Applicator comprising an integrated control circuit

{
  "publication_number": "US11779942B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Applicator comprising an integrated control circuit",
  "abstract": "The disclosure concerns an applicator, in particular a printhead, for applying a coating agent, in particular a paint, to a component, in particular to a motor vehicle body component or an attachment for a motor vehicle body component, having a plurality of nozzles for applying the coating agent in the form of a coating agent jet, and a plurality of coating agent valves for controlling the release of the coating agent through the individual nozzles, and having a plurality of electrically controllable actuators for controlling the coating agent valves. The disclosure provides that a control circuit for electrically controlling the actuators is integrated in the applicator.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A coating robot, comprising: an applicator including several nozzles configured for application of coating agent in the form of a coating agent jet, a plurality of coating agent valves for controlling the release of the coating agent through the individual nozzles, and a plurality of electrically controllable actuators for controlling the coating agent valves; a control circuit for electrically driving the actuators, the control circuit integrated in the applicator; a robot controller for program control of the coating robot; a graphics module for specifying switching patterns for the actuators in accordance with a predefined graphic; and at least one cable between the robot controller and a printhead logic, the cable comprising the following connections: a) a power voltage supply for the actuators, b) a control voltage supply for the printhead logic and the power electronics, c) potential equalization; and d) a communication connection for connection to the robot controller.",
    "2. The coating robot according to claim 1, wherein the cable is a hybrid cable in which all the wires of the cable are under a common protective sheath.",
    "3. The coating robot according to claim 2, wherein several functions share a common cable wire.",
    "4. The coating robot according to claim 1, further comprising detachable connections on the applicator for the robot controller, the graphics module and the printhead logic.",
    "5. The coating robot according to claim 4, wherein the connections on the applicator are arranged in a housing of the applicator.",
    "6. The coating robot according to claim 4, wherein the connections on the applicator are arranged in a connecting flange of the applicator.",
    "7. The coating robot according to claim 4, wherein the connections on the applicator are arranged on an outside of a housing of the applicator.",
    "8. The coating robot according to claim 4, wherein the connections on the applicator are arranged on an outside of a connecting flange of the applicator.",
    "9. A coating robot, comprising: an applicator including several nozzles configured for application of coating agent in the form of a coating agent jet, a plurality of coating agent valves for controlling the release of the coating agent through the individual nozzles, and a plurality of electrically controllable actuators for controlling the coating agent valves; a control circuit for electrically driving the actuators, the control circuit integrated in the applicator; a robot controller for program control of the coating robot; a graphics module for specifying switching patterns for the actuators in accordance with a predefined graphic; and detachable connections on the applicator for the robot controller, the graphics module and the printhead logic.",
    "10. The coating robot according to claim 9, wherein the connections on the applicator are arranged in a housing of the applicator.",
    "11. The coating robot according to claim 9, wherein the connections on the applicator are arranged in a connecting flange of the applicator.",
    "12. The coating robot according to claim 9, wherein the connections on the applicator are arranged on an outside of a housing of the applicator.",
    "13. The coating robot according to claim 9, wherein the connections on the applicator are arranged on an outside of a connecting flange of the applicator."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The disclosure concerns an applicator (e.g. printhead) for applying a coating agent (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component or add-on part for a motor vehicle body component).\n\nState-of-the-art drop-on-demand printheads (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 9,108,424 B2) are known whose operating principle is based on the use of electromagnetic valves. A magnetic piston (valve needle) is guided in a coil and lifted into the coil by a current supply. This releases a valve opening and, depending on the opening time, the fluid (e.g. the ink) can escape as a drop or as a “jet portion” of various sizes. With state-of-the-art printheads, both the power electronics and the printhead logic are installed outside the printhead. The power electronics are used to generate the voltages and currents required to operate the electromagnetic valves, while the printhead logic is used to determine the switching times of the individual electromagnetic valves according to a given pattern and in synchronization with the robot controller. In most cases, printheads are fixed to a fixed holder and the object to be printed (coated) is guided past the printhead. Alternatively, the printhead is mounted on a linear unit by which it is moved linearly back and forth while the object to be printed is guided under the printhead. This results in simple motion sequences. If, however, a printhead is installed on a 6- or 7-axis robot, the motion sequences are much more complex. This also influences the pattern resulting from the desired print image - time sequence - for controlling the valve coils.",
  "cpc": [
    "B05B 1/3053",
    "B05B 12/04",
    "B05B 13/002",
    "B05B 13/0452",
    "B25J 11/0075",
    "B41J 2/04",
    "B41J 2/04581",
    "B41J 2/14",
    "B41J 2002/041",
    "B41J 2002/14475",
    "B41J 2202/05",
    "H01F 7/1883"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B05B 1/30",
    "B05B 13/04",
    "B41J 2/04",
    "B41J 2/14",
    "H01F 7/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "DUERR SYSTEMS AG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "FRITZ HANS-GEORG",
    "WÖHR BENJAMIN",
    "KLEINER MARCUS",
    "BUBEK MORTIZ",
    "BEYL TIMO",
    "HERRE FRANK",
    "SOTZNY STEFFEN",
    "TANDLER DANIEL",
    "BERNDT TOBIAS",
    "GEIGER ANDREAS"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-10-26",
  "publication_date": "2023-10-10",
  "grant_date": "2023-10-10",
  "priority_date": "2017-09-27",
  "application_number": "US-202117510581-A",
  "family_id": "63685963",
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    "JP2011522352A",
    "JP2017154135A",
    "JPH1096480A",
    "US2002030707A1",
    "US9108424B2",
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    "WO2008131986A1",
    "WO2008151714A1",
    "WO2010046064A1"
  ]
}