Liquid Discharge Head Trajectory for Uniform High-Speed Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face decreased productivity due to maintaining a constant distance between the head and the object's surface, leading to reduced moving speed and uneven liquid application.

Innovation Solution

A liquid discharge apparatus with a head, position changer, and controller that adjusts the relative position and angle between the object and head based on prescribed discharge conditions, determining a linear trajectory and outputting commands to ensure non-uniform discharge distances and angles, allowing for optimized movement and application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the head moves to keep a constant distance between the surface of the object and the head, then the liquid application uniformity is improved, but the moving speed of the head decreases and productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid application uniformityVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a static constant-distance movement approach to a dynamic trajectory approach. The head moves along a predetermined linear trajectory that allows the distance to the object surface to vary, optimizing both coating quality and productivity. The control unit dynamically adjusts the head position based on pre-calculated trajectory data rather than maintaining a fixed distance constraint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating the optimal linear trajectory and storing it in the control unit before the coating process begins. The trajectory is determined in advance based on the object's three-dimensional shape and coating requirements, allowing the head to follow the optimized path without real-time distance adjustments, thereby maintaining high speed while ensuring coating quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the head moves to keep a constant distance between the surface of the object and the head, then the liquid application uniformity is improved, but the moving speed of the head decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid application uniformityVSAvoidmoving speed of the head
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a static constant-distance movement approach to a dynamic trajectory approach. The head moves along a predetermined linear trajectory that allows the distance to the object surface to vary, optimizing both coating quality and productivity. The control unit dynamically adjusts the head position based on pre-calculated trajectory data rather than maintaining a fixed distance constraint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the head moves along a complex three-dimensional shape of the object, then the liquid application uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid application uniformityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex coating task into two independent components: a simple linear movement trajectory and a separate liquid discharge control system. The head follows a straightforward linear path while the control unit manages the discharge timing and positioning, separating the complexity of object geometry from the movement mechanism and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements copying by using a pre-calculated linear trajectory model that represents the optimal path without requiring the physical head to adapt to the object's complex three-dimensional shape in real-time. The trajectory data serves as a simplified copy or representation of the coating requirements, allowing simple linear motion to achieve complex coating goals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4234100B1Liquid discharge apparatus, liquid discharge method, and carrier medium
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4234100B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4234100B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4234100B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A liquid discharge apparatus (10) includes a head (1), a position changer (2), and circuity (3). The head (1) has a nozzle. The head (1) discharges a liquid from the nozzle to apply the liquid onto a surface of an object (200). The head (1) has a prescribed discharge condition. The position changer (2) changes a relative position between the object (200) and the head (1). The circuitry (3) determines a linear trajectory along which the position changer (2) moves the head (1) based on the prescribed discharge condition, outputs a first command including multiple moving positions along the linear trajectory to the position changer (2) to cause the position changer (2) to move the head (1) along the linear trajectory, and outputs a second command including multiple discharge positions to the head (1) to cause the head (1) to discharge the liquid at the multiple discharge positions.