Nozzle Print Head for Multicomponent Coating Without Overspray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nozzle print heads are unable to satisfactorily apply multicomponent coating compositions such as 2K or 3K paints, adhesives, sealants, and primers to motor vehicle bodies without overspray, limiting their application efficiency and requiring additional cleaning measures.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle print head system with separate supply lines for components that mix on the surface or within the print head, allowing for precise application of jets or drops of multicomponent coatings, and incorporating a mixer or controlled valve system to adjust mixing ratios and prevent overspray, along with a flushing device for efficient cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional spray methods are used to apply coating compositions, then coating material is applied to surfaces, but significant overspray occurs causing material loss and requiring additional cleaning measures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional pneumatic spray atomization with a mechanical jet injection system. Coating material is delivered through nozzles that form focused jets or streams without aerosolization, eliminating overspray while maintaining coating application capability. This mechanical delivery system substitutes the traditional air-powered spray mechanism that causes harmful overspray.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mixing chamber where multiple coating components are combined immediately before nozzle delivery. This intermediary stage allows multicomponent coatings to be mixed and delivered as a unified jet stream, enabling precise material placement without the overspray that would result from spraying individual components separately or pre-mixed coatings through conventional spray methods.
2Loss of substance
If nozzle print heads are used to apply coating without overspray, then material loss is reduced, but the system cannot satisfactorily apply multicomponent coating compositions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coating delivery system into multiple independent supply lines, each delivering a separate coating component to the nozzle. This segmentation allows multicomponent coatings to be applied through the same jet-based nozzle system that eliminates overspray, as each component can be delivered through dedicated channels and mixed at the point of application without compromising the no-overspray advantage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary mixing of multiple coating components in a mixing chamber immediately before jet delivery through the nozzle. This preliminary action ensures that multicomponent coatings are properly combined and ready for application, enabling the system to handle complex multicomponent formulations while maintaining the precise, overspray-free delivery characteristics of the jet nozzle system.
3Ease of manufacture
If multicomponent coating compositions are applied using conventional methods, then coating can be applied, but additional cleaning measures are required due to overspray
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional spray atomization with a mechanical jet injection system that delivers coating material as focused streams. This substitution eliminates the aerosolization process that generates overspray, thereby removing the need for additional cleaning measures while maintaining effective coating application. The mechanical jet system inherently prevents the harmful overspray that would require post-application cleaning.
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
Enables fully automatic, high-efficiency surface coating of motor vehicle bodies with multicomponent coatings virtually without overspray, reducing material loss and VOC emissions, and improving the accuracy and efficiency of the coating process.
Implementation Method 1
nozzles arranged side by side, which apply the coating composition to the surface to be coated as continuous jets or individual drops
Data Source
AI summary
An application device for the application in series of a paint or other coating compositions to motor vehicle bodies or add-on parts thereof has a nozzle print head which contains a plurality of nozzles arranged, for example, in one or more rows, which apply the coating composition to the surface to be coated as continuous jets or individual drops. The nozzle print head is arranged on a multi-axis coating robot. In contrast to application devices of this type known hitherto, the coating composition consists of at least two components which are to be mixed together, such as, for example, 2K paint, which are fed to the nozzle print head via separate supply lines for jointly supplying the nozzles.