Perforated Nozzle Plate Layout for Uniform Coating Overlap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing perforated plates for applying coating materials to motor vehicle bodies suffer from issues such as unsuitable overlap of coating material webs due to rectangular cross-sectional profiles, leading to imperfections like dents or overcoating, and high coating material flow rates that cause splashing.

Innovation Solution

A perforated plate with a nozzle configuration featuring a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, achieved by varying through-hole diameters in edge and central regions, allowing for precise fluid application without splashing, and enabling uniform layer thickness distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If through-holes are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix configuration to create sharply defined coating material webs, then manufacturing precision of coating edges is improved, but coating material flow rate increases causing splashing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating edge definitionVSAvoidcoating material flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The coating application is segmented into sequential passes rather than attempting to cover the entire width in a single pass. The nozzle row applies coating to a limited width, and subsequent passes overlap to complete the coverage, reducing the flow rate requirement per nozzle while maintaining edge definition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coating application is divided into periodic passes along the vehicle body, with each pass applying coating to a specific section. This allows the system to maintain precision while reducing the instantaneous flow rate demand by spreading the total coating quantity across multiple application cycles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Ease of operation

If through-holes are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix configuration to generate trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, then ease of operation for overlapping coating webs is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple through-holes with different diameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating web overlappingVSAvoidnozzle configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the nozzle row have different through-hole diameters optimized for their specific function: larger diameter holes in the central region for main coating flow, and smaller diameter holes in edge regions for controlled overlap areas. This local differentiation achieves the desired trapezoidal profile and overlapping capability without requiring complex variable geometry mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The through-hole diameters are varied as a discrete parameter across the nozzle row to generate the trapezoidal cross-sectional profile. By changing the hole diameter parameter from center to edge, the system achieves the desired coating web shape and overlapping characteristics while maintaining a relatively simple fixed-geometry nozzle structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If through-holes have uniform diameter to simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision of coating thickness distribution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle fabricationVSAvoidcoating thickness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the nozzle row have different through-hole diameters optimized for their specific function: larger diameter holes in the central region for main coating flow, and smaller diameter holes in edge regions for controlled overlap areas. This local differentiation achieves the desired trapezoidal profile and overlapping capability without requiring complex variable geometry mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The through-hole diameters are varied as a discrete parameter across the nozzle row to generate the trapezoidal cross-sectional profile. By changing the hole diameter parameter from center to edge, the system achieves the desired coating web shape and overlapping characteristics while maintaining a relatively simple fixed-geometry nozzle structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3402607B1Perforated plate with a reduced diameter in one or both edge regions of a row of nozzles
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 DUERR SYST AG
  • EP3402607B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3402607B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3402607B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6B

AI summary

The invention relates to a perforated plate (1) for an application device for applying a fluid to a component, preferably to a motor vehicle body and/or to an add-on part for the latter. The perforated plate (1) comprises at least three through-holes (2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) for the passage of the fluid, wherein the through-holes (2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) of a row of nozzles are assigned to a central region (2) and to two edge regions (3a, 3b), wherein the at least one outermost through-hole (3.1) has, in at least one edge region (3a), at least one reference through-diameter (d, dl, d2) which is smaller than at least one reference through-diameter (d3) of at least one through-hole (2.1) in the central region (2). The invention also comprises an application device and an application method using such a perforated plate (1).