EP3576884B1 - Application device for coating workpieces and coating device - Google Patents

Application device for coating workpieces and coating device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3576884B1
EP3576884B1 EP18700646.5A EP18700646A EP3576884B1 EP 3576884 B1 EP3576884 B1 EP 3576884B1 EP 18700646 A EP18700646 A EP 18700646A EP 3576884 B1 EP3576884 B1 EP 3576884B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coating agent
coating
nozzle
valve
application system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
EP18700646.5A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3576884A1 (en
Inventor
Gunter BÖRNER
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABB Schweiz AG
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ABB Schweiz AG
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Publication date
Application filed by ABB Schweiz AG filed Critical ABB Schweiz AG
Priority to EP21201268.6A priority Critical patent/EP3957404A1/en
Publication of EP3576884A1 publication Critical patent/EP3576884A1/en
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B12/00Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
    • B05B12/02Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
    • B05B12/04Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery for sequential operation or multiple outlets
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B13/00Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
    • B05B13/02Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
    • B05B13/04Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation
    • B05B13/0447Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to conveyed separate articles
    • B05B13/0452Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to conveyed separate articles the conveyed articles being vehicle bodies
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17596Ink pumps, ink valves
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B15/00Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
    • B05B15/50Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
    • B05B15/58Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage by recirculating the fluid to be sprayed from upstream of the discharge opening back to the supplying means

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an application system for coating components according to the preamble of claim 1 and a coating device.
  • a coating device includes a robot on which at least the application device is accommodated.
  • the application device is usually attached to the robot at the so-called Tool Center Point, TCP for short.
  • the DE102014013158 A1 shows a free-jet device for contactless dispensing of liquids onto the surface of a body.
  • the DE 10 2008 053 178 A1 shows a coating device for coating, in particular painting, of motor vehicle body components.
  • the motor vehicle body components to be painted are transported on one through a painting booth, in which the motor vehicle body components are then painted by painting robots.
  • the painting robots have one or more swiveling robot arms and each have an application device on their TCP via a multi-axis robot hand axis.
  • the application device is designed here as a print head that ejects the coating agent from several coating agent nozzles, and the coating agent nozzles of the print head are jointly connected to a coating agent supply line, via which the coating agent to be applied is supplied.
  • Paint by means of such a print head is advantageous if, for example, a vehicle body is to be painted in multiple colors, if different colors are to be applied at different points on the body. Paint with a print head applicator enables sharp-edged painting of different zones on the workpiece, e.g. the body, without further additional precautions, in particular without masking off areas of a different color.
  • the coating material is usually metered by means of a pressure regulator for the coating material.
  • a pressure regulator for the coating material.
  • This dosing by means of a pressure regulator has a number of disadvantages, in particular when painting automobile bodies or body parts in an automobile painting line. Namely, the flow rate of a paint used as a coating material in automotive painting depends on viscosity and pressure.
  • the viscosity of the coating material can differ greatly with different paint materials.
  • Some paint materials used are thixotropic, which means they have a pressure-dependent viscosity. This significant dependency of the viscosity of the coating agent on the type of material and the pressure often leads to non-uniform droplet sizes during coating and thus to great difficulties in ensuring a homogeneous coating.
  • this object is achieved with an application system having the features of claim 1.
  • the object is achieved with a coating device having the features of claim 2.
  • the application system further comprises a pump, by means of which the coating agent to be applied is fed to the coating agent nozzles via the coating agent supply line, and the application system is set up in such a way that the pump operates with a constant flow rate of coating agent during coating, and that the pressure at each nozzle when the valve is opened is the same as when that valve was previously opened.
  • the valve control is set up so that a constant number of nozzle valves of a print head are always open during coating.
  • FIG 1 shows schematically and by way of example a print head 1 for use in an application device according to the invention.
  • the print head 1 is shown here schematically and by way of example as a cuboid structure.
  • it has ten coating agent nozzles 2, which are arranged in a line one behind the other on a narrow side of the print head, the line extending approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement of the application device during coating, see here figure 3 .
  • the arrow D indicates the direction of ejection of the coating agent droplets.
  • FIG figure 2 shows a schematic and exemplary print head 3 with thirty-two coating agent nozzles 4, which are essentially identical in construction to the coating agent nozzles 2 according to FIG figure 1 embodiment shown.
  • a valve 5 is attached to each coating agent nozzle 4 and the coating agent nozzles 4 are connected in common to a coating agent feed line 6 .
  • the valves can be switched with a switching frequency in the range of a few kHz, typically in the range of 3 kHz.
  • left in figure 2 an embodiment is shown in which the coating agent is only supplied from one side, here from above.
  • Right in the figure 2 an embodiment is shown in which the coating agent is supplied from two sides, here from above and below, with the coating agent supply line 6 dividing into an upper and a lower partial arm 7, 8 for this purpose.
  • figure 3 shows a schematic and exemplary embodiment of an application system 9 in which three print heads 10, 11, 12, each with thirty-two coating agent nozzles 13, are lined up in order to increase the coating performance.
  • the direction of movement of the application system 9 during coating is indicated by the arrow P; it can be seen that this runs approximately perpendicular to the line in which the coating agent nozzles 13 in each of the three print heads 10, 11, 12 are arranged.
  • the distance between adjacent coating agent nozzles 13 is denoted by a. This distance cannot be made arbitrarily small for structural reasons.
  • the coating agent nozzles 13 of the three print heads 10, 11, 12 lined up next to one another are offset by an amount of a/3 in each case arranged staggered, as in the in the right part of the figure 3 illustrated detail enlargement of a portion 14 of the coating agent nozzle field is shown.
  • figure 4 12 shows, schematically and by way of example, the operating mode 16 of the coating agent nozzles of a print head, as is customarily used in accordance with the prior art.
  • a print head 15 with six operating fluid nozzles D1-D6 is assumed here for the exemplary explanation.
  • the horizontal bars, with the alternating black and white fields, indicate the switching status of the respective valves when the print head 15 is moved for coating.
  • a dark field indicates that the corresponding valve is open during this time. During this time, a drop of coating agent emerges from the respective nozzle.
  • a bright field indicates that the corresponding valve is closed during this time, during this time no drop of coating agent exits through the corresponding nozzle.
  • all the valves are opened and closed simultaneously. This is often done to get a sharp start and finish line of the coating.
  • a total of eight switching periods T1 - T8 are shown lined up in their chronologically consecutive order.
  • figure 5 shows in partial figure 5a schematically and by way of example an application system 17 with a print head 18 which has thirty-two coating agent nozzles 19, a valve 20 being attached to each coating agent nozzle 19 and assigned to it.
  • a pump 21 which pumps the coating medium through the coating medium supply line 22 to the print head 18 at a constant flow rate.
  • the pump 21 can be designed, for example, as a gear pump or as a piston pump, both types of pumps that can generate a constant flow rate even with varying pressure.
  • the sub-figures 5b -5d show the time curves of the valve position ( Figure 5b ), the flow of coating agent at the nozzle outlet opening of a coating agent nozzle ( Figure 5c , solid line), the flow rate of the coating agent impressed by the pump 21 ( Figure 5c , dashed line) and the pressure at the coating agent nozzle 19 of the print head 18 ( Figure 5d ) during two complete switching periods T1 and T2 and half a switching period T3. If the valves are all closed at the same time, for example in the switching period T1 at time A, the pump 21 continues to pump at a constant flow rate the coating agent into the application system 17.
  • FIG 8 illustrates this solution according to the invention by way of example and by way of example.
  • Subfigure 8a shows, schematically and by way of example, an application system 17 with a print head 18 which has thirty-two coating agent nozzles 19, with a valve 20 being attached to each coating agent nozzle 19 and assigned to it.
  • the coating medium supply line 22 there is a pump 21 which pumps the coating medium through the coating medium supply line 22 to the print head 18 at a constant flow rate.
  • the pump 21 can be designed, for example, as a gear pump or as a piston pump, both types of pumps that can generate a constant flow rate even with varying pressure.
  • Figure 8b 12 shows, schematically and by way of example, the operating mode 26 of the coating agent nozzles of the print head 18 Figure 8a with the thirty-two coating agent nozzles 1-32 according to the inventive solution described here.
  • the horizontal bars with the alternating black and white fields, indicate the switching status of the respective valves when the print head 18 is moved for coating.
  • a dark field indicates that the corresponding valve is open during this time, during which time a drop of coating agent emerges from the respective nozzle.
  • a bright field indicates that the corresponding valve is closed during this time, during this time no drop of coating agent exits through the corresponding nozzle.
  • the valve control ensures that the switching sequence of the valves 20 is set in such a way that a constant number of valves is always open.
  • valves nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 27, 28 close again, valves nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 29, 30, 31, 32 remain closed and the eight valves Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24 open.
  • the eight valves 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 The remaining valves remain closed until the end of the second switching period B and the beginning of the third switching period C. After that, this pattern repeats itself.
  • eight valves are always open and 24 valves are closed.
  • the switching scheme ensures that each of the thirty-two valves has opened once within two switching periods.
  • the pump always works with a constant flow rate of the coating agent.
  • figure 8 The procedure shown using one printhead can also be transferred to an application system with multiple printheads.
  • figure 9 1 shows this by way of example using an exemplary operating mode 27 for an application system with three print heads, each of which has thirty-two valves.
  • the horizontal bars with the alternating black or hatched and white fields show the switching status of the respective valves when the print head is moved for coating.
  • a dark or hatched field indicates that the corresponding valve is open during this time, during which time a drop of coating agent emerges from the respective nozzle.
  • a bright field indicates that the corresponding valve is closed during this time, during this time no drop of coating agent exits through the corresponding nozzle.
  • the bars with the fields filled in black to indicate an open valve are assigned to the first print head.
  • the bars with the obliquely hatched fields to indicate an open valve are associated with the second printhead.
  • the Bars with the vertically hatched fields to indicate an open valve are associated with the third print head.
  • eight of the thirty-two valves are always open on each of the three print heads. Since three print heads are operated in parallel, coating medium is ejected from more than eight nozzles in each switching period, namely from sixteen or twenty-four coating medium nozzles, depending on the switching period. Even better layer homogeneity can be achieved in this way.
  • FIG 7 shows how the disadvantageous build-up of an ever-increasing overpressure in the system with the negative effects in terms of a non-uniform droplet size is avoided by the measure according to the invention as described above.
  • Partial figure 7a shows schematically and by way of example an application system 17 with a print head 18 which has thirty-two coating agent nozzles 19, a valve 20 being attached to each coating agent nozzle 19 and assigned to it.
  • the coating medium supply line 22 there is a pump 21 which pumps the coating medium through the coating medium supply line 22 to the print head 18 at a constant flow rate.
  • the pump 21 can be designed, for example, as a gear pump or as a piston pump, both types of pumps that can generate a constant flow rate even with varying pressure.
  • the partial figures 7b -7d show the time curves of the valve position ( Figure 7b ), the flow of coating agent at the nozzle outlet opening of a coating agent nozzle ( Figure 7c , solid line), the flow rate of the coating agent impressed by the pump 21 ( Figure 7c , dashed line) and the pressure at the coating agent nozzle 19 of the print head 18 ( Figure 7d ) during two complete switching periods T1 and T2 and half a switching period T3.
  • the individual nozzle exit openings for the coating material usually have a diameter of approx. 10 ⁇ m to 200 ⁇ m. Due to manufacturing tolerances, wear and tear or deposits, the individual nozzle outlet openings of a print head are not completely identical.
  • Each of the nozzle outlet openings controlled by a valve therefore has a different flow resistance.
  • the print head is moved at a constant speed over the surface to be coated.
  • the material properties, the layer thickness to be achieved and the distance between the outlet openings then result in an average paint flow rate, if paint is the coating agent, or an average coating agent flow rate.
  • V ⁇ m ⁇ ⁇ i.e D v a ⁇ V
  • the switching frequency or the time of a period (from opening of the valve to the next opening) T p and the time T v that the valve is open are empirical values.
  • the aim is for the same quantity of coating material to flow through all nozzle outlet openings on average over time. This can be achieved by opening the individual valves for different lengths of time.
  • the coating material is supplied via a dosing pump, for example, the following applies:
  • a metering pump in a coating device is that the fluidic conditions in the entire application system are independent of the viscosity of the coating agent and therefore parameter values do not have to be set for the coating material used in each case
  • the coating agent pressure or the paint pressure depends on how many valves are open. The fewer valves that are open, the higher the pressure. This means that the time differences between the individual valve switching times are lower than when operating with constant pressure.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Applikationssystem zum Beschichten von Bauteilen gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 sowie eine Beschichtungseinrichtung.The invention relates to an application system for coating components according to the preamble of claim 1 and a coating device.

Ein solches Applikationssystem umfasst folgende Baugruppen:

  • ein Applikationsgerät, das das Beschichtungsmittel appliziert, wobei das Applikationsgerät ein Druckkopf ist, der das Beschichtungsmittel aus mehreren Beschichtungsmitteldüsen ausstößt, wobei an jeder einzelnen Beschichtungsmitteldüse ein Düsenventil angebracht ist, das sich eine Ventilöffnungszeit lang öffnet, wenn ein Beschichtungsmitteltropfen die jeweilige Düse verlassen soll,
  • eine Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung, mit der die Beschichtungsmitteldüsen des Druckkopfes gemeinsam verbunden sind,
  • eine Ventilsteuerung zur Steuerung der Ventilöffnungszeiten und Ventilschließzeiten jedes einzelnen Ventil.
Such an application system includes the following assemblies:
  • an application device that applies the coating agent, wherein the application device is a print head that ejects the coating agent from a plurality of coating agent nozzles, with each individual coating agent nozzle having a nozzle valve attached which opens for a valve opening time when a drop of coating agent is to leave the respective nozzle,
  • a coating agent supply line to which the coating agent nozzles of the print head are jointly connected,
  • a valve controller for controlling the valve opening times and valve closing times of each individual valve.

Eine Beschichtungseinrichtung umfasst einen Roboter, an dem wenigstens das Applikationsgerät aufgenommen ist. Üblicherweise ist das Applikationsgerät an dem Roboter an dem sogenannten Tool Center Point, kurz TCP, aufgenommen.A coating device includes a robot on which at least the application device is accommodated. The application device is usually attached to the robot at the so-called Tool Center Point, TCP for short.

Die DE102014013158 A1 zeigt eine Freistrahl-Einrichtung zur kontaktlosen Abgabe von Flüssigkeiten auf die Fläche eines Körpers.the DE102014013158 A1 shows a free-jet device for contactless dispensing of liquids onto the surface of a body.

Die DE 10 2008 053 178 A1 zeigt eine Beschichtungseinrichtung zur Beschichtung, insbesondere Lackierung von Kraftfahrzeugkarosseriebauteilen. Bei einer solchen Lackieranlage zur Lackierung von Kraftfahrzeugkarosseriebauteilen werden die zu lackierenden Kraftfahrzeugkarosseriebauteile auf einem durch eine Lackierkabine transportiert, in der die Kraftfahrzeugkarosseriebauteile dann von Lackierrobotern lackiert werden. Die Lackierroboter weisen einen oder mehrere schwenkbare Roboterarme auf und führen über eine mehrachsige Roboterhandachse an ihrem TCP jeweils ein Applikationsgerät. Das Applikationsgerät ist hier als ein Druckkopf ausgeführt, der das Beschichtungsmittel aus mehreren Beschichtungsmitteldüsen ausstößt, und die Beschichtungsmitteldüsen des Druckkopfes sind gemeinsam mit einer Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung verbunden, über die das zu applizierende Beschichtungsmittel zugeführt wird. Die Lackierung mittels eines solchen Druckkopfes ist vorteilhaft, wenn beispielsweise eine Fahrzeugkarosserie mehrfarbig lackiert werden soll, wenn an verschiedenen Stellen an der Karosserie unterschiedliche Farben aufgebracht werden sollen. Die Lackierung mit einem Druckkopf-Applikator ermöglicht das randscharfe Lackieren unterschiedlicher Zonen auf dem Werkstück, also z.B. der Karosserie, ohne weitere zusätzliche Vorkehrungen, insbesondere ohne Abkleben andersfarbiger Bereiche.the DE 10 2008 053 178 A1 shows a coating device for coating, in particular painting, of motor vehicle body components. In such a painting installation for painting motor vehicle body components, the motor vehicle body components to be painted are transported on one through a painting booth, in which the motor vehicle body components are then painted by painting robots. The painting robots have one or more swiveling robot arms and each have an application device on their TCP via a multi-axis robot hand axis. The application device is designed here as a print head that ejects the coating agent from several coating agent nozzles, and the coating agent nozzles of the print head are jointly connected to a coating agent supply line, via which the coating agent to be applied is supplied. Painting by means of such a print head is advantageous if, for example, a vehicle body is to be painted in multiple colors, if different colors are to be applied at different points on the body. Painting with a print head applicator enables sharp-edged painting of different zones on the workpiece, e.g. the body, without further additional precautions, in particular without masking off areas of a different color.

Die Dosierung des Beschichtungsmaterials bei der Lackierung mit einem Druckkopf-Applikator erfolgt üblicherweise mittels eines Druckreglers für das Beschichtungsmaterial. Diese Dosierung mittels eines Druckreglers hat einige Nachteile, insbesondere bei der Lackierung von Automobilkarosserien oder Karosserieteilen in einer Automobil-Lackierstraße. Die Durchflussrate eines bei der Automobillackierung verwendeten Lackes als Beschichtungsmaterial hängt nämlich von der Viskosität und vom Druck ab. Die Viskosität des Beschichtungsmaterials kann sich bei unterschiedlichen Lackmaterialien zum Teil stark unterscheiden. Manche benutzten Lackiermaterialien sind thixotrop, das heißt sie haben eine druckabhängige Viskosität. Diese erhebliche Abhängigkeit der Viskosität des Beschichtungsmittels von der Materialart und vom Druck führt oft zu ungleichförmiger Tropfengröße während des Beschichtens und damit zu großen Schwierigkeiten, eine homogene Beschichtung zu gewährleisten. Es ist daher die der vorliegenden Erfindung zugrundeliegende Aufgabe, ein Applikationssystem der eingangs genannten Art so zu verbessern, dass eine zeitlich konstante Tropfengröße während des Beschichtungsvorganges sichergestellt ist. Weiter ist es eine Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung, eine Beschichtungseinrichtung weiter zu verbessern.When painting with a print head applicator, the coating material is usually metered by means of a pressure regulator for the coating material. This dosing by means of a pressure regulator has a number of disadvantages, in particular when painting automobile bodies or body parts in an automobile painting line. Namely, the flow rate of a paint used as a coating material in automotive painting depends on viscosity and pressure. The viscosity of the coating material can differ greatly with different paint materials. Some paint materials used are thixotropic, which means they have a pressure-dependent viscosity. This significant dependency of the viscosity of the coating agent on the type of material and the pressure often leads to non-uniform droplet sizes during coating and thus to great difficulties in ensuring a homogeneous coating. It is therefore the object on which the present invention is based to improve an application system of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that a constant droplet size over time is ensured during the coating process. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to further improve a coating device.

Diese Aufgabe wird bezüglich des Applikationssystems gelöst mit einem Applikationssystem mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1. Bezüglich der Beschichtungseinrichtung wird die Aufgabe gelöst mit einer Beschichtungseinrichtung mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 2.With regard to the application system, this object is achieved with an application system having the features of claim 1. With regard to the coating device, the object is achieved with a coating device having the features of claim 2.

Erfindungsgemäß umfasst das Applikationssystem weiter eine Pumpe, mittels der das zu applizierende Beschichtungsmittel über die Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung den Beschichtungsmitteldüsen zugeführt wird, und das Applikationssystem ist so eingerichtet, dass die Pumpe während des Beschichtens mit einer konstanten Durchflussrate des Beschichtungsmittels arbeitet, und dass der Druck an jeder Düse bei einem Öffnen des Ventils genau so groß ist wie beim vorhergehenden Öffnen dieses Ventils.According to the invention, the application system further comprises a pump, by means of which the coating agent to be applied is fed to the coating agent nozzles via the coating agent supply line, and the application system is set up in such a way that the pump operates with a constant flow rate of coating agent during coating, and that the pressure at each nozzle when the valve is opened is the same as when that valve was previously opened.

Erfindungsgemäß ist die Ventilsteuerung dazu eingerichtet, dass während des Beschichtens immer eine gleich bleibende Anzahl an Düsenventilen eines Druckkopfes geöffnet ist.According to the invention, the valve control is set up so that a constant number of nozzle valves of a print head are always open during coating.

Die Erfindung sowie weitere Ausführungsformen und weitere Vorteile der Erfindung werden nun im Zusammenhang mit der folgenden Figurenbeschreibung erläutert und beschrieben.The invention and further embodiments and further advantages of the invention will now be explained and described in connection with the following description of the figures.

Es zeigen:

Figur 1
schematisch und exemplarisch einen Druckkopf zur Verwendung in einem erfindungsgemäßen Applikationsgerät, mit hier exemplarisch dargestellten zehn Beschichtungsmitteldüsen, angeordnet in einer Linie hintereinander, wobei die Linie sich in etwa senkrecht zur Bewegungsrichtung des Applikationsgerätes beim Beschichten erstreckt,
Figur 2
schematisch und exemplarisch einen Druckkopf mit zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen, wobei an jeder Beschichtungsmitteldüse ein Ventil angebracht ist, und die Beschichtungsmitteldüsen gemeinsam mit einer Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung verbunden sind, in zwei Ausführungsformen: links mit Beschichtungsmittelzuführung von einer Seite, rechts mit Beschichtungsmittelzuführung von zwei Seiten,
Figur 3
schematisch und exemplarisch eine Ausführungsform eines Applikationssystems, bei dem drei Druckköpfe mit jeweils zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen aneinandergereiht sind, um die Beschichtungsleistung zu erhöhen, und bei dem die Beschichtungsmitteldüsen in benachbarten Druckköpfen gegeneinander versetzt sind,
Figur 4
schematische Veranschaulichung eines Betriebsmodus der Beschich-
Figur 5a
tungsmitteldüsen eines Druckkopfes, gemäß dem Stand der Technik, schematisch und exemplarisch ein Applikationssystem mit einem Drucckopf, der zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen hat, wobei an jeder Beschichtungsmitteldüse ein Ventil angebracht und dieser zugeordnet ist;
Figur 5b
den zeitlichen Verlauf der Ventilstellung während zweier vollständiger Schaltperioden T1 und T2 sowie einer halben Schaltperiode T3,
Figur 5c
den zeitlichen Verlauf des Beschichtungsmittelflusses an der Düsenaustrittsöffnung einer Beschichtungsmitteldüse ( durchgezogene Linie), und der von der Pumpe eingeprägten Durchflussrate des Beschichtungsmittels (gestrichelte Linie)
Figur 5d
den zeitlichen Verlauf des Druckes an der Beschichtungsmitteldüse des Druckkopfes,
Figur 7
wie durch die erfindungsgemäße Maßnahme der nachteilige Aufbau eines immer weiter ansteigenden Überdrucks im System mit den negativen Auswirkungen hinsichtlich einer nicht-uniformen Tropfengröße vermieden ist,
Figur 8a
schematisch und exemplarisch ein Applikationssystem mit einem Drucckopf, der zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen hat, wobei an jeder Beschichtungsmitteldüse ein Ventil angebracht und dieser zugeordnet ist.
Figur 8b
schematisch und exemplarisch den Betriebsmodus der Beschichtungsmitteldüsen des Druckkopfes aus Figur 8a mit den zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 1 - 32,
Figur 9
einen beispielhaften Betriebsmodus für ein Applikationssystem mit drei Druckköpfen, von denen jeder zweiunddreißig Ventile hat.
Show it:
figure 1
schematically and by way of example, a print head for use in an application device according to the invention, with ten coating agent nozzles shown here as an example, arranged in a line one behind the other, the line extending approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement of the application device during coating,
figure 2
schematically and by way of example a print head with thirty-two coating agent nozzles, a valve being attached to each coating agent nozzle and the coating agent nozzles being jointly connected to a coating agent feed line, in two embodiments: on the left with coating agent feed from one side, on the right with coating agent feed from two sides,
figure 3
a schematic and exemplary embodiment of an application system in which three print heads, each with thirty-two coating agent nozzles, are lined up in order to increase the coating output, and in which the coating agent nozzles in adjacent print heads are offset from one another,
figure 4
schematic illustration of an operating mode of the coating
Figure 5a
Device nozzles of a print head, according to the prior art, schematically and by way of example, an application system with a print head that has thirty-two coating agent nozzles, with a valve being attached to and assigned to each coating agent nozzle;
Figure 5b
the time profile of the valve position during two complete switching periods T1 and T2 and half a switching period T3,
Figure 5c
the course over time of the coating agent flow at the nozzle outlet opening of a coating agent nozzle (solid line), and the flow rate of the coating agent impressed by the pump (dashed line)
Figure 5d
the time course of the pressure at the coating agent nozzle of the print head,
figure 7
how the disadvantageous build-up of an ever-increasing overpressure in the system with the negative effects in terms of a non-uniform droplet size is avoided by the measure according to the invention,
Figure 8a
schematically and by way of example, an application system with a print head that has thirty-two coating agent nozzles, with a valve being attached to and associated with each coating agent nozzle.
Figure 8b
shows the operating mode of the coating agent nozzles of the print head schematically and as an example Figure 8a with the thirty-two coating agent nozzles 1 - 32,
figure 9
shows an example mode of operation for an application system with three printheads, each having thirty-two valves.

Figur 1 zeigt schematisch und exemplarisch einen Druckkopf 1 zur Verwendung in einem erfindungsgemäßen Applikationsgerät. Hier ist der Druckkopf 1 schematisch und exemplarisch als eine quaderförmige Struktur dargestellt. Er hat hier im Beispiel zehn Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 2, die an einer Schmalseite des Druckkopfes in einer Linie hintereinander angeordnet sind, wobei die Linie sich in etwa senkrecht zur Bewegungsrichtung des Applikationsgerätes beim Beschichten erstreckt, siehe hierzu Figur 3. Der Pfeil D zeigt die Richtung des Ausstoßes der Beschichtungsmitteltropfen an. figure 1 shows schematically and by way of example a print head 1 for use in an application device according to the invention. The print head 1 is shown here schematically and by way of example as a cuboid structure. In this example, it has ten coating agent nozzles 2, which are arranged in a line one behind the other on a narrow side of the print head, the line extending approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement of the application device during coating, see here figure 3 . The arrow D indicates the direction of ejection of the coating agent droplets.

Figur 2 zeigt schematisch und exemplarisch einen Druckkopf 3 mit zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 4, die im Wesentlichen baugleich sind zu den Beschichtungsmitteldüsen2 gemäß der in Figur 1 gezeigten Ausführungsform. An jeder Beschichtungsmitteldüse 4 ist ein Ventil 5 angebracht, und die Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 4 sind gemeinsam mit einer Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 6 verbunden. Die Ventile können mit einer Schaltfrequenz im Bereich einiger kHz geschaltet werden, typischerweise im Bereich von 3 kHz. Links in Figur 2 ist eine Ausführungsform gezeigt, bei der das Beschichtungsmittel nur von einer Seite, hier von oben, zugeführt wird. Rechts in der Figur 2 ist eine Ausführungsform gezeigt, bei der das Beschichtungsmittel von zwei Seiten, hier von oben und unten, zugeführt wird, wobei sich dazu die Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 6 in einen oberen und einen unteren Teilarm 7, 8 aufteilt. figure 2 shows a schematic and exemplary print head 3 with thirty-two coating agent nozzles 4, which are essentially identical in construction to the coating agent nozzles 2 according to FIG figure 1 embodiment shown. A valve 5 is attached to each coating agent nozzle 4 and the coating agent nozzles 4 are connected in common to a coating agent feed line 6 . The valves can be switched with a switching frequency in the range of a few kHz, typically in the range of 3 kHz. left in figure 2 an embodiment is shown in which the coating agent is only supplied from one side, here from above. Right in the figure 2 an embodiment is shown in which the coating agent is supplied from two sides, here from above and below, with the coating agent supply line 6 dividing into an upper and a lower partial arm 7, 8 for this purpose.

Figur 3 zeigt schematisch und exemplarisch eine Ausführungsform eines Applikationssystems 9, bei dem drei Druckköpfe 10, 11, 12 mit jeweils zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 13 aneinandergereiht sind, um die Beschichtungsleistung zu erhöhen. Die Bewegungsrichtung des Applikationssystems 9 während der Beschichtung ist durch den Pfeil P angedeutet, man sieht dass diese in etwa senkrecht zu der Linie verläuft, in der die Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 13 in jeden der drei Druckköpfe 10, 11, 12 angeordnet sind. Der Abstand zwischen benachbarten Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 13 ist mit a bezeichnet. Dieser Abstand kann aus konstruktiven Gründen nicht beliebig klein gemacht werden. Um einen gleichmäßigen Auftrag des Beschichtungsmittels zu erreichen, sind die Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 13 der drei aneinander gereihten Druckköpfe 10, 11, 12 um jeweils einen Betrag von a/3 gegeneinander versetzt angeordnet, wie in der im rechten Teil der Figur 3 dargestellten Ausschnittsvergrößerung eines Teilbereiches 14 des Beschichtungsmitteldüsenfeldes dargestellt ist. figure 3 shows a schematic and exemplary embodiment of an application system 9 in which three print heads 10, 11, 12, each with thirty-two coating agent nozzles 13, are lined up in order to increase the coating performance. The direction of movement of the application system 9 during coating is indicated by the arrow P; it can be seen that this runs approximately perpendicular to the line in which the coating agent nozzles 13 in each of the three print heads 10, 11, 12 are arranged. The distance between adjacent coating agent nozzles 13 is denoted by a. This distance cannot be made arbitrarily small for structural reasons. In order to achieve a uniform application of the coating agent, the coating agent nozzles 13 of the three print heads 10, 11, 12 lined up next to one another are offset by an amount of a/3 in each case arranged staggered, as in the in the right part of the figure 3 illustrated detail enlargement of a portion 14 of the coating agent nozzle field is shown.

Figur 4 zeigt schematisch und exemplarisch den Betriebsmodus 16 der Beschichtungsmitteldüsen eines Druckkopfes, wie er gemäß dem Stand der Technik üblicherweise angewendet wird. Für die exemplarische Erläuterung ist hier ein Drucckopf 15 mit sechs Betriebsmitteldüsen D1 - D6 angenommen. Die waagerecht verlaufenden Balken, mit den abwechselnd schwarzen und weißen Feldern, zeigen den Schaltzustand der jeweiligen Ventile an, wenn der Druckkopf 15 zum Beschichten bewegt wird. Ein dunkles Feld zeigt an, dass das entsprechende Ventil in dieser Zeit offen ist, während dieser Zeit tritt ein Beschichtungsmitteltropfen aus der jeweiligen düse aus. Ein helles Feld zeigt an, dass das entsprechende Ventil während dieser Zeit geschlossen ist, während dieser Zeit tritt kein Beschichtungsmitteltropfen durch die entsprechende Düse aus. Bei dem üblichen Betriebsmodus 16, wie er in der Figur 4 veranschaulicht ist, werden alle Ventile gleichzeitig geöffnet und geschlossen. Man macht das oft, um eine scharfe Anfangs- und Endlinie der Beschichtung zu bekommen. In der Figur 4 sind insgesamt acht Schaltperioden T1 - T8 in ihrer zeitlich hintereinanderliegenden Reihenfolge aneinander gereiht dargestellt. figure 4 12 shows, schematically and by way of example, the operating mode 16 of the coating agent nozzles of a print head, as is customarily used in accordance with the prior art. A print head 15 with six operating fluid nozzles D1-D6 is assumed here for the exemplary explanation. The horizontal bars, with the alternating black and white fields, indicate the switching status of the respective valves when the print head 15 is moved for coating. A dark field indicates that the corresponding valve is open during this time. During this time, a drop of coating agent emerges from the respective nozzle. A bright field indicates that the corresponding valve is closed during this time, during this time no drop of coating agent exits through the corresponding nozzle. In the usual operating mode 16, as illustrated in FIG. 4, all the valves are opened and closed simultaneously. This is often done to get a sharp start and finish line of the coating. In the figure 4 a total of eight switching periods T1 - T8 are shown lined up in their chronologically consecutive order.

Figur 5 zeigt in der Teilfigur 5a schematisch und exemplarisch ein Applikationssystem 17, mit einem Druckkopf 18, der zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 19 hat, wobei an jeder Beschichtungsmitteldüse 19 ein Ventil 20 angebracht und dieser zugeordnet ist. In der Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 22 befindet sich eine Pumpe 21, die das Beschichtungsmittel mit einer konstanten Durchflußrate durch die Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 22 zu dem Druckkopf 18 pumpt. Die Pumpe 21 kann beispielsweise als Zahnradpumpe oder als Kolbenpumpe ausgebildet sein, beides Pumpenarten, die eine konstante Durchflussrate auch bei variierendem Druck erzeugen können. Die Teilfiguren 5b -5d zeigen die zeitlichen Verläufe der Ventilstellung (Fig. 5b), des Beschichtungsmittelflusses an der Düsenaustrittsöffnung einer Beschichtungsmitteldüse (Figur 5c, durchgezogene Linie), der von der Pumpe 21 eingeprägten Durchflussrate des Beschichtungsmittels (Figur 5c, gestrichelte Linie) und des Druckes an der Beschichtungsmitteldüse 19 des Druckkopfes 18 (Figur 5d) während zweier vollständiger Schaltperioden T1 und T2 sowie einer halben Schaltperiode T3. Wenn die Ventile alle gleichzeitig geschlossen sind, beispielsweise in der Schaltperiode T1 zum Zeitpunkt A, pumpt die Pumpe 21 weiter mit konstanter Durchflussrate das Beschichtungsmittel in das Applikationssystem 17. Der Druck im Applikationssystem und damit der Druck an der Beschichtungsmitteldüse des Druckkopfes steigt an, es entsteht ein Überdruck im Applikationssystem, siehe Fig. 5d, da die Schläuche und andere Komponenten des Applikationssystems eine gewisse Elastizität haben. Wenn nun das Ventil zu Beginn des folgenden Schaltzyklus wieder geöffnet wird, siehe beispielsweise Zeitpunkt B zu Beginn des Schaltzyklus T2, fällt der Druck wieder ab und nach einer kurzen Zeit ist der Beschichtungsmittelfluss an der Austrittsöffnung der Beschichtungsmitteldüse konstant. figure 5 shows in partial figure 5a schematically and by way of example an application system 17 with a print head 18 which has thirty-two coating agent nozzles 19, a valve 20 being attached to each coating agent nozzle 19 and assigned to it. In the coating medium supply line 22 there is a pump 21 which pumps the coating medium through the coating medium supply line 22 to the print head 18 at a constant flow rate. The pump 21 can be designed, for example, as a gear pump or as a piston pump, both types of pumps that can generate a constant flow rate even with varying pressure. The sub-figures 5b -5d show the time curves of the valve position ( Figure 5b ), the flow of coating agent at the nozzle outlet opening of a coating agent nozzle ( Figure 5c , solid line), the flow rate of the coating agent impressed by the pump 21 ( Figure 5c , dashed line) and the pressure at the coating agent nozzle 19 of the print head 18 ( Figure 5d ) during two complete switching periods T1 and T2 and half a switching period T3. If the valves are all closed at the same time, for example in the switching period T1 at time A, the pump 21 continues to pump at a constant flow rate the coating agent into the application system 17. The pressure in the application system and thus the pressure at the coating agent nozzle of the print head increases, resulting in overpressure in the application system, see Figure 5d , since the hoses and other components of the application system have a certain elasticity. If the valve is now opened again at the beginning of the following switching cycle, see for example time B at the beginning of switching cycle T2, the pressure drops again and after a short time the flow of coating agent at the outlet opening of the coating agent nozzle is constant.

In der vorliegenden Erfindung wurde überraschend erkannt, dass unter bestimmten Umständen, wenn die Zeitkonstanten des Applikationssystems so groß sind, dass ein vollständiger Abbau des Überdruckes bis zum Beginn der nächsten folgenden Schaltperiode nicht möglich ist, sich der Überdruck während der nächsten Schaltperiode dann von einem höheren Ausgangspunkt aus weiter erhöht, und so fort, so dass der Druck im Applikationssystem immer weiter ansteigt. Da die Flussrate des Beschichtungsmittels an der Austrittsdüse des Druckkopfes neben der Viskosität auch vom Druck abhängt, ergibt sich daraus das überraschend erkannte Problem, dass obwohl die Pumpe eine konstante Durchflussrate erzeugt, die Durchflussrate an der Austrittsöffnung der Beschichtungsmitteldüse und damit die Tropfengröße nicht uniform gleich groß ist, sondern sich mit der Zeit ändert. Das ist im Hinblick auf ein optimales Beschichtungsergebnis nachteilig.In the present invention, it was surprisingly recognized that under certain circumstances, when the time constants of the application system are so great that the overpressure cannot be completely reduced by the start of the next following switching period, the overpressure then changes from a higher one during the next switching period Starting point further increased, and so on, so that the pressure in the application system continues to rise. Since the flow rate of the coating agent at the outlet nozzle of the print head depends not only on the viscosity but also on the pressure, this results in the surprisingly recognized problem that although the pump generates a constant flow rate, the flow rate at the outlet opening of the coating agent nozzle and thus the droplet size are not uniformly large is, but changes over time. This is disadvantageous with regard to an optimal coating result.

Die erfindungsgemäße Lösungsmöglichkeit besteht darin, dass die Ventilsteuerung dazu eingerichtet ist, dass während des Beschichtens immer eine gleich bleibende Anzahl an Düsenventilen eines Druckkopfes geöffnet ist. Figur 8 veranschaulicht diese erfindungsgemäße Lösung beispielhaft und exemplarisch. Die Teilfigur 8a zeigt schematisch und exemplarisch ein Applikationssystem 17, mit einem Druckkopf 18, der zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 19 hat, wobei an jeder Beschichtungsmitteldüse 19 ein Ventil 20 angebracht und dieser zugeordnet ist. In der Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 22 befindet sich eine Pumpe 21, die das Beschichtungsmittel mit einer konstanten Durchflußrate durch die Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 22 zu dem Druckkopf 18 pumpt. Die Pumpe 21 kann beispielsweise als Zahnradpumpe oder als Kolbenpumpe ausgebildet sein, beides Pumpenarten, die eine konstante Durchflussrate auch bei variierendem Druck erzeugen können.The possible solution according to the invention is that the valve control is set up so that a constant number of nozzle valves of a print head is always open during coating. figure 8 illustrates this solution according to the invention by way of example and by way of example. Subfigure 8a shows, schematically and by way of example, an application system 17 with a print head 18 which has thirty-two coating agent nozzles 19, with a valve 20 being attached to each coating agent nozzle 19 and assigned to it. In the coating medium supply line 22 there is a pump 21 which pumps the coating medium through the coating medium supply line 22 to the print head 18 at a constant flow rate. The pump 21 can be designed, for example, as a gear pump or as a piston pump, both types of pumps that can generate a constant flow rate even with varying pressure.

Figur 8b zeigt schematisch und exemplarisch den Betriebsmodus 26 der Beschichtungsmitteldüsen des Druckkopfes 18 aus Figur 8a mit den zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 1 - 32 gemäß der hier beschriebenen erfindungsgemäßen Lösung. Die waagerecht verlaufenden Balken, mit den abwechselnd schwarzen und weißen Feldern, zeigen den Schaltzustand der jeweiligen Ventile an, wenn der Druckkopf 18 zum Beschichten bewegt wird. Ein dunkles Feld zeigt an, dass das entsprechende Ventil in dieser Zeit offen ist, während dieser Zeit tritt ein Beschichtungsmitteltropfen aus der jeweiligen Düse aus. Ein helles Feld zeigt an, dass das entsprechende Ventil während dieser Zeit geschlossen ist, während dieser Zeit tritt kein Beschichtungsmitteltropfen durch die entsprechende Düse aus. Die Ventilsteuerung sorgt dafür, dass die Schaltreihenfolge der Ventile 20 so eingestellt ist, dass immer eine konstante Anzahl an Ventilen offen ist. In Figur 8b sind zehn aufeinanderfolgende Schaltperioden A - J dargestellt. Während des ersten Teils der ersten Schaltperiode A sind acht Ventile offen, die Nr. 1, 2, 3, 4, 29, 30, 31, 32. Die übrigen vierundzwanzig Ventile sind geschlossen, Wenn die acht Ventile Nr. 1, 2, 3, 4, 29, 30, 31, 32 schließen, öffnen die acht Ventile Nr. 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 27, 28. Am Figure 8b 12 shows, schematically and by way of example, the operating mode 26 of the coating agent nozzles of the print head 18 Figure 8a with the thirty-two coating agent nozzles 1-32 according to the inventive solution described here. The horizontal bars, with the alternating black and white fields, indicate the switching status of the respective valves when the print head 18 is moved for coating. A dark field indicates that the corresponding valve is open during this time, during which time a drop of coating agent emerges from the respective nozzle. A bright field indicates that the corresponding valve is closed during this time, during this time no drop of coating agent exits through the corresponding nozzle. The valve control ensures that the switching sequence of the valves 20 is set in such a way that a constant number of valves is always open. In Figure 8b ten consecutive switching periods A - J are shown. During the first part of the first switching period A, eight valves are open, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 29, 30, 31, 32. The remaining twenty-four valves are closed when the eight valves Nos. 1, 2, 3 , 4, 29, 30, 31, 32 close, open the eight valves Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 27, 28. Am

Ende der ersten Schaltperiode A und zu Beginn der zweiten Schaltperiode B schließen die Ventile Nr. 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 27, 28 wieder, die Ventile Nr. 1, 2, 3, 4, 29, 30, 31, 32 bleiben geschlossen, und es öffnen die acht Ventile Nr. 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24. Wenn diese in der Mitte der zweiten Schaltperiode B wieder schließen, öffnen die acht Ventile 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Die übrigen Ventile bleiben bis zum Ende der zweiten Schaltperiode B und Beginn der dritten Schaltperiode C geschlossen. Danach wiederholt sich dieses Schema. Es sind bei diesem Schema immer acht Ventile offen und 24 Ventile geschlossen, das Schaltschema stellt dabei sicher, dass innerhalb von zwei Schaltperioden jedes der zweiunddreißig Ventile einmal geöffnet hat. Die Pumpe arbeitet immer mit konstanter Durchflussrate des Beschichtungsmittels. Es kann sich kein ansteigender Überdruck im System aufbauen, weil immer acht Ventile geöffnet sind. Bei einer typischen Ventilöffnungszeit von 1 ms und einer angenommenen, beispielhaften Geschwindigkeit von 200mm/s des Roboterarms beim Beschichten ist die Wegstrecke, die der Druckkopf während zweier Schaltperioden zurücklegt, bis also wieder dieselben acht Ventile öffnen wir zu Beginn, 0,8 mm. Neben dem in der Figur 8 dargestellten Schaltschema sind noch viele weitere denkbar. So könnten beispielsweise nicht nur acht, sondern etwa auch sechzehn oder auch nur vier Ventile gleichzeitig geöffnet sein. Auch kann die Verteilung der geöffneten Ventile längs der Linie, an der sie angeordnet sind, variieren. Wichtig ist nur, dass immer eine gleiche Anzahl an Ventilen geöffnet ist.At the end of the first switching period A and at the beginning of the second switching period B, valves nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 27, 28 close again, valves nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 29, 30, 31, 32 remain closed and the eight valves Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24 open. When these close again in the middle of the second switching period B, the eight valves 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. The remaining valves remain closed until the end of the second switching period B and the beginning of the third switching period C. After that, this pattern repeats itself. With this scheme, eight valves are always open and 24 valves are closed. The switching scheme ensures that each of the thirty-two valves has opened once within two switching periods. The pump always works with a constant flow rate of the coating agent. No increasing overpressure can build up in the system because eight valves are always open. With a typical valve opening time of 1 ms and an assumed, exemplary speed of 200mm/s of the robot arm during coating, the distance that the print head travels during two switching periods, until we open the same eight valves again at the beginning, is 0.8 mm. Next to the one in the figure 8 many more are conceivable. For example, not just eight, but also sixteen or just four valves could be open at the same time. Also, the distribution of the opened valves can vary along the line on which they are located. It is only important that the same number of valves is always open.

Das in Figur 8 anhand eines Druckkopfes gezeigte Vorgehen lässt sich auch übertragen auf ein Applikationssystem mit mehreren Druckköpfen. Figur 9 zeigt das beispielhaft anhand eines beispielhaften Betriebsmodus 27 für ein Applikationssystem mit drei Druckköpfen, von denen jeder zweiunddreißig Ventile hat. Auch hier zeigen die waagerecht verlaufenden Balken, mit den abwechselnd schwarzen bzw. schraffierten und weißen Feldern den Schaltzustand der jeweiligen Ventile an, wenn der Druckkopf zum Beschichten bewegt wird. Ein dunkles bzw. schraffiertes Feld zeigt an, dass das entsprechende Ventil in dieser Zeit offen ist, während dieser Zeit tritt ein Beschichtungsmitteltropfen aus der jeweiligen Düse aus. Ein helles Feld zeigt an, dass das entsprechende Ventil während dieser Zeit geschlossen ist, während dieser Zeit tritt kein Beschichtungsmitteltropfen durch die entsprechende Düse aus. Die Balken mit den schwarz gefüllten Feldern zur Anzeige eines geöffneten Ventils sind dem ersten Druckkopf zugeordnet. Die Balken mit den schräg schraffierten Feldern zur Anzeige eines geöffneten Ventils sind dem zweiten Druckkopf zugeordnet. Die Balken mit den senkrecht schraffierten Feldern zur Anzeige eines geöffneten Ventils sind dem dritten Druckkopf zugeordnet. Auch hier ist sichergestellt, dass an jedem der drei Druckköpfe immer acht der zweiunddreißig Ventile geöffnet sind. Da drei Druckköpfe parallel betrieben werden, wird in jeder Schaltperiode aus mehr als acht Düsen Beschichtungsmittel ausgestoßen, und zwar je nach Schaltperiode aus sechzehn oder vierundzwanzig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen. Auf diese Weise kann eine noch bessere Schichthomogenität erzielt werden.This in figure 8 The procedure shown using one printhead can also be transferred to an application system with multiple printheads. figure 9 1 shows this by way of example using an exemplary operating mode 27 for an application system with three print heads, each of which has thirty-two valves. Here, too, the horizontal bars with the alternating black or hatched and white fields show the switching status of the respective valves when the print head is moved for coating. A dark or hatched field indicates that the corresponding valve is open during this time, during which time a drop of coating agent emerges from the respective nozzle. A bright field indicates that the corresponding valve is closed during this time, during this time no drop of coating agent exits through the corresponding nozzle. The bars with the fields filled in black to indicate an open valve are assigned to the first print head. The bars with the obliquely hatched fields to indicate an open valve are associated with the second printhead. the Bars with the vertically hatched fields to indicate an open valve are associated with the third print head. Here, too, it is ensured that eight of the thirty-two valves are always open on each of the three print heads. Since three print heads are operated in parallel, coating medium is ejected from more than eight nozzles in each switching period, namely from sixteen or twenty-four coating medium nozzles, depending on the switching period. Even better layer homogeneity can be achieved in this way.

Figur 7 zeigt, wie durch die erfindungsgemäße Maßnahme wie oben beschrieben der nachteilige Aufbau eines immer weiter ansteigenden Überdrucks im System mit den negativen Auswirkungen hinsichtlich einer nicht-uniformen Tropfengröße vermieden ist. Teilfigur 7a zeigt schematisch und exemplarisch ein Applikationssystem 17, mit einem Druckkopf 18, der zweiunddreißig Beschichtungsmitteldüsen 19 hat, wobei an jeder Beschichtungsmitteldüse 19 ein Ventil 20 angebracht und dieser zugeordnet ist. In der Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 22 befindet sich eine Pumpe 21, die das Beschichtungsmittel mit einer konstanten Durchflußrate durch die Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 22 zu dem Druckkopf 18 pumpt. Die Pumpe 21 kann beispielsweise als Zahnradpumpe oder als Kolbenpumpe ausgebildet sein, beides Pumpenarten, die eine konstante Durchflussrate auch bei variierendem Druck erzeugen können. Nicht dargestellt ist in Figur 7a die Beschichtungsmittelrückleitung mit dem Rückführventil. Die Teilfiguren 7b -7d zeigen die zeitlichen Verläufe der Ventilstellung (Fig. 7b), des Beschichtungsmittelflusses an der Düsenaustrittsöffnung einer Beschichtungsmitteldüse (Figur 7c, durchgezogene Linie), der von der Pumpe 21 eingeprägten Durchflussrate des Beschichtungsmittels (Figur 7c, gestrichelte Linie) und des Druckes an der Beschichtungsmitteldüse 19 des Druckkopfes 18 (Figur 7d) während zweier vollständiger Schaltperioden T1 und T2 sowie einer halben Schaltperiode T3. Im Unterschied zu den in Figur 5b bis 5d erläuterten Zusammenhängen ist nun, nach Einsetzten der erfindungsgemäßen Maßnahme, erreicht, dass ein vollständiger Abbau des Überdruckes bis zum Beginn der nächsten folgenden Schaltperiode erfolgt ist, und der Überdruck während der nächsten Schaltperiode dann von demselben Ausgangsdruck aus wieder erhöht, wie er zu Beginn der vorhergehenden Schaltperiode geherrscht hat und so fort, so dass der Druck im Applikationssystem nicht immer weiter ansteigt. figure 7 shows how the disadvantageous build-up of an ever-increasing overpressure in the system with the negative effects in terms of a non-uniform droplet size is avoided by the measure according to the invention as described above. Partial figure 7a shows schematically and by way of example an application system 17 with a print head 18 which has thirty-two coating agent nozzles 19, a valve 20 being attached to each coating agent nozzle 19 and assigned to it. In the coating medium supply line 22 there is a pump 21 which pumps the coating medium through the coating medium supply line 22 to the print head 18 at a constant flow rate. The pump 21 can be designed, for example, as a gear pump or as a piston pump, both types of pumps that can generate a constant flow rate even with varying pressure. Not shown in Figure 7a the coating agent return line with the return valve. The partial figures 7b -7d show the time curves of the valve position ( Figure 7b ), the flow of coating agent at the nozzle outlet opening of a coating agent nozzle ( Figure 7c , solid line), the flow rate of the coating agent impressed by the pump 21 ( Figure 7c , dashed line) and the pressure at the coating agent nozzle 19 of the print head 18 ( Figure 7d ) during two complete switching periods T1 and T2 and half a switching period T3. In contrast to the Figure 5b to 5d relationships explained, after the measure according to the invention has been implemented, the overpressure has been completely reduced by the beginning of the next following switching period, and the overpressure is then increased again during the next switching period from the same starting pressure as it was at the beginning of the preceding one Switching period has prevailed and so on, so that the pressure in the application system does not continue to increase.

Ergänzende Erläuterungen:
Die einzelnen Düsenaustrittsöffungen für das Beschichtungsmaterial haben in der Regel einen Durchmesser von ca. 10µm bis 200 µm. Bedingt durch Fertigungstoleranzen, Verschleiß bzw. Ablagerungen sind die einzelnen Düsenaustrittsöffnungen eines Druckkopfes nicht komplett identisch.
Additional explanations:
The individual nozzle exit openings for the coating material usually have a diameter of approx. 10 μm to 200 μm. Due to manufacturing tolerances, wear and tear or deposits, the individual nozzle outlet openings of a print head are not completely identical.

Jede der mit einem Ventil angesteuerten Düsenaustrittsöffnungen hat daher einen unterschiedlichen Strömungswiderstand. Die durch die Düsenaustrittsöffnung i fließende Materialmenge i ist abhängig vom Druck vor der Austrittsöffnung pi . Dieser Zusammenhang wird beschrieben durch die Funktion i = fi (pi ) bzw. die Umkehrfunktion pi = gi (i ). Each of the nozzle outlet openings controlled by a valve therefore has a different flow resistance. The amount of material i flowing through the nozzle outlet opening i depends on the pressure in front of the outlet opening p i . This relationship is described by the function i = f i ( p i ) or the inverse function p i = g i ( i ) .

Bei der konstruktiven Ausgestaltung eines Druckkopfes wird darauf geachtet, dass der Druck an allen Düsenaustrittsöffnungen immer gleich ist, d.h. der Druckabfall in der Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung sollte vernachlässigbar sein.When designing a print head, care is taken to ensure that the pressure at all nozzle outlet openings is always the same, i.e. the pressure drop in the coating medium feed line should be negligible.

Zu beachten ist, dass die Funktionen fi bzw. gi von der Viskosität und damit vom applizierten Beschichtungsmaterial abhängen.It should be noted that the functions f i and g i depend on the viscosity and thus on the coating material applied.

In erster Näherung kann man davon ausgehen, dass die oben beschriebenen Funktionen im interessierenden Bereich linear sind. Die Gleichung für die Düsenaustrittsöffnung ist V ˙ i = k i ν p

Figure imgb0001
wobei ki ein Kennwert der Austrittsöffnung ist und v die Viskosität des Materials.As a first approximation, one can assume that the functions described above are linear in the region of interest. The equation for the nozzle orifice is V ˙ i = k i v p
Figure imgb0001
where k i is a characteristic value of the outlet opening and v is the viscosity of the material.

Der Druckkopf wird mit konstanter Geschwindigkeit über die zu beschichtende Oberfläche bewegt. Aus den Materialeigenschaften, der zu erreichenden Schichtdicke und den Abstand zwischen den Austrittsöffnungen ergibt sich dann eine mittlere Lackflussrate, im Fall dass Lack das Beschichtungsmittel ist, bzw. eine mittlere Beschichtungsmittelflussrate. V ˙ m = μ d D v a ƒ V

Figure imgb0002
The print head is moved at a constant speed over the surface to be coated. The material properties, the layer thickness to be achieved and the distance between the outlet openings then result in an average paint flow rate, if paint is the coating agent, or an average coating agent flow rate. V ˙ m = µ i.e D v a ƒ V
Figure imgb0002

Mit

V̇m
mittlere Lackflussrate pro Düse
dD
Abstand zwischen den Düsen senkrecht zur Bewegungsrichtung (bei mehreren hintereinander angeordneten Applikatoren resultierender Abstand)
µ
Schichtdicke (Trockenfilm)
fv
Volumenfeststoffgehalt des applizierten Materials
va
Geschwindigkeit des Applikators (TCP Geschwindigkeit)
with
V̇m
average paint flow rate per nozzle
dD
Distance between the nozzles perpendicular to the direction of movement (with several applicators arranged one behind the other, Distance)
µ
Layer thickness (dry film)
fv
Volume solids content of the applied material
maybe
Speed of the applicator (TCP speed)

Die Schaltfrequenz bzw. die Zeit einer Periode (von Öffnen des Ventils bis zum nächsten Öffnen) Tp und die Zeit Tv, die das Ventil geöffnet ist, sind Erfahrungswerte.The switching frequency or the time of a period (from opening of the valve to the next opening) T p and the time T v that the valve is open are empirical values.

Die Lackflussrate durch eine Düsenaustrittsöffnung ist durch folgenden Zusammenhang näherungsweise beschrieben: V ˙ D = T D T ν V ˙ m

Figure imgb0003
The paint flow rate through a nozzle outlet opening is approximately described by the following relationship: V ˙ D = T D T v V ˙ m
Figure imgb0003

Das Volumen des bei einer Ventilöffnung ausgestoßenen Beschichtungsmittel (Tropfenvolumen) ist durch folgenden Zusammenhang beschrieben: V T = V ˙ m T D = μ d D v a ƒ V T D

Figure imgb0004
The volume of the coating medium ejected when a valve is opened (droplet volume) is described by the following relationship: V T = V ˙ m T D = µ i.e D v a ƒ V T D
Figure imgb0004

Ziel im Hinblick auf eine homogene Beschichtung ist es, dass durch alle Düsenaustrittsöffnungen im zeitlichen Mittel die gleiche Menge an Beschichtungsmaterial fließt. Das kann dadurch erreicht werden, dass die einzelnen Ventile unterschiedlich lang geöffnet sind.With regard to a homogeneous coating, the aim is for the same quantity of coating material to flow through all nozzle outlet openings on average over time. This can be achieved by opening the individual valves for different lengths of time.

Die Vorgehensweise für den Fall, dass der Druckabfall in der Verteilungsleitung vernachlässigbar ist, ist dann die folgende.The procedure to be followed in the event that the pressure drop in the distribution line is negligible is as follows.

Im ersten Schritt wird für jede Austrittöffnung die Kennlinie i = fi (p) bzw. pi = g(i ). ermittelt.In the first step, the characteristic curve i = f i ( p ) or p i = g ( i ) for each outlet opening . determined.

Im Falle der oben beschriebenen Linearität erhält man die Kennwerte ki ...kn mit k = 1 n i = 1 n k i

Figure imgb0005
In the case of the linearity described above, the characteristic values k i . . . k n are obtained with k = 1 n i = 1 n k i
Figure imgb0005

Für die Variante der Beschichtungsmaterialversorgung mit einem Materialdruckregler gilt folgendes:
Vorgabewert: Lackmenge pro Ventilöffnung
mittlere Ventilöffnungszeit
The following applies to the variant of the coating material supply with a material pressure regulator:
Default value: Amount of paint per valve opening
mean valve opening time

Der am Materialdruckregler einzustellende Materialdruck und die Ventilöffnungszeit ergeben sich zu: p = ν k V ˙ D

Figure imgb0006
T i T ν = k k i
Figure imgb0007
The material pressure to be set on the material pressure regulator and the valve opening time result in: p = v k V ˙ D
Figure imgb0006
T i T v = k k i
Figure imgb0007

Die Ventilöffnungszeit ist indirekt proportional zum KennwertThe valve opening time is indirectly proportional to the characteristic value

Für den Fall der Beschichtungsmaterialversorgung über beispielsweise eine Dosierpumpe gilt folgendes:
Der Vorteil der Verwendung einer Dosierpumpe in einer Beschichtungseinrichtung ist, dass die fluidischen Verhältnisse in dem gesamte Appliaktionsystem unabhängig von der Viskosität des Beschichtungsmittels sind und damit keine Einstellung von Parameterwerten auf das jeweils verwendete Beschichtungsmaterial Material erfolgen muss
If the coating material is supplied via a dosing pump, for example, the following applies:
The advantage of using a metering pump in a coating device is that the fluidic conditions in the entire application system are independent of the viscosity of the coating agent and therefore parameter values do not have to be set for the coating material used in each case

Da die Pumpe die gesamte Zeit mit der gleichen Beschichtungsmittelrate, im Falle dass Lack das Beschichtungsmittel ist also mit einer konstanten Lackflussrate, arbeitet, ist der Beschichtungsmitteldruck bzw. der Lackdruck davon abhängig, wieviel Ventile geöffnet sind. Je weniger Ventile geöffnet sind, desto höher der Druck. Damit sind die Zeitdiffrenzen zwischen den einzelnen Ventilschaltzeiten geringer als beim Betrieb mit konstanten Druck. Bezugszeichenliste 1 Druckkopf 2 Beschichtungsmitteldüse 3 Druckkopf 4 Beschichtungsmitteldüse 5 Ventil 6 Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 7 Teilarm 8 Teilarm 9 Applikationssystem 10 Druckkopf 11 Druckkopf 12 Druckkopf 13 Beschichtungsmitteldüse 14 Teilbereich 15 Druckkopf 16 Schema eines Betriebsmodus 17 Applikationssystem 18 Druckkopf 19 Beschichtungsmitteldüse 20 Ventil 21 Pumpe 22 Beschichtungsmittelzuleitung 23 Beschichtungsmittelrückleitung 24 Rückführventil 25 Ventilsteuerung 26 Betriebsmodus 27 Betriebsmodus Since the pump works the entire time with the same coating agent rate, i.e. with a constant paint flow rate if paint is the coating agent, the coating agent pressure or the paint pressure depends on how many valves are open. The fewer valves that are open, the higher the pressure. This means that the time differences between the individual valve switching times are lower than when operating with constant pressure. <u>Reference List</u> 1 printhead 2 coating agent nozzle 3 printhead 4 coating agent nozzle 5 Valve 6 coating agent supply line 7 partial arm 8th partial arm 9 application system 10 printhead 11 printhead 12 printhead 13 coating agent nozzle 14 subarea 15 printhead 16 Scheme of an operating mode 17 application system 18 printhead 19 coating agent nozzle 20 Valve 21 pump 22 coating agent supply line 23 coating agent return line 24 recirculation valve 25 valve control 26 operation mode 27 operation mode

Claims (2)

  1. Application system for coating components with a coating agent, said application system comprising the following functional groups:
    - an application apparatus which applies the coating agent, wherein the application apparatus is a printing head (1, 3) which ejects the coating agent from a plurality of coating agent nozzles (2, 4, 19), wherein a nozzle valve (5, 20) which opens for the duration of a valve opening time when a blob of the coating agent is to exit the respective coating agent nozzle (4) is attached to each individual coating agent nozzle (2),
    - a coating agent supply line (6, 22) to which the coating agent nozzles (4) of the printing head (3) are conjointly connected,
    - a valve control unit (25) for controlling the valve opening times and valve closing times of each individual nozzle valve (20),
    wherein the application system furthermore comprises a pump (21) by way of which the coating agent to be applied is supplied to the coating agent nozzles (19) by way of the coating agent supply line (22), and wherein the application system is specified in such a manner that the pump (21) during the coating operates at a constant flow rate of the coating agent, and that the pressure at each coating agent nozzle (19) when opening the nozzle valve (20) is exactly the same as when this nozzle valve (20) was previously opened,
    wherein the valve control unit (25) is specified so that a consistent number of nozzle valves of a printing head are always opened during the coating.
  2. Coating installation for coating components with a coating agent, having an application system according to Claim 1, wherein the coating installation comprises a robot on which at least the application apparatus is received.
EP18700646.5A 2017-02-01 2018-01-10 Application device for coating workpieces and coating device Active EP3576884B1 (en)

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DE102017110316B4 (en) 2017-05-12 2021-02-25 Abb Schweiz Ag Application device for coating components with a coating agent
WO2019109037A1 (en) * 2017-11-30 2019-06-06 Moore John R Systems for applying coating compositions utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator, coating layers and corresponding methods
DE102019003844A1 (en) * 2019-06-03 2020-12-03 Burkhard Büstgens Drop-on-demand coating of surfaces
JP6979546B1 (en) * 2021-10-08 2021-12-15 アーベーベー・シュバイツ・アーゲーABB Schweiz AG Painting equipment
CN116594366B (en) * 2023-07-17 2023-09-19 苏州聚贝机械设计有限公司 Smearing part control system of mechanical equipment

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