Electrostatic Atomization Nozzle Sealing Against Air Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrostatic atomization coating apparatuses, external air can enter the coating material chamber through coating material ejection ports at the upper portion when the coating material supply is stopped, leading to leakage of remaining coating material through ports at the lower portion, causing improper coating and increased maintenance burdens.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a nozzle head with a coating material chamber and branch coating material paths, each connected to a specific subset of coating material ejection ports. An open/close valve device is used to close all or specific subsets of branch coating material paths during suspension or termination of the coating operation, preventing external air entry and coating material leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If flow path resistors are provided in each branch coating material path to ensure uniform ejection of coating material, then coating material ejection uniformity is improved, but external air can enter the coating material chamber through upper ejection ports when supply is stopped, causing coating material leakage and increased maintenance burden
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the coating material chamber into multiple sealed compartments, each corresponding to a branch coating material path. This segmentation isolates air entry points and prevents cross-contamination of coating material between different ejection ports, thereby preventing leakage while maintaining uniform ejection characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a sealed partition structure as an intermediary between the coating material chamber and the external environment. This partition acts as a barrier that prevents external air from entering the chamber through ejection ports while allowing controlled coating material flow through the sealed pathways.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the nozzle head is positioned at various orientations during coating operations, then coating coverage flexibility is improved, but air entry through upper ejection ports causes improper coating and increases cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the coating material chamber into separate sealed compartments for each ejection port, the invention ensures that air entry at any orientation does not affect the coating material supply to other ports. This maintains coating quality consistency regardless of nozzle head positioning while preserving operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a sealed inert environment within each compartment of the coating material chamber, preventing external air from contaminating the coating material supply paths. This sealed environment maintains coating quality consistency irrespective of the nozzle head's orientation or position.
3Ease of operation
If coating material supply is stopped to suspend or end coating operation, then operational control is improved, but remaining coating material leaks through lower ejection ports due to air entry through upper ports
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented compartment structure isolates each ejection port's coating material supply path, preventing leakage through lower ports when upper ports are open to air. This segmentation allows operational control without coating material loss during suspension or termination.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed partition structure is pre-configured to automatically prevent air entry and coating material leakage when supply is stopped. This preliminary structural design ensures that no additional action is needed to prevent coating material loss during operational pauses.
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
This configuration effectively prevents external air from entering the coating material chamber and coating material from leaking out, reducing the burden of cleaning and maintenance and ensuring proper coating quality.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage application device that provides a potential difference between the nozzle head and an object to be coated, the coating material ejected from each of the coating material ejection ports via the coating material supply path, the coating material chamber, and the branch coating material path being brought into a charged state through application of a voltage by the voltage application device
Implementation Method 2
the coating material in a charged state that has been ejected from the plurality of coating material ejection ports is atomized by the action of an electric field formed around the coating material ejection ports
Implementation Method 3
the atomized coating material in the charged state is electrostatically attracted to and flies to an object to be coated due to the potential difference between the object to be coated and the nozzle head
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
In an electrostatic atomization coating apparatus including a nozzle head 3 including a plurality of coating material ejection ports 12a; a coating material chamber 4 that is provided inside the nozzle head 3 and to which a coating material T is supplied via a coating material supply path 7a, each of the coating material ejection ports 12a being in communication with the coating material chamber 4 via an individual branch coating material path 13; and a voltage application device 14 that provides a potential difference between the nozzle head 3 and an object to be coated, the coating material T ejected from each of the coating material ejection ports 12a via the coating material supply path 7a, the coating material chamber 4, and the branch coating material path 13 being brought into a charged state through application of a voltage by the voltage application device 14, an open/close valve device 5 that opens and closes all of the branch coating material paths 13, or opens and closes a specific subset of a plurality of branch coating material paths out of all of the branch coating material paths 13 is provided. Thus, it is possible to prevent external air from entering the nozzle head 3, and the coating material from leaking to the outside of the nozzle head 3.