Painting Robot Pressure Control for Stable Paint Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robotic painting systems face challenges in managing hydrocephalus pressure differences between the circulation device on the robot arm and the ejection head, leading to instability in painting, and issues with pressure adjustment due to fully open or closed valves, which affect motor performance.

Innovation Solution

A painting robot with a control unit that adjusts the pressure of paint supply and recovery using first and second adjustment valves, monitored by pressure sensors, to maintain stable painting by compensating for hydrocephalus pressure differentials and ensuring precise control of paint flow and ejection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a circulation device is attached to the tip side of the robot arm, then the effect of hydrocephalus pressure difference in the circulation device is reduced, but it is unclear how to reduce the effects of hydrocephalus pressure difference between the circulation device mounted on the robot arm side and the discharge head, and motor performance cannot be improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepainting stabilityVSAvoidpressure control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation device is divided into two separate units: a circulation pump unit mounted on the robot arm and a discharge head unit at the painting tip. This segmentation allows independent pressure control at each location, enabling the system to address hydrocephalus pressure differences between the two components while maintaining painting stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A pressure control mechanism acts as an intermediary between the circulation device and discharge head, regulating paint flow and pressure independently at each stage. This intermediary control system resolves the pressure differential issues that arise from having the circulation device on the robot arm while maintaining stable painting performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the first proportional control valve and the second proportional control valve are fully open or fully closed, then pressure adjustment becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure adjustment rangeVSAvoidpressure control stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts the opening degree of proportional control valves within an optimal range, preventing them from reaching fully open or fully closed states. This dynamic control maintains pressure adjustment capability while ensuring stable pressure regulation through continuous adaptability to changing painting conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Pressure sensors provide real-time feedback on paint pressure at various points in the system. The control unit uses this feedback to continuously adjust valve openings, ensuring valves remain within an optimal operating range that maintains both adjustment capability and pressure stability, preventing the valves from reaching extreme positions where control is lost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the circulation device is attached to the tip side of the robot arm, then pressure control is improved, but it is difficult to improve the motor performance in the robotic painting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure controlVSAvoidmotor performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation device is extracted from the robot arm and mounted on a separate stand, isolating the heavy, high-power pump components from the robotic system. This extraction improves motor performance and robot dynamics by removing unnecessary weight, while the circulation device remains integrated into the paint supply system through dedicated piping, maintaining effective pressure control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The solution provides stable and efficient vehicle painting by reducing the impact of hydrocephalus pressure differences and enabling precise control of paint application, improving motor performance and ensuring consistent painting quality.

Implementation Method 1

a painting head unit comprising a painting head (53) comprising a piezoelectric substrate (62) for driving droplets out of the nozzle (54)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a paint supply means for applying pressure to supply paint to a painting head (53)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 3

a paint recovery means for applying pressure to a downstream side of a return channel for recovering paint not dispensed from the painting head (53)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP4252913B1Painting robot
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4252913B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4252913B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4252913B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a painting robot capable of realizing at least one of improvement in movement performance, reduction of the influence of a water head pressure difference, and prevention of occurrence of a state in which the pressure cannot be adjusted by a first adjustment valve and a second adjustment valve. The painting robot 10 comprises a robot arm R1 attaching the painting head unit 50 to the tip, a paint supply mechanism 70 disposed between the robot arm R1 and the painting head unit 50, and a control unit 100, the control unit 100 comprising a paint supply means 90, a paint supply control unit 140 that performs control of at least one actuation of the paint supply means 91, the first adjustment valve 92 and the second adjustment valve 93 so as to be a pressure set point read from the control memory 141, and controls operation of at least one of the paint supply means 90 and the paint recovery means 91 while adjusting the openness of the first adjustment valve 92 and the second adjustment valve 93 within a predetermined adjustment range when controlling the pressure of the paint to be a pressure set point.