Freely Positionable Component Holders for Coating Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer-controlled coating systems are costly and inefficient for small and pilot series production due to the need for expensive, individually manufactured base plates with fixed component receptacles, which also occupy significant storage space.
Innovation Solution
A method where component holders are freely positionable on a base plate, allowing different components to be arranged on the same base plate, with optional height-adjustability and locking mechanisms, and using optical or mechanical positioning devices for precise component placement, reducing manufacturing costs and storage needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If individually manufactured base plates with fixed component receptacles are used for each component, then positioning precision and coating accuracy are improved, but manufacturing costs and storage requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is designed as a universal platform with multiple freely positionable component fixtures that can accommodate different component types and sizes. Instead of manufacturing dedicated base plates for each component, a single multi-functional base plate serves multiple purposes across various component variants, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining positioning precision through adjustable fixtures and detection pins
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate system is segmented into modular components: the base plate itself, freely positionable component fixtures, and detachable detection pins. This segmentation allows flexible reconfiguration for different components without requiring complete base plate replacement, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving positioning accuracy
2Manufacturing precision
If individually manufactured base plates are used for each component, then component-specific coating accuracy is improved, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal base plate with freely positionable fixtures replaces multiple component-specific base plates, eliminating the need for extensive storage of numerous specialized base plates while maintaining coating accuracy through precise positioning capabilities and detection pin systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If freely positionable component fixtures are used on a base plate, then system versatility and cost-effectiveness are improved, but positioning precision and repeatability become more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces purely mechanical positioning with an integrated detection system using detection pins and optical or mechanical position sensors. This substitution enables precise detection of component fixture positions, ensuring repeatable positioning accuracy despite the freedom to reconfigure fixtures for different components
Solution Approach 2:
The position detection system provides feedback on the location of component fixtures and detection pins, allowing the control system to compensate for positioning variations and maintain precise coating application. The feedback mechanism ensures that even with freely positionable fixtures, the actual positions are accurately known and accounted for
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for applying a fluid to a surface (12) of a component (13), wherein the component (13) is arranged on several component holders (17, 18, 19, 20) in a computer-controlled coating system (10), the position of the component (13) is detected and the fluid is applied to the surface (12) of the component (13) according to a pre-programmed coating sequence, wherein the method is characterized in that at least one of the component holders (17, 18, 19, 20) is freely positionable mounted on a base plate (16).The invention also relates to a computer-controlled coating system (10) for applying a fluid to a surface (12) of a component (13) comprising: at least one base plate (16) on which several component fixtures (17, 18, 19, 20) can be freely positioned; at least one movable metering tip (11) for applying the fluid to the surface (12) of the component (13); at least one device for detecting the target positions of the component fixtures (17, 18, 19, 20) and/or for displaying the target positions of the component fixtures (17, 18, 19, 20).