# US 11,298,717 B2 · Print head having a temperature-control device

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- Number: US 11,298,717 B2
- Document ID: US11298717B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/468,700
- Filed: 2017-12-01
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14
- Assignees: Dürr Systems AG
- Applicants: Dürr Systems AG
- Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz; Benjamin Wöhr; Marcus Kleiner; Moritz Bubek; Timo Beyl; Frank Herre; Steffen Sotzny
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298717B2

## CPC

- B05B 13/0452: {the objects being vehicle components, e.g. vehicle bodies}
- B05B 1/02: designed to produce a jet, spray, or other discharge of particular shape or nature, e.g. in single drops, {or having an outlet of particular shape}(B05B1/26, B05B1/28, B05B1/34 take precedence)
- B05B 1/24: incorporating means for heating the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. electrically
- B05B 1/3053: {the actuating means being a solenoid}
- B05B 12/10: responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged
- B05B 12/149: {characterised by colour change manifolds or valves therefor (B05B12/1409 takes precedence)}
- B05B 13/002: {Machines or plants for applying coating liquids or other fluent materials by inkjet}
- 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}
- B05C 5/001: {incorporating means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material (B05C11/1042 takes precedence)}
- B05C 5/0225: {characterised by flow controlling means, e.g. valves, located proximate the outlet (B05C5/0258, B05C5/0275 take precedence; supply valves upstream the coating head B05C11/1036)}
- B05C 5/0291: {the material being discharged on the work through discrete orifices as discrete droplets, beads or strips that coalesce on the work or are spread on the work so as to form a continuous coating}
- B05C 11/1042: {provided with means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material in the supplying means upstream of the applying apparatus}
- B25J 11/0075: {Manipulators for painting or coating}
- B41J 2/06: by electric or magnetic field
- F16K 31/004: {actuated by piezoelectric means}
- F16K 49/005: {Circulation means for a separate heat transfer fluid}
- B41J 3/4073: {Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects (B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112)}
- B41J 2202/08: dealing with thermal variations, e.g. cooling
- 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)
- B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08)
- 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})
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

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.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

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.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

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.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

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.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

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

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

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.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

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.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

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

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

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.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

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

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

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.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

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.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The application device according to claim 1, characterised in that the application medium is a paint.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The application device according to claim 1, characterised in that
the at least one temperature control apparatus is part of a loop, or
the at least one temperature control apparatus performs temperature control for the at least one drive during application of the application medium to a temperature of below 80° C.