# US 10,307,773 B2 · Coating system with an ultrasonic head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,773 B2 - Document ID: US10307773B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/651,836 - Filed: 2017-07-17 - Published: 2018-02-01 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-27 - Assignees: Exel Industries - Applicants: Exel Industries - Inventors: Michel Colrat; Rémi Pagot; Robb Engle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307773B2 ## CPC - B05B 5/0533: {Electrodes specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of electrodes} - B05B 5/025: Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns - B05B 5/0531: {Power generators} - B05B 5/087: {Arrangements of electrodes, e.g. of charging, shielding, collecting electrodes (B05B5/12, B05B5/14 take precedence; arrangements of electrodes on the discharge apparatus B05B5/0533)} - B05B 5/10: Arrangements for supplying power, e.g. charging power (in discharge apparatus B05B5/053) - B05B 7/0815: {with at least one gas jet intersecting a jet constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid for controlling the shape of the latter} - B05B 17/06: using ultrasonic {or other kinds of} vibrations - A61L 2420/02: Methods for coating medical devices - B05B 5/043: using induction-charging - B05B 5/082: {characterised by means for supporting, holding or conveying the objects} - B05D 1/005: {Spin coating} - B05D 1/04: involving the use of an electrostatic field {(B05D1/025 and B05D1/14 take precedence)} - H01T 19/02: Corona rings - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - H01T: SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES (overvoltage protection circuits H02H) ## Abstract This coating system (2) for coating a workpiece (W1) with a liquid coating product, includes an ultrasonic spray head (14) for generating droplets of coating products, an electrode (32A) for generating an electrostatic field (E) between the electrode and the ultrasonic spray head (14) and a high-voltage generator (52) connected to the electrode for supplying the electrode with high voltage. The shape of the electrode (32A) is advantageously configurable on the basis of the geometry of the workpiece (W1). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A coating system for coating a workpiece with a liquid coating product, the coating system including an ultrasonic spray head for generating droplets of coating product, wherein the coating system further includes: an electrode for generating an electrostatic field between the electrode and the ultrasonic spray head, and a high-voltage generator connected to the electrode for supplying the electrode with high voltage, wherein the high-voltage generator is integrated in a sub-module which also includes a discharge resistor and a connector, said sub-module defining two housings, where the high-voltage generator and the discharge resistor are respectively received, and a connection housing where the connector is received to connect the high-voltage generator and the discharge resistor, and wherein the electrode is shaped according to a geometry of the workpiece and supported by a base part which includes the high-voltage generator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The coating system according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the electrode is configurable on the basis of a geometry of the workpiece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The coating system according to claim 1, wherein an edge of the electrode is an image of a contour of the workpiece as seen from the ultrasonic spray head. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The coating system according to claim 1, wherein the electrode supports the workpiece and is in contact with the workpiece. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The coating system of claim 1, wherein the base part insulates the workpiece from ground potential, preventing any electrical leak from the electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The coating system of claim 1, wherein the base part defines an area configured for accommodating electrodes of different shapes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The coating system of claim 6, wherein an electrical contact member is located in an area for connecting the high voltage generator to the electrode accommodated in the area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The coating system according to claim 7, wherein the electrical contact member is movable along an axis non parallel to the electrode accommodated in the area and biased towards the electrode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The coating system according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is shaped to be at least partially surrounded by the workpiece. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The coating system according to claim 9, wherein the electrode is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The coating system according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is secured to the ultrasonic head and configured to charge the droplets by ionization. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The coating system according to claim 11, wherein the electrode is provided with spikes spread around a discharge nozzle of the ultrasonic spray head with a distribution based on a geometry of the workpiece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The coating system according to claim 12, wherein an orientation angle of the spikes with respect to a central axis of the ultrasonic spray head is adjustable on the basis of a geometry of the workpiece or on the basis of a distance between the electrode and the workpiece or on the basis of the geometry of the workpiece and the distance between the electrode and the workpiece. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The coating system according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is the workpiece. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The coating system according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic head is provided with an air ejection unit configured to deliver a jet of shaping air around the droplets leaving the ultrasonic head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The coating system of claim 3, wherein the edge of the electrode is an exact image of the contour of the workpiece as seen from the ultrasonic spray head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The coating system according to claim 1, wherein the coating system includes a metering device for feeding the ultrasonic head with liquid product in controlled amount. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The coating system of claim 1, wherein an electrical contact member is located in an area for connecting the high-voltage generator to the electrode accommodated in the area, and wherein the electrical contact member is supported by, and electrically connected to, the connector received in the connection housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The coating system of claim 18, wherein the electrical contact member is formed by an electrically conductive stud housed in a vertical bore of the connector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The coating systems of claim 19, wherein an electrical contact member is located in an area for connecting the high-voltage generator to the electrode accommodated in the area, wherein the electrical contact member is movable along an axis non parallel to the electrode accommodated in the area and biased towards the electrode and wherein a spring is provided at a closed end of the bore and biases the stud against the electrode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The coating system of claim 17, wherein the metering device is in the form of a pump with a movable piston.