Powder Primer Application for MDF Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing wood-based panels, such as MDF or HDF, face issues with uncontrolled growth during impregnation due to water-containing synthetic resins, leading to shifts in printed images and requiring complex, energy-intensive processes with significant space and cleaning needs, especially when using liquid primers that change viscosity and opacity.

Innovation Solution

A method involving sprinkling a mixture powder of color pigments and a second binder onto the wood chip or fiber cake, followed by spraying water, which eliminates the need for solvents, reduces cleaning efforts, and allows for adjustable opacity and easy changes in production without major investments, using a device with a funnel, roller, squeegee, brush, and oscillating sieve to ensure uniform application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If liquid primer is applied using spray nozzles or atomizing device, then the surface can be coated, but the primer changes viscosity and opacity due to solvent evaporation, requiring complex cleaning and energy-intensive processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprimer application processVSAvoidcleaning and drying equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the primer from liquid to powder form. This parameter change eliminates solvent evaporation issues, viscosity changes, and opacity variations. The powder primer is applied dry to the wood chip cake, avoiding all the problems associated with liquid primer application, drying, and cleaning processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the solvent component from the primer formulation. By using only pigment and binder in powder form without any liquid solvent, the process removes the need for evaporation, drying equipment, and extensive cleaning systems, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple layers of primer are applied one on top of the other, then sufficient coverage is achieved, but each layer requires intermediate drying and the process becomes energy-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprimer coverage uniformityVSAvoiddrying energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the primer from liquid to powder form, allowing single-layer application that achieves sufficient coverage without requiring multiple intermediate drying steps. The powder formulation with pigment and binder provides adequate opacity and coverage in one application, eliminating the energy-intensive multi-layer drying process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the printed image is shifted due to uncontrolled growth during impregnation, then printing accuracy is affected, but using water-based synthetic resins causes this uncontrolled growth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinted image position accuracyVSAvoidpanel dimensions during impregnation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes water-based synthetic resins from the primer formulation. By using only pigment and binder in powder form, the process eliminates the uncontrolled growth and dimensional instability that occurs during water-based impregnation, ensuring accurate printed image positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If liquid primer is used, then the surface can be coated, but solvents evaporate causing harmful emissions and requiring extensive cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface coating capabilityVSAvoidsolvent evaporation emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates all solvent components from the primer system. The powder formulation containing only pigment and binder requires no evaporation process, completely eliminating harmful emissions. The dry application method also eliminates the need for extensive cleaning of equipment and surfaces.

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

This approach results in a uniform primer layer that avoids adhesion issues and dust formation, allows for quick changes in production, reduces energy consumption, and maintains even surfaces without the need for extensive cleaning or solvent evaporation, enabling efficient production of wood-based panels with consistent color and reduced material waste.

Implementation Method 1

the cake is sprayed with water after the mixture powder has been sprinkled on

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (physical): Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a primer, which is a mixed powder of color pigments and a second binder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3431239B1Method for manufacturing a wooden panel, in particular an mdf or hdf panel
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 OMYA INT AG
  • EP3431239B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3431239B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3431239B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method for producing a wood-based panel, in particular an MDF or HDF panel, by sprinkling a cake of wood chips or wood fibers moistened with a first binder, which is then pressed in a hot press to form a panel of desired thickness, wherein a primer is applied non-contact to a top surface of the cake before pressing, is characterized in that the primer is a powder mixture of color pigments and a second binder and is sprinkled onto the top surface of the cake.