Nozzle Array for Uniform Workpiece Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatment devices for cleaning and drying workpieces face challenges such as complex control electronics, low throughput, and inhomogeneous cleaning due to varying nozzle distances and shadowing effects, particularly in mass production of large or bulk workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A treatment device with a nozzle device movably mounted via a lever arm rotatably offset parallel to the workpiece axis, allowing for a constant distance and optimal spray direction, ensuring uniform treatment across polygonal or irregularly shaped workpieces without shadowing, and enabling simultaneous spraying of multiple sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple degrees of freedom are provided for workpiece carrier and nozzle to spray all sections directly, then cleaning completeness is improved, but device complexity and control complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment device segments the workpiece treatment process by using multiple nozzles arranged in a nozzle array, where each nozzle treats a specific section of the workpiece. This segmentation allows simpler individual nozzle movements while achieving complete coverage through the collective action of multiple nozzles, reducing the complexity required for each individual degree of freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle array is designed to be universally applicable to different workpiece types and sizes. By providing multiple nozzles that can collectively cover various workpiece configurations, the system achieves multi-functionality without requiring complex adaptive control for each specific workpiece geometry, thus reducing control electronics complexity while maintaining cleaning completeness.
2Manufacturing precision
If a single nozzle is used with multiple degrees of freedom, then all sections can be sprayed directly, but throughput decreases due to small spray coverage per unit time
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple nozzles are merged into a single nozzle array assembly that functions as one integrated treatment unit. This merging allows simultaneous spraying of multiple workpiece sections by multiple nozzles, significantly increasing throughput while maintaining the spray coverage quality that would otherwise require complex multi-degree-of-freedom movement of a single nozzle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-nozzle point-source approach to a multi-nozzle array that provides distributed coverage across multiple spatial dimensions. This dimensional expansion allows parallel treatment of multiple workpiece areas, increasing throughput without sacrificing the precision and quality of spray coverage on individual sections.
3Device complexity
If nozzles are arranged coaxially with workpiece axis for rotational movement, then treatment is simplified, but shadowing effects increase and cleaning uniformity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle array is positioned asymmetrically relative to the workpiece axis, offset from coaxial alignment. This asymmetric positioning allows the nozzles to approach the workpiece from angles that minimize shadowing effects while maintaining relatively simple rotational and linear movement mechanisms. The offset arrangement enables better visibility and spray coverage of workpiece surfaces that would otherwise be in shadow.
Solution Approach 2:
Different nozzles in the array are positioned at different locations and orientations to provide locally optimized spray coverage for different workpiece sections. This local quality approach ensures that each nozzle is positioned to minimize shadowing for its specific coverage area, achieving overall cleaning uniformity without requiring complex coordinated movement of the entire assembly.
4Device complexity
If nozzle distance to workpiece varies during treatment, then device structure is simplified, but cleaning homogeneity deteriorates due to inhomogeneous treatment intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle array is mounted on movable supports that allow dynamic adjustment of the nozzle-to-workpiece distance during treatment. This dynamic positioning capability enables the system to maintain relatively constant optimal spray distance across different workpiece sizes and shapes, ensuring homogeneous cleaning intensity while keeping the overall structural design relatively simple and adaptable.
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 achieves optimal cleaning or drying results by maintaining a consistent spray distance and angle, reducing shadowing effects, and increasing throughput by allowing for efficient treatment of larger or bulkier workpieces with improved uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
a nozzle device (18) which has at least one nozzle (20) for spraying a treatment medium and which is movably mounted relative to the workpiece carrier (14), for directing the treatment medium in a spraying direction (22) onto the workpiece (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The treatment device (10) has a workpiece carrier (14) for retaining workpiece (12), which has a workpiece axis (16).A nozzle device (18) has a nozzle (20) for the spraying of a treatment medium. The nozzle device is supported movable by lever arm (24), which is supported movable around a parallel offset axis of rotation (26) to the workpiece axis.