Composite ultrasonic material applicators with individually addressable micro-applicators and methods of use thereof

{
  "publication_number": "US12005463B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Composite ultrasonic material applicators with individually addressable micro-applicators and methods of use thereof",
  "abstract": "A material applicator for controlling application of at least one material on a substrate includes a housing and an array plate with an applicator array positioned within the housing. The applicator array has a plurality of micro-applicators and each of the plurality of micro-applicators has an ultrasonic transducer, a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures. The applicator plate is in mechanical communication with the ultrasonic transducer such that at least one material is ejected through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets when the ultrasonic transducer vibrates the micro-applicator plate.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A material applicator for controlling application of at least one material on a substrate, the material applicator comprising: a housing; and an array plate with an applicator array positioned within the housing, the applicator array comprising a plurality of micro-applicators, each of the plurality of micro-applicators comprising an ultrasonic transducer, a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures, wherein the micro-applicator plate is in mechanical communication with the ultrasonic transducer such that at least one material is ejected in an election direction through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets when the ultrasonic transducer vibrates the micro-applicator plate, wherein the material inlet of a first micro-applicator of the plurality of micro-applicators is coupled to a material source to receive a first material from the material source and the material inlet of a second micro-applicator of the plurality of micro-applicators is coupled to the material source to receive a second material from the material source, the second material being different from the first material, wherein the plurality of micro-applicators comprises a first subset of micro-applicators and a second subset of micro-applicators, wherein the micro-applicator plates of the first subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a first plane that is perpendicular to the ejection direction and the micro-applicator plates of the second subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a second plane that is parallel to and offset in the ejection direction from the first plane.",
    "2. The material applicator according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of micro-applicators further comprises a frame with the reservoir positioned between the frame and the micro-applicator plate.",
    "3. The material applicator according to claim 2, wherein the frame comprises a back wall and at least one sidewall.",
    "4. The material applicator according to claim 3, wherein the reservoir is between the back wall and the micro-applicator plate.",
    "5. The material applicator according to claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is positioned between the frame and the micro-applicator plate.",
    "6. The material applicator according to claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of micro-applicators is individually addressable to apply the at least one material to the substrate.",
    "7. The material applicator according to claim 6 further comprising a controller configured to individually address the at least a subset of the plurality of micro-applicators.",
    "8. The material applicator according to claim 1, wherein the micro-applicator plates of the plurality of micro-applicators are aligned on a single plane.",
    "9. The material applicator according to claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to individually address the first subset of micro-applicators and the second subset of micro-applicators.",
    "10. The material applicator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-applicators comprises a first subset of micro-applicators and a second subset of micro-applicators, wherein the micro-applicator plates of the first subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a first plane and the micro-applicator plates of the second subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a second plane non-parallel to the first plane.",
    "11. The material applicator according to claim 10 further comprising a controller configured to individually address the first subset of micro-applicators and the second subset of micro-applicators.",
    "12. The material applicator according to claim 10 further comprising a robotic arm configured to move the plurality of micro-applicators across a surface.",
    "13. A material applicator for controlling application of at least one material on a substrate, the material applicator comprising: a housing attached to a robotic arm configured to move the housing across a surface; and an array plate with an applicator array positioned within the housing, the applicator array comprising a plurality of micro-applicators, each of the plurality of micro-applicators comprising an ultrasonic transducer, a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures, wherein the micro-applicator plate is in mechanical communication with the ultrasonic transducer such that at least one material is ejected in an election direction through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets when the ultrasonic transducer vibrates the micro-applicator plate, wherein the plurality of micro-applicators comprises a first subset of micro-applicators and a second subset of micro-applicators, wherein the micro-applicator plates of the first subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a first plane that is perpendicular to the ejection direction and the micro-applicator plates of the second subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a second plane parallel to and offset in the ejection direction from the first plane.",
    "14. The material applicator according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of micro-applicators further comprises a frame with a back wall and at least one sidewall, and the reservoir is between the back wall and the micro-applicator plate.",
    "15. The material applicator according to claim 14, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is positioned between the frame and the micro-applicator plate.",
    "16. The material applicator according to claim 13 further comprising a controller configured to individually address the first subset of micro-applicators and the second subset of micro-applicators.",
    "17. A material applicator for controlling application of at least one material on a substrate, the material applicator comprising: a housing; and an array plate with an applicator array positioned within the housing, the applicator array comprising a plurality of micro-applicators, each of the plurality of micro-applicators comprising an ultrasonic transducer, a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures, wherein the micro-applicator plate is in mechanical communication with the ultrasonic transducer such that at least one material is ejected through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets when the ultrasonic transducer vibrates the micro-applicator plate, wherein the plurality of micro-applicators comprises a first subset of micro-applicators and a second subset of micro-applicators, wherein the micro-applicator plates of the first subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a first plane to elect the at least one material in a first ejection direction perpendicular to the first plane and the micro-applicator plates of the second subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a second plane non-parallel to the first plane to eject the at least one material in a second election direction that is perpendicular to the second plane.",
    "18. The material applicator according to claim 17 further comprising a robotic arm attached to the housing and configured to move the housing across a surface."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to the painting of vehicles, and more particularly to methods and equipment used in high volume production to paint the vehicles and components thereof.\n\nThe statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.\n\nPainting automotive vehicles in a high volume production environment involves substantial capital cost, not only for application and control of the paint, but also for equipment to capture overspray. The overspray can be up to 40% of the paint that exits an applicator, or in other words, to 40% of the paint that is purchased and applied is wasted (i.e. the transfer efficiency is ˜60%). Equipment that captures overspray involves significant capital expenses when a paint shop is constructed, including large air handling systems to carry overspray down through a paint booth, construction of a continuous stream of water that flows under a floor of the paint booth to capture the overspray, filtration systems, and abatement, among others. In addition, costs to operate the equipment is high because air (flowing at greater than 200K CFM) that flows through the paint booths must be conditioned, the flow of water must be maintained, compressed air must be supplied, and complex electrostatics are employed to improve transfer efficiency.\n\nWith known production equipment, paint is atomized by rotating bells, which are essentially a rotating disk or bowl that spins at about 20,000-80,000 rpms.",
  "cpc": [
    "B05B 17/0646",
    "B05B 1/262",
    "B05B 12/00",
    "B05B 12/04",
    "B05B 12/14",
    "B05B 12/16",
    "B05B 12/18",
    "B05B 12/36",
    "B05B 13/002",
    "B05B 13/0405",
    "B05B 13/0431",
    "B05B 13/0452",
    "B05B 15/00",
    "B05B 15/625",
    "B05B 15/628",
    "B05B 15/68",
    "B05B 17/06",
    "B05B 17/063",
    "B05B 17/0653",
    "B05B 17/0669",
    "B05B 3/02",
    "B05B 3/14",
    "B05B 7/1481",
    "B05D 1/02",
    "B05D 1/12",
    "B05D 3/067",
    "B25J 11/0075"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B05B 1/26",
    "B05B 12/00",
    "B05B 12/16",
    "B05B 12/36",
    "B05B 13/04",
    "B05B 15/00",
    "B05B 15/625",
    "B05B 15/628",
    "B05B 15/68",
    "B05B 17/00",
    "B05B 17/06",
    "B05B 3/02",
    "B05B 3/14",
    "B05B 7/14",
    "B05D 1/02",
    "B05D 1/12",
    "B05D 3/06",
    "B25J 11/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ford Motor Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kevin Ellwood",
    "Mark Nichols",
    "Wanjiao Liu",
    "Christopher Seubert"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-01-22",
  "publication_date": "2024-06-11",
  "grant_date": "2024-06-11",
  "priority_date": "2018-01-30",
  "application_number": "US-202117155776-A",
  "family_id": "67391243",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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    "US20110249059A1",
    "US20110211021A1",
    "US20130129916A1",
    "WO2018108568A1",
    "US20190337006A1",
    "US20190077158A1"
  ]
}