluid acts directly from the first outlet on the coating material to be activated, i.e., with a spacing of at most 10 mm, preferably at most 1 mm, particularly preferably at most 0.1 mm, and exchanges part of its heat and pressure energy with the coating material. The fluid, after being discharged from the first outlet and acting on the coating material to be activated during operation, becomes exhaust gas.

[0029] According to the invention, the working surface (i.e., the outer surface of the nozzle body) faces the coating material to be activated in the operating state. According to a first alternative, the working surface also has a first exhaust inlet through which exhaust gas (i.e., fluid that, after acting on the coating material, is still heated and pressurized) is guided back into the nozzle body. The first exhaust inlet is connected to a first exhaust outlet via a flow communication (i.e., a first exhaust conduit, preferably extending within the nozzle body). This exhaust outlet is preferably designed such that the exhaust gas acts on the coating material at an angle of 90°±45°, preferably 90°±10°, thereby maximizing the transfer of heat energy to the coating material. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, two or more first exhaust inlets and first exhaust outlets are provided. In the operating state, in the working direction, the first exhaust outlet is located before the first exhaust inlet, and the first exhaust inlet is located before the first exhaust outlet. The coating material will likely be heated by the exhaust gas, but preferably will not be fully activated, especially not softened or melted.

[0030] According to the second alternative, the working surface of the nozzle has a second exhaust inlet, which is in flow communication with a second exhaust outlet via a second exhaust conduit (preferably extending within the nozzle body). The second exhaust outlet is not located within the working surface of the nozzle; it can be located anywhere on the nozzle. Advantageously, the second exhaust conduit extends along or through the nozzle body to allow for temperature control of the nozzle body. Advantageously, the second exhaust outlet is oriented such that the discharged exhaust heats the surface of the workpiece to be coated with the coating material, for example, the surface of wood, plastic, or metal sheets. When the second outlet is oriented in this way, it is advantageous that the second outlet has two or more outlet openings, allowing for targeted heating of different areas of the surface to be coated if necessary. Advantageously, each outlet opening of the second outlet can be individually closed or opened by a closure mechanism.

[0031] As can be clearly seen from the above, the first and second alternatives can be implemented separately in the nozzle. However, preferably, both alternatives can be implemented together in the same nozzle. Here, in the working direction, the second exhaust inlet is arranged before the first exhaust outlet. Therefore, the exhaust with the lowest heat content is directed to the second exhaust outlet. According to an advantageous embodiment, the flow communication between the first exhaust inlet and the first exhaust outlet and the flow communication between the second exhaust inlet and the second exhaust outlet are separate from each other, but optionally, these two exhaust flows can also be interconnected, for example, through an opening between the flow communication between the first exhaust inlet and the first exhaust outlet and the exhaust pipes provided with the second inlet and the second outlet.

[0032] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the nozzle body has a guide member (viewed in the direction of exhaust flow, i.e., against the working direction) arranged after the corresponding first or second exhaust inlet. The guide member should direct the exhaust gas as completely as possible into the first or second exhaust inlet. The guide member extends from the trailing edge of the exhaust inlet (viewed in the direction of exhaust flow) at least to the plane of the working surface, advantageously extending close to the coating material. The guide member can more advantageously extend along the entire height of the exhaust inlet or the entire height of the nozzle body to direct the exhaust gas as completely as possible into the exhaust inlet.

[0033] To prevent the guide from damaging the coating material, the guide is advantageously shaped as a wedge, oriented towards the working direction of the coating material, i.e., opposite to the exhaust flow direction. The tip of the wedge-shaped guide can segmentally cover the relevant exhaust inlet.

[0034] According to the invention, exhaust gas that is no longer discharged from the working surface can be discharged from the nozzle body through an exhaust outlet located at any position, thus enabling discharge in any direction. Advantageously, the exhaust gas is directed directly from the exhaust outlet to the workpiece to be coated. Here, the exhaust conduit can extend through the nozzle body to the desired exhaust outlet to, for example, optimally adapt to the required installation conditions of the nozzle. Optionally, the exhaust channel can be docked to the nozzle body to continue the exhaust conduit, allowing the exhaust gas to be directed to the material to be coated or removed from the equipment to prevent overheating. Optionally, the exhaust channel can have movable elements to direct the exhaust gas to the workpiece to be coated during operation and to remove the exhaust gas from the equipment during standby operation. The exhaust gas temperature is generally lower than the supply gas temperature, so the exhaust channel can be made of the same or different material as the nozzle body, for example, plastic. In particular, when the exhaust channel is manufactured using additive manufacturing processes such as 3D printing, arbitrary, even complex, exhaust channels can be provided, which can be personalized to the respective application conditions of the nozzle.

[0035] In particular, when the exhaust outlet or exhaust channel is directed to the surface of the workpiece to be coated during operation, it can optimally pre-treat the workpiece and optimally activate the coating material. This effect is reflected in higher welding or bonding strength and better water resistance between the workpiece and the coating material, even after being stored in water for at least three times longer than before, the original or improved bonding performance between the workpiece and the coating material is maintained.

[0036] According to another preferred embodiment, the nozzle body has a double-walled construction. This double-walled embodiment reduces the cooling of the nozzle body during standby operation. Advantageously, it also reduces the heat loss from the nozzle body to the environment.

[0037] Particularly advantageously, the nozzle body of the nozzle of the present invention has a standby device with a standby inlet, a standby chamber, and a standby outlet. This standby device is advantageously not connected to other flow communication, for example, not connected to a fluid supply line or exhaust line. The standby device is preferably constructed as a separate device from the nozzle body, but it can also be arranged on a nozzle not belonging to the nozzle of the present invention. In a double-walled nozzle, the space between the two outer walls of the nozzle body can be used as a standby chamber, which has a separate standby inlet and a standby outlet. Temperature-controlled (i.e., typically heated or cooled) and generally pressurized fluid is introduced through the standby inlet, flows through the standby chamber, and then flows out from the standby outlet. This allows for temperature control of the nozzle body during standby operation. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the standby chamber can extend through the nozzle body without being in flow communication with a fluid line or exhaust line. Here, when constructing the standby chamber, care should be taken to ensure uniform temperature control of the nozzle body.

[0038] The nozzle of this invention can be applied to workpiece coating equipment, particularly to coating narrow surfaces of plate-shaped workpieces. Such equipment includes a workpiece conveying mechanism, a coating material conveying mechanism, the nozzle of this invention for at least segmental activation (e.g., for melting or liquefying the coating material), and a clamping mechanism for pressing or bonding the coating material onto the workpiece. A known drawback of such equipment is that the hot exhaust gas from the nozzle heats surrounding tools, such as shears used to cut the coating material or the clamping mechanism (typically a clamping roller) used to press the coating material onto the workpiece. However, the heated pressure medium often causes undesirable deformation and / or discoloration of the coating material, as the heated pressure medium also introduces heat into the coating material. Furthermore, the coating material immediately in front of the nozzle in the working direction may also soften or discolor. A particular advantage of the nozzle of this invention is that by guiding the exhaust gas flow through the nozzle, the heating or temperature rise of surrounding tools or coating material can be largely avoided. Thus, by employing the nozzle of this invention, undesirable discoloration and / or deformation are eliminated, thereby reducing waste generated when coating workpieces with coating material.

[0039] Nozzles used to activate coating materials are typically arranged on complex workpiece coating equipment. It is generally undesirable for the heating fluid used to activate the coating material to cause the equipment itself to heat up. Therefore, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the nozzle is that the nozzle body is not entirely pressed against the complex equipment, thus preventing heat input to the equipment. Accordingly, the nozzle body is preferably supported on only one support point (preferably two or more) relatively small compared to the nozzle body. These support points are spaced from the equipment, such that the nozzle body is almost completely surrounded by ambient air. This prevents heat transfer to the equipment and retains heat within the nozzle body. The support points can be molded onto the nozzle body or attached as components (e.g., screwed) to the nozzle body. The height of these support points is, for example, from 0.5 mm to 15 mm, and can be customized to suit the needs of various equipment.

[0040] The present invention also relates to a method for activating a coating material via a nozzle body using a fluid, the nozzle body having:

[0041] - Air inlet;

[0042] - Gas supply piping; and

[0043] - First Exit

[0044] The gas inlet and the first outlet are in flow communication with each other through a gas supply pipeline, characterized in that...

[0045] According to the first alternative, the nozzle body also has:

[0046] - First exhaust inlet; and

[0047] - First exhaust outlet,

[0048] The first exhaust inlet and the first exhaust outlet open into the working surface and are in flow communication with each other via the first exhaust pipe; and / or

[0049] According to the second alternative, the nozzle body further has a second exhaust inlet, which is in flow communication with a second exhaust pipe within the nozzle body; and the nozzle body has a second exhaust outlet, which does not open into the working surface and is in flow communication with the second exhaust pipe, wherein fluid flows into the air supply pipe through the air supply inlet and flows from the air supply pipe to the first outlet, so that it may subsequently flow into the first exhaust inlet and flow from the first exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet according to the first alternative, and / or flow into the second exhaust inlet and flow from the second exhaust inlet into the exhaust pipe according to the second alternative and finally flow to the second exhaust outlet.

[0050] According to a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, in operation, the coating material is guided directly along the working surface or ahead of the working surface at a spacing not exceeding 10 mm, preferably not exceeding 0.1 mm, such that the exhaust gas, after rebounding from the coating material, is guided towards the nozzle body and then towards the first exhaust inlet and / or the second exhaust inlet. Additionally, the upper and / or lower guide portions, along with an optional clamping surface (typically the outer wall of the guide element), enclose the cavity before the working surface, thereby establishing flow communication between the first outlet and the first or second inlet. As previously mentioned, this process may be supported by a flow guide.

[0051] Surprisingly, it has been confirmed that the fluid, acting on the coating material through multiple ejections from the nozzle body, effectively activates the coating material, thus eliminating the previously required 4cm to 8cm overhang. A known problem with existing nozzles is that, especially when equipment adjustments are inaccurate, the final 4cm to 6cm of coating material cannot be fully activated, necessitating a pre-set coating material allowance, which must then be discarded as waste. This issue is not present in the nozzle of this invention, especially when the narrow face of the workpiece to be coated is heated by venting before applying the activated coating material. Even cooled venting, which exits towards the narrow face of the workpiece instead of the working surface, still advantageously promotes optimized coating results.

[0052] According to a preferred embodiment, in the standby state, the guide portion or guide element is arranged in front of the working surface, i.e., close to the working surface (especially when the first outlet and the first exhaust inlet and / or the second exhaust inlet are retracted into the nozzle body) or arranged at a small distance from the working surface; in any case, the guide portion or guide element should be arranged such that the fluid discharged from the first outlet (usually a heated fluid) can be delivered as exhaust through a cavity establishing flow communication to the first exhaust inlet or the second exhaust inlet, while minimizing any exhaust loss. Here, the pressing surfaces of the upper guide portion and / or lower guide portion and optional guide element, especially when pressed against the working surface by a spring load or by the action of an adjusting motor, can help define the cavity in front of the working surface. Preferably, the distance between the working surface and the guide element does not exceed 0.1 mm.

[0053] According to an advantageous improvement of the method of the present invention, during standby operation, according to a first alternative, a reduced amount of normally heated fluid is introduced into the nozzle body and directed through a first outlet, a first exhaust inlet and a first exhaust outlet, or a second exhaust inlet and a second exhaust outlet; and / or according to a second alternative, a standby device introduces heated fluid through a standby inlet into a standby chamber in the nozzle body and exits the nozzle body through a standby outlet. Here, the first and second alternatives can also be combined.

[0054] According to another alternative, during standby operation, fluid can be directed from the first outlet of the nozzle body through an opening in the cover opposite to the first outlet to the first fluid outlet, so that, according to the first alternative, the fluid can then be discharged from the fluid outlet into a fluid channel constructed in or connected to the cover and leave the nozzle, or, according to the second alternative, the fluid can be guided back into the nozzle body.

[0055] The above-described embodiments of the nozzle and method of the present invention can be freely combined according to the fluid properties, coating materials and / or the requirements of the workpiece to be coated. Attached Figure Description

[0056] The details of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0057] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the nozzle of the present invention is shown;

[0058] Figure 2 A perspective view of a second embodiment of the nozzle of the present invention is shown;

[0059] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the guide element and the nozzle of the present invention is shown;

[0060] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 A view of the guide element shown;

[0061] Figure 5 A side view of the guide element is shown;

[0062] Figure 6a A cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the nozzle of the present invention in operation is shown;

[0063] Figure 6b It shows Figure 6a The nozzle shown is a cross-sectional view during standby operation;

[0064] Figure 7a A top view of a fourth embodiment of the nozzle of the present invention is shown; and

[0065] Figure 7b It shows Figure 7a The nozzle shown is a top view during standby operation. Detailed Implementation

[0066] Figure 1 The nozzle 1 of the present invention is shown, which has a nozzle body 2 made of metal, ceramic, plastic or glass. The various materials in this embodiment can withstand a pressure of up to 10 bar and a temperature of up to 1500°C. The nozzle 1 is manufactured using a 3D printing process.

[0067] Nozzle 1 has a first outlet 3, which in this figure is constructed as a plurality of stacked and / or juxtaposed openings in the nozzle body. The first outlet 3 is in communication with an air supply line 4, which extends perpendicular to the cross-section and opens into the air supply inlet outside the cross-section.

[0068] The first outlet 3 is preferably inclined relative to the working direction A1 of the coating material 5, wherein the inclination forms an angle of 90°±45°, preferably 90°±10°, with the coating material. This inclination of the first outlet in this direction reduces the amount of exhaust gas discharged from the nozzle 1 along the working direction A1. The coating material 5 can be plastic, paper, laminate, or other planar material. The coating material can be single-layered or multi-layered, and can be composed of a single material or multiple materials, such as materials arranged in layers. The coating material can be coated with an adhesive, especially a hot melt adhesive. Preferably, the coating material 5 is strip-shaped (its width is, for example, 5 mm to 70 mm) and consists of two or more layers and is heat-activated, wherein preferably, the layer facing the nozzle 1 has a lower activation temperature than the outer layer facing away from the nozzle. The coating material 5 is guided along the working surface 6 of the nozzle 1 in the working direction A1, wherein the distance between the working surface 6 and the coating material 5 or the guide element is a maximum of 10 mm, preferably a maximum of 5 mm, and more preferably a maximum of 0.1 mm, thereby ensuring that a first flow communication 7 is established between the first outlet 3, the working surface 6, the coating material 5 or the guide element and the first exhaust inlet 9.

[0069] This fluid, typically heated and generally under pressure, is usually a gas or gas mixture, such as air or nitrogen, but may also be rich in liquid. When a liquid is used, it can be, for example, water, an alkaline or acidic solution, or a solution used to chemically activate the coating material. The fluid is typically heated to a temperature of 1500°C, typically between 350°C and 650°C; alternatively, the fluid may be cooled. The fluid is typically fed into the nozzle at a pressure of 0.1 bar to 10 bar. The fluid is supplied to the first outlet 3 via the air supply line 4 and discharged from the first outlet 3 toward the coating material 5, thereby releasing thermal and pressure energy onto the coating material. The exhaust reflected from the coating material 5 is directed through the first flow communication 7 to the first exhaust inlet 9, and then through this first exhaust inlet into the nozzle 1. In the nozzle body 2, the exhaust is guided through the first exhaust line 10 to the first exhaust outlet 12. The first exhaust outlet 12 is advantageously designed such that the exhaust gas acts on the coating material at an angle of 90°±45°, preferably 90°±10°, to ensure that heat energy and any possible pressure energy are transferred to the coating material in the best manner. The nozzle 1 described above corresponds to a first alternative to the nozzle of the present invention.

[0070] To optimize exhaust guidance Figure 1An optional component, namely the flow guide 13, is shown. The flow guide 13 extends from the nozzle body 2 to the coating material. This flow guide has a wedge-shaped construction, wherein the wedge shape is preferably inclined along the working direction A1 so as not to cut into the coating material. By narrowing or closing the cavity between the working surface 6 and the coating material 5, exhaust gas can be effectively guided towards the first exhaust inlet 9. Figure 1 In the nozzle 1, the first exhaust inlet 9, the first exhaust pipe 10, and the first exhaust outlet 12 are arranged sequentially and repeatedly, against the working direction A1. This allows the exhaust gas to be guided through the nozzle body 2 multiple times, making optimal use of the heat and potential pressure energy contained within. An optional flow guide 13 is also arranged here. The repeated arrangement is an optional solution, which is particularly reasonable when operating under high temperature and high pressure fluid conditions. The arrangement of the flow guide 13 also reduces the exhaust gas escaping from the nozzle 1 against the working direction A1.

[0071] Figure 1 A second exhaust inlet 14 is also shown, located opposite to the working direction A1, starting from the first exhaust outlet 12. This second exhaust inlet is in flow communication with an exhaust pipe 15, which opens into the second exhaust outlet 16. Unlike the first exhaust outlet 12, the second exhaust outlet 16 does not open onto the working surface of the nozzle body, but rather at another location on the nozzle body 2. In this embodiment of the nozzle 1 of the present invention, the second exhaust outlet 16 opens at the location where the discharged exhaust gas acts on the surface of the workpiece 17 to be coated (here referring to a narrow face of a wood, plastic, glass, or metal plate), and preheats it in preparation for the coating process. This explains the second alternative to the nozzle 1 of the present invention. Figure 1 This clearly demonstrates that the first and second alternatives can be implemented individually or together in the nozzle 1 of the present invention. Regarding the second alternative, it is also conceivable that it is not as described above. Figure 1 The invention is implemented in a single form, but can also be implemented in multiple ways in the nozzle according to the invention, especially in the absence of a flow guide.

[0072] The coating material 5 and the workpiece 17 immediately converge after the nozzle 1 of the present invention along the working directions A1 and A2, and are connected to each other by a force P generally acting on the coating material (which is usually applied by a pressure roller). The workpiece held by the coating equipment (not shown in this figure) is subjected to a reaction force. When the nozzle 1 of the present invention is used, the pressure roller or other tool that applies the force P is essentially no longer subject to venting, so the pressure roller or tool is no longer heated during operation. This also applies to the shearing blade K arranged along the working direction A1 before the nozzle 1.

[0073] Simultaneously, the temperature of the nozzle body 2 is adjusted by guiding the exhaust gas through the nozzle body 2 multiple times. This ensures that the optimized heated fluid reaches the first outlet 3 or the coating material, thereby achieving optimal adhesion between the coating material and the workpiece.

[0074] Figure 2 A view of a second embodiment of the nozzle 1 of the present invention is shown, wherein subsequent figures are related to... Figure 1 Identical components are labeled with the same reference numerals. The nozzle body 2 has a working surface 6. A first outlet 3 is arranged in the working surface 6, which consists of several individual openings distributed along the height H of the working surface. Although Figure 2 These openings are evenly distributed at height H, but according to an alternative embodiment not shown in this figure, these openings may also be unevenly distributed, for example, closer together at the upper and / or lower ends of the working surface 6 and farther apart at the center of the working surface.

[0075] The working face 6 also has a first outlet 3 for fluid that is typically heated and generally under pressure. A first air inlet 8, which is in flow communication with the first outlet 3 via an air supply line 4 (not shown in this figure), can be seen on the upper side of the nozzle body 2.

[0076] In working face 6, after the first outlet 3, there is a dual sequence of the first exhaust inlet 9 and the respective first exhaust outlet 12, which are connected to each other through the first exhaust pipe 10; then there is the second exhaust inlet 14, which in turn connects to the second exhaust pipe 15 and the second exhaust outlet 16. Here, the second exhaust outlet 16 is also arranged outside working face 6.

[0077] Figure 2 It is also clearly shown that outlets 3 and 12, as well as inlets 9 and 14, are advantageously arranged in the recess 11 of the working surface 6. The recess 11 is used to establish a first flow communication 7, which is intended to ensure flow communication of exhaust gas from the first outlet 3 to the first exhaust inlet 9. Preferably, the cross-section of the first flow communication is not larger than the cross-section of the first outlet or the first exhaust outlet or the second exhaust outlet. If the guide 13 is not used, the cross-section of the first flow communication 7 is preferably not larger than the cross-sections of the inlets and outlets. Figure 2 It is also shown that the guide member 13 preferably extends beyond the recess 11 into or slightly protrudes from the working surface 6 to guide exhaust gas to the correspondingly provided exhaust inlet 9 or 14. The guide member 13 narrows or closes the first flow communication 7 so that the exhaust gas flows as completely as possible into the exhaust inlet corresponding to the guide member 13. Figure 2 The illustrated embodiment also shows the nozzle 1 having an optional opening 18a, which is generally designed as a threaded hole for securing a guide element (not shown in this figure). The recess 11 can be up to 10 mm relative to the working surface. However, preferably, the recess 11 is at most 1 mm, more preferably at most 0.1 mm.

[0078] Figure 3A cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the nozzle 1 of the present invention is shown. The nozzle 1 has a nozzle body 2, which has an internal air delivery channel 4 in flow communication with a first outlet 3, so that a temperature-controlled, normally heated and generally pressurized fluid can be discharged from the first outlet. Figure 3 A nozzle body 2 with a first exhaust inlet 9 and a second exhaust inlet 14 is also shown. The first exhaust inlet 9 connects to a first exhaust conduit 10, which opens into a first exhaust outlet 12. This arrangement is repeated against the working direction A1. The exhaust outlet 12 is designed such that the discharged exhaust acts on the coating material at an angle of 90°±45°, preferably 90°±10°, and connects to the second exhaust inlet 14, which is in flow communication with a second exhaust conduit 15, which opens into a second exhaust outlet 16. Thus, Figure 3 The nozzle 1 shown also embodies two alternatives to the nozzle of the present invention. Here, the inlet and outlet in the working surface 6 are also arranged in optional recesses 11, while optional guide members 13 extend to or protrude from the working surface 6. In operation, the guide members 13 can be in contact with the coating material 5. These guide members only heat the coating material without fully activating it, so the contact between the guide members 13 and the coating material 5 will not cause damage.

[0079] from Figure 2 and Figure 3 The receiving portion 27 for fasteners can be seen in both, especially in additive manufacturing processes. These receiving portions can be positioned appropriately in the nozzle body 2 to connect the nozzle to a coating device, for example.

[0080] Figure 3 The nozzle 1 and guide element 19 are also shown. The guide element is arranged opposite to the nozzle body 2 and is detachably or non-detachably connected to the nozzle body 2. The guide element 19 has an outer wall 20 opposite to the working surface 6. A channel 21 for coating material is constructed between the working surface 6 and the outer wall 20, through which the coating material is guided in the operating state. Here, the coating material 5 is preferably located in front of the working surface at a spacing of less than 0.1 mm. Figure 3 The nozzle 1, along with its nozzle body 2 and guide element 19, is shown in a standby state (i.e., without coating material).

[0081] To prevent the nozzle body 2 from cooling down during standby operation, fluid that is normally heated and under pressure is further introduced into the nozzle body through the air inlet 8 and flows out from the first outlet 3 through the air supply line 4. Without the coating material, the outflowing fluid immediately becomes exhaust gas, which enters the guide element 19 through the third exhaust inlet 22 and exits at the third exhaust outlet 24 through the third exhaust line 23. The third exhaust inlet 22 is preferably opposite the first outlet 3, and the third exhaust outlet 24 is preferably opposite the second exhaust inlet 14. The second exhaust inlet 14 opens into the second exhaust line 15, which passes through the nozzle body 2 and opens into the second exhaust outlet 16, which is not located within the working surface 6. In this way, the exhaust gas passing through the nozzle body 2 is directed to regulate the temperature of the nozzle body, thereby preventing it from cooling down or heating up. Cooling down or heating up the nozzle body 2 would result in an undesirable prolonged start-up phase after operation begins, because the coating material cannot immediately receive adequately regulated, normally heated, and under pressure fluid. Here, the exhaust gas has a very short path through the guide element 19 outside the nozzle body 2, allowing it to re-enter the nozzle body 2 with minimal heat or pressure loss. Furthermore, this also advantageously prevents the tools (e.g., the shearing blade K and the pressure roller) around the nozzle 1 from heating up.

[0082] Figure 4 The guide element 19 and its outer wall 20, which is substantially parallel to the working surface 6 (not shown in this figure), are shown. In standby operation, this outer wall 20 serves as a cover. A third exhaust inlet 22 and a third exhaust outlet 24 are built into the outer wall 20, which are in flow communication with each other via a third exhaust conduit 23 in the guide element 19. Furthermore, the guide element 19 has an optional opening 18b aligned with a through-hole 18a, which can be used to connect the guide element 19 and the nozzle body 2 to form a nozzle 1.

[0083] Figure 5A side view of the guide element 19 is shown. This figure clearly shows that the guide element protrudes from the outer wall 20 within the support section 25, thereby preventing exhaust gas from escaping upwards in the assembled state, as the guide element rests against the upper region of the working surface 6, i.e., the region above the inlet and outlet of the working surface. A protrusion 25 is provided at the lower end of the guide element 19, or alternatively at the lower end of the nozzle body 2 within the region of the working surface 6, on which the coating material 5 is supported. The support section 25 is arranged above the fluid and exhaust inlets and outlets to guide the upper narrow face, and preferably segmentally engages with the outer wall 20 to guide adjacent outer sides of the coating material 5. A protrusion 26 is arranged below or at the lower end of the working surface 6 to guide the lower narrow face of the coating material 5, and may also segmentally engage with the outer wall 20 to guide adjacent outer sides of the coating material 5. Through the support section 25 and the protrusion 26, the first flow communication 7 (especially in interaction with the recess 11) is isolated from the surrounding environment to such an extent that the exhaust gas can return to the nozzle body 2 in both the presence and absence of the coating material 5, thereby regulating the temperature of the nozzle body 2.

[0084] According to another embodiment (not shown in this figure), the outer wall 20, as a cover (or possibly as a separate component), is spring-loaded and adheres tightly to the working surface 6 during standby operation. Alternatively, it is also not in... Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the guide element 19 can move toward and away from the working surface 6, for example by a compression spring or an adjusting motor, so that it creates a space for the coating material 5 to pass through in the operating state, while in the standby state, the outer wall 20 acts as a cover close to the working surface 6, so that the cross-section of the first flow communication 7 is preferably not significantly larger than the cross-section of the first flow communication when the coating material 5 is present in the operating state.

[0085] Figure 6a and Figure 6bCross-sectional views of a third embodiment of the nozzle 1 of the present invention are shown. The same reference numerals in the figures also represent the same components. The nozzle body 2 has a first outlet 3, which receives fluid supply via a first air supply line 4. The first air supply line 4 extends from the first outlet 3 to an air supply inlet 8, thereby establishing a first flow communication 7 for the fluid. A first exhaust inlet 9 is arranged adjacent to the outlet 3, and a guide member 13 extends from this first exhaust inlet to the working surface to guide exhaust gas into the first exhaust inlet 9. The first exhaust inlet 9 is in flow communication with a first exhaust outlet 12. The first exhaust outlet 12 directs the discharged exhaust gas to the coating material to be activated. The design of the first exhaust outlet 12 allows adjustment of the angle at which the exhaust gas contacts the coating material to ensure optimal fluid activation. Other fresh air outlets and exhaust outlets can be designed in the same manner. The optimal angle at which the fluid acts on the surface is 80° to 100° with respect to the working surface 6. A second exhaust inlet 14 is arranged adjacent to the second exhaust outlet 12. This second exhaust inlet is in flow communication with a second exhaust line (not shown in this figure). The second exhaust pipe opens at the second exhaust outlet, redirecting the exhaust away from the nozzle body 2, preferably towards the workpiece to be coated, such as... Figure 1 As shown.

[0086] like Figure 6a As shown, during operation, the activation fluid flows through the air inlet 8 to the first outlet 3, through the first exhaust inlet 9 to the first exhaust outlet 12, and from there to the second exhaust inlet 12, exiting the nozzle body 2 through the second exhaust pipe. This method of guiding the fluid is highly efficient during operation. In standby mode, when uncoated material is guided along the working surface, the fluid flows out from the first outlet 3, heating the nozzle body 2 and the surrounding environment, including peripheral equipment such as the shear blades for coating material and the pressure rollers for pressing the activated coating material onto the workpiece. This is both undesirable and wasteful of energy.

[0087] therefore, Figure 6a and Figure 6b The third embodiment shown has a piston-cylinder assembly 29, preferably a pneumatic assembly (here, this assembly is arranged on the nozzle body 2). Figure 6aAs shown, during operation, the piston 30 of the piston-cylinder assembly releases the first flow communication 7 and the air supply line 4, allowing the fluid to flow as described above. Conversely, during standby operation, the piston 30 blocks the fluid passage 28, thereby directing fluid not needed for activation from the nozzle body 2 to the fluid outlet 28a. The fluid outlet 28a can terminate at any location, depending on the requirements of the corresponding coating equipment. The fluid outlet 28a can terminate within the area of ​​the coating equipment or at a remote location, such as outside a building; advantageously, heated fluid that is unnecessary during standby operation can be circulated and, if necessary, reheated and then returned to the air supply inlet 8.

[0088] Figure 6b This illustrates that during standby operation, piston 30 not only blocks fluid passage 28 but also air supply line 4. In this position of piston 30, a flow connection is established between air supply line 4 and fluid passage 28, preventing fluid at operating temperature from entering nozzle body 2 and thus avoiding heating or cooling of nozzle body 2. Specifically, the fluid is preferably transferred to fluid passage 28 before entering nozzle body 2. Figure 6a and Figure 6b In the preferred embodiment shown, the piston cylinder assembly 29 has a cooling device 31 that prevents heat or cold from being transferred from the fluid to the piston cylinder assembly 29.

[0089] like Figure 7a and Figure 7b As shown, the fourth embodiment of the nozzle 1 of the present invention also relates to operation ( Figure 7a ) and standby operation ( Figure 7b ( ) guides the fluid. Figure 7a The nozzle 1, its nozzle body 2, and working surface 6 are shown, in which approximately as follows are arranged... Figure 1 The first outlet 4, the first exhaust inlet 9, the first exhaust outlet 12, and the second exhaust inlet 14 are shown (but not visible in this figure). The nozzle 1 also has an air supply line 4, which is a first flow communication portion that opens into the first outlet 3. Figure 7a A second exhaust conduit 15 is also shown, which, during operation, allows consumed fluid to exit the nozzle body 15 and preferably directs it toward the surface of the workpiece to be coated.

[0090] The working surface 6 of the nozzle 1 is opposite to the covering device 32. The covering device 32 has a covering member 33 arranged opposite to the working surface 6, a steering part 34 connected to the covering member 33, and a piston cylinder assembly 35 communicating with the steering part 34.

[0091] The distance between the cover 33 and the working surface 6 is approximately 3 mm to 15 mm, typically 5 mm to 10 mm. The mating surface 38 of the cover 33 faces the working surface and at least covers the first outlet 3, optionally covering all or part of the working surface 6. The distance between the working surface 6 and the mating surface 38 must be set sufficiently to allow the coating material to be activated to be guided along the working surface 6 during operation.

[0092] Figure 7b The diagram shows the cover 33 in standby operation, abutting against the working surface 6 and at least covering the first outlet 3, preferably partially or completely covering the working surface 6. For this purpose, the contact surface 38 preferably has a seal that seals the covered area towards the contact surface 6. In a simple embodiment, the cover 33 can be moved directly toward the working surface 6 until it contacts it, for example by a piston-cylinder assembly or other actuating device. However, the space in coating equipment using the nozzle of the present invention is typically limited, making such direct manipulation impractical. Therefore, the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 is generally recommended, specifically as follows: by actuating the piston-cylinder assembly 35 to extend its piston, the gap between the cover 33 and the contact surface 6 is closed. The steering portion 34 is connected to the piston at a hinge point 36 and consists of two sections preferably rigidly connected to each other: a first section 34a extending from the hinge point 36 to the rotation axis 37 and a second section 34b extending from the rotation axis 37 and fastened to the cover 33. The piston extending from the piston-cylinder assembly 35 rotates the steering portion 34 about the rotation axis 37, as... Figure 7b As shown, the cover 33 closes the gap with the working surface 6 and is attached to the working surface.

[0093] like Figure 7b As shown, in standby mode, fluid at operating temperature is discharged from the first outlet 3 through the air supply line 4 and enters the opening of the mating surface 38 of the cover 33 (not visible in this figure). The fluid is discharged through the exhaust outlet 39 of the cover 33, which can either be directly delivered to the surrounding environment of the nozzle 1 or delivered to the exhaust channel, allowing the fluid to be further delivered to other outlets farther from the nozzle 1 or returned towards the air supply inlet 8 of the nozzle 1. If necessary, the fluid can be reheated or cooled to the operating temperature beforehand. The steering part 34 can be easily shaped to suit the specific requirements of various nozzles 1 or coating equipment.

[0094] List of reference numerals

[0095]

Claims

1. A nozzle (1) for activating a coating material (5) by means of a fluid, wherein the nozzle body (2) comprises: - Air inlet (8); - Gas supply line (4); and - First Exit (3) in, The gas inlet (8) and the first outlet (3) are in flow communication (7) with each other through the gas pipeline (4). Its features are, According to the first alternative, the nozzle body (2) further has a working surface (6), the working surface (6) having: - First exhaust inlet (9); and - First exhaust outlet (12). Wherein, the first exhaust inlet (9) and the first exhaust outlet (12) are in flow communication with each other through the first exhaust pipe (10); and / or According to the second alternative, the nozzle body (2) also has a second exhaust inlet (14) on the working surface (6), the second exhaust inlet (14) being in flow communication with the second exhaust pipe (15) inside the nozzle body (2); and the nozzle body (2) has a second exhaust outlet (16), the second exhaust outlet being in flow communication with the second exhaust pipe (15) and not opening into the working surface (6).

2. The nozzle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each exhaust inlet (9, 14) is equipped with a guide (13) for supplying exhaust to the exhaust inlet (9, 14).

3. The nozzle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first outlet (3) and / or the first exhaust outlet (12) are shaped such that the exhaust is discharged at an angle of 90° ± 45° relative to the working surface (6).

4. The nozzle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The nozzle body (2) has a height (H); and the first outlet (3) extends as a series of openings along a portion of the height (H) of the nozzle body (2), wherein the series of openings are non-uniformly distributed along a portion of the height (H).

5. The nozzle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The nozzle body (2) has a double-walled structure in at least segmented sections within the region of its outer wall.

6. The nozzle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The air inlet (8) is connected to an air delivery component, wherein the air delivery component is equipped with an air delivery volume adjustment mechanism.

7. The nozzle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, It is equipped with a guide element (19) that can withstand pressure loads.

8. The nozzle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The nozzle body (2) has a standby device, which includes a standby inlet and a standby outlet as well as a standby chamber for heating fluid.

9. The nozzle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The nozzle (1) has a cover (33) having an opening in the mating surface (38) and a fluid outlet (39).

10. The nozzle (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The cover (33) has a fluid channel constructed in the cover (33) and located between the opening and the fluid outlet (39) or after the fluid outlet (39).

11. The nozzle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The nozzle (1) has at least one support point, which is configured to support the coating material activation device.

12. The nozzle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The nozzle body (2) is manufactured by additive manufacturing process.

13. A method for activating a coating material (5) by means of a nozzle body (2) via fluid, said nozzle body having: - Air inlet (8); - Gas supply line (4); and - First Exit (3) in, The gas inlet (8) and the first outlet (3) are in flow communication with each other through the gas supply pipeline (4). Its features are, According to the first alternative, the nozzle body (2) further comprises: - First exhaust inlet (9); and - First exhaust outlet (12). The first exhaust inlet (9) and the first exhaust outlet (12) open into the working surface (6) and are in flow communication with each other through the first exhaust pipe (10); and / or According to the second alternative, the nozzle body (2) further has a second exhaust inlet (14), which is in flow communication with a second exhaust pipe (15) within the nozzle body (2); and the nozzle body (2) has a second exhaust outlet (16), which does not open into the working surface (6) and is in flow communication with the second exhaust pipe (15), wherein the fluid flows into the air supply pipe (4) through the air supply inlet (8) and flows from the air supply pipe (4) to the first outlet (3), so that subsequently, according to the first alternative, the fluid flows into the first exhaust inlet (9) and from the first exhaust inlet (9) to the first exhaust outlet (12), and / or according to the second alternative, the fluid flows into the second exhaust inlet (14) and from the second exhaust inlet (14) into the second exhaust pipe (15) and finally flows to the second exhaust outlet (16).

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, During standby operation, according to the first alternative, a reduced amount of fluid is introduced into the nozzle body (2) and guided through the first outlet (3), the exhaust inlet (9) and the exhaust outlet (12) or the second exhaust inlet (14), and / or according to the second alternative, the standby device introduces the fluid into the standby chamber in the nozzle body (2) through the standby inlet and exits it from the nozzle body through the standby outlet.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, In standby operation, the fluid is directed from the first outlet (3) through an opening in the cover (33) opposite to the first outlet to the fluid outlet (39), so that the fluid is subsequently discharged from the fluid outlet into the fluid channel and away from the nozzle (1) according to a first alternative, or the fluid is guided back to the nozzle body (2) according to a second alternative.

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