# US 10,864,541 B2 · Ultrasonic atomizer with quick-connect mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,541 B2 - Document ID: US10864541B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/211,316 - Filed: 2018-12-06 - Published: 2019-08-01 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-30 - Assignees: Ford Motor Company - Applicants: Ford Motor Company - Inventors: Scott Adams; Kevin Richard John Ellwood; Wanjiao Liu; Christopher Michael Seubert; Mark Edward Nichols - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864541B2 ## CPC - B05B 17/0646: {Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto} - B05B 1/262: {with fixed deflectors} - B05B 3/02: with rotating elements (electric spraying discharge apparatus characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements B05B5/04) - B05B 3/14: with oscillating elements; with intermittent operation - B05B 7/1481: {Spray pistols or apparatus for discharging particulate material} - B05B 12/00: Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area - B05B 12/04: for sequential operation or multiple outlets - B05B 12/14: for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials {or several in selected proportions} to a {spray apparatus, e.g. to a} single spray outlet - B05B 12/16: for controlling the spray area (B05B3/00 takes precedence) - B05B 12/18: using fluids, e.g. gas streams - B05B 12/36: Side shields, i.e. shields extending in a direction substantially parallel to the spray jet - B05B 13/002: {Machines or plants for applying coating liquids or other fluent materials by inkjet} - B05B 13/0405: {with reciprocating or oscillating spray heads (B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0468 take precedence)} - B05B 13/0431: {with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to three-dimensional [3D] surfaces} - B05B 13/0433: {the work being vehicle components, e.g. vehicle bodies} - B05B 13/0452: {the objects being vehicle components, e.g. vehicle bodies} - B05B 15/00: Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories - B05B 15/625: designed to be placed on the ground - B05B 15/628: of variable length - B05B 15/68: Arrangements for adjusting the position of spray heads (B05B15/628, B05B15/652, B05B15/656 take precedence) - B05B 17/06: using ultrasonic {or other kinds of} vibrations - B05B 17/063: {having an internal channel for supplying the liquid or other fluent material} - B05B 17/0653: {Details} - B05B 17/0669: {Excitation frequencies} - B05D 1/02: performed by spraying - B05D 1/12: Applying particulate materials (B05D1/06, B05D1/10 take precedence) - B05D 3/067: {Curing or cross-linking the coating} - B25J 11/0075: {Manipulators for painting or coating} - 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) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) ## Abstract An apparatus for applying a coating to a substrate includes a base, an applicator, and a quick-connect connector. The base includes a fluid conduit. The applicator includes at least one actuator and an array of nozzle plates. Each nozzle plate defines at least one aperture. The at least one actuator is configured to oscillate the nozzle plates to eject fluid from the apertures. The quick-connect connector couples the fluid conduit to the applicator for fluid communication therebetween. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for applying a coating to a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a base including a fluid conduit; an applicator including a plurality of actuators and an array of nozzle plates, each nozzle plate defining at least one aperture, each actuator being configured to oscillate a corresponding one of the nozzle plates to eject fluid from the apertures; and a quick-connect connector that couples the fluid conduit to the applicator for fluid communication therebetween, wherein the quick-connect connector includes a first fitting and a second fitting, the first fitting defining a groove and a nose, the second fitting including a retainer configured to be received in the groove and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when in the locked position, the retainer is disposed within the groove and engages a shoulder of the groove to inhibit axial movement of the first fitting relative to the second fitting, wherein when in the unlocked position, the first and second fittings are axially movable relative to each other, wherein one of the first fitting or the second fitting is coupled to the base and the other one of the first fitting or the second fitting is coupled to the applicator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each actuator is a piezoelectric actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a robotic arm supporting the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each nozzle plate includes a plurality of the apertures. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the applicator includes an array body supporting the nozzle plates, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of the quick-connect connectors, each quick-connect connector configured to couple a corresponding one of the nozzle plates to the array body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the applicator includes an array body supporting the nozzle plates, wherein the quick-connect connector couples the array body to the base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the applicator defines at least one reservoir. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one reservoir includes a plurality of reservoirs, each reservoir being at least partially defined by a corresponding one of the nozzle plates. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each reservoir has a volume of 1 mL or less. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove extends circumferentially about an axis of the first fitting. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the retainer is a ball and the second fitting includes a collar that is axially movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position the collar inhibits the ball from moving to the unlocked position, and wherein when in the second position the collar permits the ball to move to the unlocked position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the quick-connect connector includes an electrical connection between the base and the applicator configured to transmit electrical signals from the base to the plurality of actuators. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for applying a coating to a substrate comprising: a base; an applicator including an actuator and a nozzle plate defining at least one aperture, the actuator being configured to oscillate the nozzle plate to eject fluid from the at least one aperture; and a quick-connect connector that couples the applicator to the base for fluid communication and electrical communication therebetween, the quick-connector including a first fitting and a second fitting, the first fitting defining a groove and a nose, the second fitting including a retainer configured to be received in the groove and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when in the locked position, the retainer is disposed within the groove and inhibits axial movement of the first fitting relative to the second fitting, wherein when in the unlocked position, the first and second fittings are axially movable relative to each other, wherein one of the first fitting or the second fitting is fixedly coupled to the base and the other one of the first fitting or the second fitting is fixedly coupled to the applicator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the applicator comprises a plurality of the actuators and a plurality of the nozzle plates, each actuator being configured to oscillate a corresponding one of the nozzle plates. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the applicator includes an array body supporting the nozzle plates, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of the quick-connect connectors, each quick-connect connector configured to couple a corresponding one of the nozzle plates to the array body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the applicator includes an array body supporting the nozzle plates, wherein the quick-connect connector couples the array body to the base. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the nozzle plate includes a plurality of the apertures. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second fitting includes a collar that is axially movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position the collar inhibits the retainer from moving to the unlocked position, and wherein when in the second position the collar permits the retainer to move to the unlocked position. ### Claim 20 An apparatus for applying a coating to a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a base including a fluid conduit; an applicator including a plurality of actuators and an array of nozzle plates, each nozzle plate defining at least one aperture, each actuator being configured to oscillate a corresponding one of the nozzle plates to eject fluid from the apertures; and a quick-connect connector that couples the fluid conduit to the applicator for fluid communication therebetween, wherein the applicator includes an array body supporting the nozzle plates, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of the quick-connect connectors, each quick-connect connector coupling the array body to the base.