A system and method for controlling a needle motion of a material applicator are disclosed. The system includes an actuator assembly that contains a piezoelectric device, where the actuator assembly is connected to a needle and translates the needle along a vertical direction, and a sensor assembly that includes an emitter for emitting light, where a portion of the actuator assembly occludes a portion of the light. The sensor assembly also includes a receiver for receiving a non-occluded portion of the light and a sensor holder that secures the emitter and the receiver. The system further includes a controller in electrical communication with the piezoelectric device, emitter, and receiver, where the controller adjusts operation of the actuator assembly based on feedback received from the receiver.

A thin-film coating applicator assembly is disclosed for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative thin-film coating applicator assembly is adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.

Disclosed herein is a method for applying a liquid metal on a surface of an object that is selected from the group consisting of a heat-emitting surface and a heat-conducting surface. The method includes applying the liquid metal onto the surface, and applying a force to the liquid metal using a tool to destroy cohesion of the liquid metal, followed by moving the tool back and forth to apply the liquid metal on the surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a coating apparatus includes a coating bar, a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of holding portions, and a detector. The coating bar is configured to face a coating target member. The plurality of nozzles are configured to supply a liquid toward the coating bar. One of the plurality of holding portions holds one of the plurality of nozzles. The one of the plurality of holding portions is configured to control a position of the one of the plurality of nozzles relative to the coating bar. The detector is configured to detect a quantity corresponding to respective positions of the plurality of nozzles with respect to the coating bar.

The disclosure concerns a coating device for coating components with a coating agent, in particular for painting motor vehicle body components with a paint, with a printhead for applying the coating agent to the component, and with a coating agent supply for supplying the printhead with the coating agent to be applied, wherein the coating agent flows from the coating agent supply to the printhead at a specific coating agent pressure and a specific flow rate. The disclosure provides that the coating supply will control the coating agent pressure and/or the flow rate of the coating agent. Furthermore, the disclosure includes an associated operating method.

An atomizing spray nozzle device includes an atomizing zone housing that receives different phases of materials used to form a coating. The atomizing zone housing mixes the different phases of the materials into a two-phase mixture of ceramic-liquid droplets in a carrier gas. The device also includes a plenum housing fluidly coupled with the atomizing housing and extending from the atomizing housing to a delivery end. The plenum housing includes an interior plenum that receives the two-phase mixture of ceramic-liquid droplets in the carrier gas from the atomizing zone housing. The device also includes one or more delivery nozzles fluidly coupled with the plenum chamber. The delivery nozzles provide outlets from which the two-phase mixture of ceramic-liquid droplets in the carrier gas is delivered onto one or more surfaces of a target object as the coating on the target object.

A Digital decorating machine for ceramic products, including a conveyor, suitable to transport the products to be decorated (P) along a feed direction (A), and a plurality of decoration modules, positioned over the conveyor and adjacent to each other along the feed direction (A). The modules include respective printing heads provided with nozzles for ejecting a fluid to be delivered on the surface of the products to be decorated (P); the conveyor includes a movable member for supporting the products to be decorated (P), suitable for translating them along the feed direction (A). The conveyor includes at least a supporting surface, located along a respective flank of the movable member, including in turn a plurality of predetermined positioning zones for the removable engagement of respective coupling portions of the decoration modules.

A perforated plate for an application device for application of a fluid to a component, preferably a motor vehicle body and/or an attachment for this, comprises at least four through-holes for passage of the fluid. The through-holes are assigned to a nozzle row with a central region and two edge regions and are spaced apart from each other by hole spacings. The at least one outermost hole spacing of the nozzle row in at least one edge region is larger than at least one hole spacing in the central region. An application device and an application method with such a perforated plate is also disclosed.

Systems for the manufacturing of waveguide cells in accordance with various embodiments can be configured and implemented in many different ways. In many embodiments, various deposition mechanisms are used to deposit layer(s) of optical recording material onto a transparent substrate. A second transparent substrate can be provided, and the three layers can be laminated to form a waveguide cell. Suitable optical recording material can vary widely depending on the given application. In some embodiments, the optical recording material deposited has a similar composition throughout the layer. In a number of embodiments, the optical recording material spatially varies in composition, allowing for the formation of optical elements with varying characteristics. Regardless of the composition of the optical recording material, any method of placing or depositing the optical recording material onto a substrate can be utilized.

A fluid dispenser, comprising a dispenser faceplate having at least one ejection port and a dispenser guard. The dispenser guard has at least one opening configured to allow fluid exiting from the ejection port to flow through and at least one drainage structure. The dispenser guard is spaced from the ejection port with a gap small enough to attract the fluid accumulated around the ejection port to flow into the drainage structure.