Robot Coating Head with Air Stream for Complex Workpiece Edges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coating apparatuses are not suitable for complex components as they lack the flexibility to coat the peripheral edges uniformly and efficiently, often resulting in lacquer build-ups and uneven application.
Innovation Solution
A coating apparatus with a movable coating head and air stream system, utilizing an industrial robot to move the workpiece in multiple directions, ensuring uniform coating application and removal of excess lacquer through negative pressure, allowing for complex component coating and preventing lacquer build-ups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a stationary coating head is used with a conveyor belt system, then simple linear coating is achieved, but complex components cannot be coated uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the stationary coating head into a movable robot arm that can dynamically position itself in three-dimensional space. The robot arm with 6 degrees of freedom enables the coating head to adapt its position and orientation to match complex component geometries, achieving uniform coating on surfaces that were previously inaccessible to fixed coating systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dimensionality change by adding multiple spatial dimensions to the coating head's movement capability. Instead of linear movement along a single conveyor direction, the robot arm provides movement in three-dimensional space (X, Y, Z axes plus rotational degrees), enabling the coating head to access and uniformly coat complex multi-faceted surfaces from multiple angles.
2Productivity
If the workpiece moves quickly through the coating head, then productivity is improved, but coating uniformity and excess lacquer removal deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a controlled air stream system that responds to the relative motion between the coating head and workpiece. The air stream dynamically removes excess lacquer during the coating process, providing real-time correction to maintain coating uniformity even at higher processing speeds. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain precision while increasing productivity.
3Ease of operation
If excess lacquer is not removed during coating, then coating application is simpler, but lacquer build-ups occur on the workpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary air stream between the coating application process and the final coating result. This air stream acts as a mediator that selectively removes excess lacquer during the coating process, preventing build-ups while maintaining the simplicity of the coating application itself. The air stream intermediary enables the system to achieve uniform coating without complicating the primary coating mechanism.
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
Enables precise and uniform coating of complex components by moving the workpiece relative to the coating head in multiple directions, ensuring even lacquer distribution and preventing build-ups, thus improving coating efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
the coating head or the application chamber has applied to it a negative pressure, by which air is taken in through a gap between the workpiece and the coating head or the application chamber and strips off excess lacquer from the workpiece
Implementation Method 2
an air stream, which removes excess coating from the edge
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for at least partially, preferably entirely coating the peripheral edge of a workpiece, comprising a feeding device that has a coating head; a coating application means that applies the coating to the peripheral edge as well as an air flow are provided on/in the coating head, said air flow removing excess coating from the edge; the workpiece and the coating head are moved relative to one another. The invention further relates to a method for coating the peripheral edge of a workpiece with the aid of a coating head.