Sealing Membrane Print Head for Contamination-Free Nozzle Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing print heads for applying coating agents to vehicle body components are not suitable for high-viscosity coatings and color changes due to exposure of actuators to the coating agent, leading to contamination and inefficiencies such as partial drying and the need for frequent rinsing.
Innovation Solution
A print head design featuring a continuous sealing membrane that separates the actuator chamber from the nozzle chamber, preventing contamination and allowing for independent operation of nozzles with a three-dimensional structure to minimize mechanical interference between valve needles, and the use of electromechanical actuators with a barrier fluid system for pressure control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electromechanical actuators are exposed to coating agent for nozzle actuation, then nozzle control is achieved, but actuator contamination and coating agent drying occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate chambers: a first chamber containing the electromechanical actuators and a second chamber containing the nozzles and coating agent. A membrane separates these chambers, preventing direct contact between the actuators and coating agent while still enabling functional interaction through the membrane.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible membrane acts as an intermediary between the actuator and the nozzle. The membrane transmits the mechanical motion from the actuator to the nozzle without requiring direct contact, thereby protecting the actuator from contamination while maintaining control functionality.
2Power
If heating of coil inner tube occurs during operation, then electromagnetic actuation is enabled, but partial drying of coating agent occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the electromagnetic actuation chamber (containing the coil) from the coating agent chamber (containing the nozzles). This segmentation prevents the heat generated by the coil from directly affecting the coating agent, eliminating the partial drying problem while maintaining electromagnetic actuation capability.
3Productivity
If valve plungers are moved by electric coils for coating application, then droplet jet emission is achieved, but mechanical interference between adjacent nozzles occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Each nozzle is equipped with its own separate electromechanical actuator positioned in the first chamber. This individual actuation mechanism for each nozzle eliminates mechanical interference between adjacent nozzles, as each actuator operates independently without physical contact with neighboring components.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane serves as an intermediary that allows each actuator to independently control its corresponding nozzle without mechanical interference from adjacent actuators or nozzles. The flexible membrane transmits only the specific actuator's motion to its associated nozzle.
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 design effectively prevents contamination of actuators, allows for efficient operation with high-viscosity coatings, and enables color changes without the need for rinsing, improving the print head's suitability for vehicle body painting by ensuring independent nozzle operation and reducing mechanical interference.
Implementation Method 1
A print head (100) is disclosed which has a continuous membrane (14), which separates a nozzle chamber (15) from an actuator chamber (16) in the print head (100)
Implementation Method 2
The individual valve needles (6-9) are each movable in the direction of the double arrow by means of several electromagnetic actuators (10-13)
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure concerns an applicator (e.g. print head) for applying a coating agent (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component), having a nozzle chamber with a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the coating agent in the form of continuous jets or droplets, the coating agent flowing during operation through the nozzle chamber to the nozzles so that the nozzle chamber is filled with the coating agent during operation. The print head further comprises a plurality of slidable valve needles associated with the individual nozzles and selectively opening or closing the respective nozzle depending on the position of the valve needles. Furthermore, the print head according to the disclosure contains an actuator chamber for receiving actuators for displacing the valve needles. In addition, the applicator according to the disclosure has a sealing element which fluidically separates the actuator chamber from the nozzle chamber in order to avoid contamination of the actuator chamber with the coating agent in the nozzle chamber. The disclosure provides that the sealing element is designed such that the individual valve needles can be displaced independently of one another without a displacement of one of the valve needles impairing the opening and closing of the nozzles at the adjacent valve needle.