Print head having a temperature-control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11298717-B2
Application number	US-201716468700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Dec 14, 2016
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an application device for applying an application medium onto a component, preferably for application of a coating onto a motor vehicle body component. The application device includes a print head for preferably serial and/or permanent application of the application medium, wherein the print head has: a nozzle plate, at least one nozzle in the nozzle plate in order to discharge the application medium, at least one valve element, which is movable relative to the nozzle plate, for control of the application medium discharge through the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one movable valve element closes the at least one nozzle in a closing position and releases it in an opening position, and at least one drive for moving the at least one valve element. The application device is characterised in particular in that it includes at least one temperature control apparatus for reducing heating of the at least one drive during application of the application medium.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An application device for application of an application medium onto a component, comprising:
a print head for application of the application medium, wherein the print head has:
a nozzle plate,
at least one nozzle in the nozzle plate for discharge of the application medium,
at least one valve element, which is movable relative to the nozzle plate, for control of the application medium discharge through the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one movable valve element closes the at least one nozzle in a closing position and releases it in an opening position,
at least one drive for moving the at least one valve element,
the application device comprises at least one temperature control apparatus having a temperature control fluid line with a first subsection that extends through the print head and a second subsection that that extends along an outside of the print head,
wherein the first subsection reduces a heating of the at least one drive and the second subsection cools the print head from the outside during the application of the application medium, and
the least one temperature control apparatus comprises a heating apparatus for heating the application medium and thus for reducing the viscosity of the application medium, the heating apparatus includes a second temperature control fluid line that leads through the print head.

2. The application device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the heating apparatus serves to heat a temperature control fluid and the temperature control fluid thus represents a heating fluid for heating the application medium.

3. The application device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the at least one temperature control apparatus comprises a cooler or heat exchanger apparatus for cooling the at least one drive.

4. The application device according to claim 3 , characterised in that the cooler or heat exchanger apparatus serves to cool a temperature control fluid and the temperature control fluid thus represents a cooling fluid for cooling the at least one drive.

5. The application device according to claim 2 , characterised in that
a) the application medium does not serve as a temperature control fluid, or
b) the temperature control fluid is selected from:
b1) a gas, in particular nitrogen, air, compressed air,
b2) a liquid fluid, in particular water, in particular deionised water or distilled water,
b3) a coolant,
b4) a flushing medium, detergent or solvent, in particular heated, or

c) the compressed air is removed directly from a central supply line.

6. The application device according to claim 1 , characterised in that, in the print head, an application medium supply for the supply of the application medium runs to the at least one nozzle and the application medium supply is temperature controlled at least in sections by at least one temperature control apparatus.

7. The application device according to claim 6 , characterised in that
at least one temperature control fluid line for heating the application medium extends along the application medium supply, or
at least one temperature control fluid line extends so that the temperature control fluid flows around the application medium supply, or
the nozzle plate delimits the application medium supply in its longitudinal direction.

8. The application device according to claim 2 , characterised in that at least one temperature control fluid line
extends along the drive, or
extends so that the temperature control fluid flows around the at least one drive.

9. The application device according to claim 2 , characterised in that the temperature control fluid volumetric flow or the temperature thereof is/are controlled so that
a service life of the drive is increased,
a temperature in the print head lies below an ignition temperature of a solvent used in the coating media.

10. The application device according to claim 2 , characterised in that the at least one temperature control apparatus comprises a pump for conveying the temperature control fluid.

11. The application device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the at least one temperature control apparatus makes available passive temperature control or comprises a heat-conducting construction composed of heat-conductive material and the heat-conducting construction satisfies at least one of the following functions:
discharging heat generated by the at least one drive,
conducting heat generated by the at least one temperature control apparatus to the application medium,
conducting cold generated by the at least one temperature control apparatus to the drive.

12. The application device according to claim 11 , characterised in that the heat-conducting construction comprises heat-conducting sheet plates or heat-conducting ribs.

13. The application device according to claim 11 , characterised in that the heat-conducting construction comprises a heat-conducting function block and the at least one drive is positioned in the heat-conducting function block.

14. The application device according to claim 11 , characterised in that the heat-conducting construction
extends at least in sections on the outside of the print head, or
is arranged at least in sections inside the print head, or
is arranged on the at least one drive, so that it spans the at least one drive in its circumferential direction, or
extends along an application medium supply in the print head.

15. The application device according to claim 11 , characterised in that the heat-conductive material is selected from:
a metallic material,
copper,
aluminium.

16. The application device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the at least one temperature control apparatus comprises a cooling pad arrangement for packing in of the print head at least in sections.

17. The application device according to claim 16 , characterised in that the cooling pad arrangement is embodied for a cooling fluid to flow through at least temporarily continuously.

18. The application device according to claim 1 , characterised in that a pump is mounted on the print head.

19. The application device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the at least one drive
operates electromechanically, or
comprises an electric coil for activation of the valve element, wherein the at least one temperature control apparatus serves to reduce heating of the coil during application of the application medium, or
comprises a restoring element for activating the valve element.

20. The application device according to claim 19 , characterised in that the valve element is displaced as a function of the energisation of the coil.

21. The application device according to claim 19 , characterised in that the temperature control apparatus serves to reduce a heating of the coil of the at least one drive.

22. The application device according to claim 19 , characterised in that, in order to generate a droplet jet, the coil and an elastic restoring element ensure that the valve element is moved to and fro between the opening position and the closing position.

23. The application device according to claim 1 , characterised in that, in order to generate a coherent application medium jet, a coil holds the valve element in the opening position and an elastic restoring element moves the valve element in idle phases into the closing position.

24. The application device according to claim 1 , characterised i

Assignees

• Duerr Systems Ag

Inventors

• Fritz Hans-Georg
• Wöhr Benjamin
• Kleiner Marcus
• Bubek Moritz
• Beyl Timo
• Herre Frank
• Sotzny Steffen

Classifications

• F16K31/004

  actuated by piezoelectric means · CPC title

• B05B12/10

  responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged · CPC title

• B05B1/3053

  the actuating means being a solenoid · CPC title

• B05C11/1042

  provided with means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material in the supplying means upstream of the applying apparatus · CPC title

• B41J2/06

  by electric or magnetic field · CPC title