Dynamic Velocity-Feedback Surface Treatment for Complex Geometries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inkjet printing technologies face challenges with bulky printing means, disruptions due to rapid movement, and difficulty in maintaining precise substance ejection, leading to reduced efficiency and quality, especially when dealing with complex geometries.

Innovation Solution

A method and installation that involve measuring instantaneous velocities along a predetermined trajectory to generate a pulse train signal for controlled substance deposition, allowing for variable speed movement and precise substance ejection, enabling flexible and high-precision surface treatment regardless of part geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the robot arm moves rapidly to increase productivity, then the printing speed and industrial efficiency improve, but disruptions and position variations occur leading to reduced manufacturing precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidposition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A measurement sensor determines instantaneous velocities along the trajectory, and this velocity information is fed back to control the deposition frequency dynamically, allowing the system to maintain precision despite rapid movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static deposition control to dynamic control where the deposition frequency varies continuously based on real-time velocity measurements, enabling precise substance placement during rapid arm movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the printhead is moved rapidly by the robot arm to improve productivity, then the printing efficiency increases, but sudden orientation variations disrupt substance ejection quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidejection quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Velocity measurements are continuously monitored and used to adjust deposition timing, compensating for orientation changes and maintaining consistent ejection quality during rapid movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-calculates and stores velocity data along the trajectory before deposition, allowing the microcontroller to anticipate and compensate for orientation variations before they affect ejection quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If bulky printing means with drying modules are used to enable four-color printing, then printing functionality is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drying module is separated from the printhead assembly and positioned independently, allowing the printhead to be lighter and more maneuverable while drying functionality is maintained by a separate stationary or independently controlled module

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The printing system is divided into separate functional modules (printhead, drying module, measurement sensor) that can be independently optimized and controlled, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If the robot arm moves rapidly to treat complex three-dimensional geometries, then productivity improves, but measurement precision and deposition accuracy decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment speedVSAvoidvelocity measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Mechanical velocity measurement methods are replaced with optical or electromagnetic measurement sensors that can accurately track position and velocity even during rapid movement, eliminating mechanical inertia and friction errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11840102B2Method for treating the surfaces of a part and associated facility

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 SMRC AUTOMOTIVE HLDG NETHERLANDS BV

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for surface-treating a part (2), comprising:a measurement step, during which movement means (3), to which the part (2) is secured, are moved and a set of instantaneous velocities, at the surface (1) of the part (2), is determined by means of a measurement sensor (9),a signal processing step, during which a microcontroller (8) determines, from the data representative of the set of instantaneous velocities, a pulse train signal (S) representative of a set of frequencies of ejection of a substance (13) to be deposited,a deposition step, during which the microcontroller (8) transmits the pulse train signal (S) to the deposition means (6) in order to eject the substance (13) according to the pulse train signal (S).