Sealing Membrane Print Head for Independent Nozzle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing print heads for applying coating agents to vehicle body components are not suitable for high-viscosity paints and color changes due to actuator contamination and mechanical interference between nozzles, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A print head design featuring a continuous sealing membrane with a three-dimensional structure that separates the actuator chamber from the nozzle chamber, preventing contamination and allowing independent operation of nozzles while minimizing mechanical interaction between adjacent valve needles, and using electromechanical actuators with a barrier fluid system for pressure control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a continuous sealing membrane is used to separate actuator chamber from nozzle chamber, then actuator contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the print head into two separate chambers: an actuator chamber and a nozzle chamber, separated by a continuous sealing membrane. This segmentation prevents coating agent from contaminating the actuators while allowing independent optimization of each chamber's function.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous sealing membrane acts as an intermediary barrier between the actuator chamber and nozzle chamber. It physically separates the two environments, preventing direct contact between the coating agent and actuators, thus protecting the actuators from contamination.
2Ease of operation
If valve plungers are moved by electric coils in a guide tube, then precise nozzle control is achieved, but mechanical interference between adjacent nozzles occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns separate actuators to each nozzle, allowing independent control of each nozzle without mechanical interference from adjacent nozzles. This segmentation eliminates the coupling effects that occur in shared guide tube systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Each nozzle is equipped with its own electromagnetic actuator, allowing localized control without affecting neighboring nozzles. This local quality approach ensures that each nozzle can be precisely controlled independently based on its specific requirements.
3Productivity
If heating of the coil inner tube occurs during operation, then coating agent flow is maintained, but partial drying of the coating agent occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the heating function from the coating agent pathway by placing the electromagnetic actuators in a separate actuator chamber. This prevents the heat generated by the coils from directly affecting the coating agent in the nozzle chamber, avoiding partial drying while maintaining flow capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous sealing membrane serves as a thermal barrier, preventing heat from the electromagnetic actuators in the actuator chamber from transferring to the coating agent in the nozzle chamber. This intermediary protection eliminates the harmful thermal effects on the coating agent.
4Adaptability or versatility
If print heads are designed for high-viscosity coating agents, then vehicle body painting requirements are met, but actuator contamination and mechanical interference worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a segmented chamber design that isolates high-viscosity coating agents in the nozzle chamber from the actuators in the actuator chamber. This segmentation enables the system to handle high-viscosity paints without contaminating the actuators, meeting vehicle body painting requirements while maintaining reliability.
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 enables efficient, contamination-free application of high-viscosity paints and color changes by maintaining actuator cleanliness and allowing independent nozzle operation, enhancing the print head's suitability for vehicle body painting.
Implementation Method 1
Each valve needle is movable in the direction of the double arrow to open or close the corresponding nozzle. To move the valve needles, several electromagnetic actuators 10-13 are provided
Implementation Method 2
The print head has a continuous sealing membrane 14 that separates a nozzle chamber 15 from an actuator chamber 16
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.