Offset Reservoir Spraygun Atomizer Agility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional atomizers used in robot-assisted coating processes are elongated and inflexible, limiting access to difficult-to-reach areas and experiencing high solvent flow losses due to long, narrow ducts, which slows down cleaning operations and results in paint wastage.
Innovation Solution
A compact, agile atomizer design with a reservoir offset from the spraying direction, featuring a short connection duct, a rotary drive for the atomizer member, and a method for efficient re-supplying and cleaning that minimizes solvent consumption and paint wastage, allowing for better access to complex geometries and reduced operational time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the reservoir is positioned along the main axis co-linear with the spraying direction, then the atomizer structure is simple and straightforward, but the atomizer becomes elongated which limits agility and access to difficult-to-reach regions
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is repositioned from a co-linear arrangement along the spraying direction to an angular offset position, creating a convergent geometric configuration. This dimensional repositioning allows the atomizer to achieve a compact form factor while maintaining all necessary functional connections, thereby improving agility without significantly increasing structural complexity
2Volume of moving object
If the connection duct and feed duct are made long and narrow to connect the reservoir to the atomizer means, then the atomizer can maintain a compact form, but large head losses occur which reduce solvent flow rate and slow down cleaning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The duct geometry parameters are optimized by reducing length and increasing cross-sectional area where possible. The connection duct length is limited to 50mm and feed duct length to 300mm with maximum diameter of 5mm (preferably 4mm). These parameter changes reduce head losses while maintaining compact atomizer dimensions, thereby improving cleaning speed without sacrificing compactness
3Device complexity
If the connection duct is made long and narrow, then the atomizer can accommodate the reservoir positioning, but paint losses increase during cleaning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The connection duct parameters are optimized to minimize paint loss during cleaning. By limiting the duct length to 50mm and controlling the diameter to a maximum of 5mm (preferably 4mm), the surface area-to-volume ratio is reduced, minimizing paint adhesion losses. This parameter optimization reduces paint loss while maintaining the necessary reservoir positioning flexibility
4Adaptability or versatility
If the atomizer height is reduced to improve agility, then access to difficult-to-reach areas is improved, but the reservoir volume and connection duct length may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is positioned at an angular offset from the spraying direction, creating a convergent geometric configuration. This allows the reservoir to be accommodated within a compact height envelope (less than 450mm, preferably less than 400mm) while maintaining adequate volume through optimized cross-sectional dimensions. The angular positioning enables three-dimensional space utilization that preserves reservoir capacity despite height constraints
Data Source
AI summary
This spraygun (1) comprises a body (11) and, housed in a proximal part (11.1) of the body (11), a tank (10) extending along a main axis (X10). This spraygun also comprises atomizing means (5) in a distal part (11.2) of the body (11) comprising an atomizing member (51) designed to atomize the coating product generally in an atomizing direction (Y50). The atomizing direction (Y50) and the main axis (X10) of the tank are convergent.