Applicator Sealing Membrane for Independent Nozzle Needle Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing print heads for applying coating agents to motor vehicle bodies face issues with contamination and drying due to exposure to the coating agent, especially when using high-viscosity compositions and color changes, and lack optimal flow technology and undercut-free design.
Innovation Solution
A print head with a sealing membrane that fluidly separates the actuator chamber from the nozzle chamber, featuring a three-dimensional structure to prevent mechanical interference between valve needles and allowing independent operation of nozzles, and a barrier fluid system for leakage detection and pressure management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the actuator chamber is not fluidically separated from the nozzle chamber, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the coating agent contaminates and dries in the actuator chamber causing operational problems
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is divided into two fluidically separated chambers: a nozzle chamber for coating agent and an actuator chamber for barrier fluid. The sealing membrane creates a physical barrier that segments the system, allowing independent operation of each chamber and preventing contamination of the actuator chamber with coating agent.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing membrane acts as an intermediary barrier between the nozzle chamber and actuator chamber. This membrane allows mechanical actuation to be transmitted while preventing fluid mixing, thus protecting the actuator chamber from coating agent contamination while maintaining system functionality.
2Reliability
If a continuous sealing membrane is used to separate the chambers, then fluid separation is effective, but mechanical interference between adjacent valve needles occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing membrane features local openings or discontinuities at specific positions corresponding to valve needle locations. These localized modifications allow individual valve needles to move independently without mechanical interference from the membrane, while maintaining fluid separation in the regions between openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous sealing membrane is segmented with discrete openings that correspond to individual nozzle positions. This segmentation allows each valve needle to operate independently through its associated opening while the membrane maintains fluid separation in the regions between openings.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the applicator is designed for high-viscosity coating compositions, then it can handle motor vehicle body paints, but the coating agent dries faster and causes more contamination
Solution Approach 1:
A barrier fluid is introduced into the actuator chamber as an intermediary substance that prevents coating agent from contacting and drying in the actuator chamber. This barrier fluid creates a protective layer that eliminates contamination issues while allowing the applicator to handle high-viscosity coating compositions in the nozzle chamber.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents contamination and drying of the coating agent, enables efficient operation with high-viscosity coatings, and optimizes flow technology for improved performance in painting motor vehicle bodies.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing membrane (14) which fluidly separates a nozzle space (15) from an actuator space (16) in the print head
Implementation Method 2
A magnetically driven plunger/armature is guided in a coil. If the armature of the electromagnetic actuator and the sealing element that closes the valve seat are one component, this is referred to below as the valve tappet
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to an applicator (e.g. pressure head) for applying a coating means (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle bodywork component), comprising a nozzle chamber (15) with a plurality of nozzles (2-5) for dispensing the coating means in the form of continuous jets or droplets, the coating means flowing through the nozzle chamber (15) to the nozzles (2-5) during operation in such a way that the nozzle chamber (15) is filled with the coating means during operation. The print head also comprises a plurality of movable valve needles (6-9) that are associated with the individual nozzles (2-5) and selectively open or close each nozzle (2-5) according to the position of the valve needles (6-9). The print head according to the invention also contains an actuator chamber (16) for receiving actuators (10-13) for moving the valve needles (6-9). Furthermore, the applicator according to the invention comprises a sealing element (14) that fluidically separates the actuator chamber (16) from the nozzle chamber (15), in order to prevent contamination of the actuator chamber (16) with the coating means in the nozzle chamber (15). According to the invention, the sealing element (14) is embodied such that the individual valve needles (6-9) can be independently moved without movement of one of the valve needles (6-9) affecting the opening and closing of the nozzles (2-5) associated with the adjacent valve needle (6-9).