A system for producing three-dimensional objects forms fluid paths within the support structure to facilitate the removal of the support structure following manufacture of the object. The system includes a first ejector configured to eject a first material towards a platen to form an object, a second ejector configured to eject a second material towards the platen to form support for portions of the object, at least one portion of the support having a body with at least one fluid path that connects at least one opening in the body to at least one other opening in the body, and a fluid source that connects to the at least one fluid path of the support to enable fluid to flow through the at least one fluid path to remove at least an inner portion of the support from the object.

An apparatus for applying a fluid to an object surface comprises a metering valve, an actuator for moving the metering valve relative to the object surface in at least one spatial direction, and an electronic control device that is in signal communication with the metering valve and the actuator and that is configured to move the metering valve along a predefined metering path and to open it once or a multiple of times within the metering path for a fluid dispensing. The electronic control device comprises means for a time synchronization of the movement of the actuator, on the one hand, and of the opening and closing of the metering valve, on the other hand.

A sealant system for operation with a metal workpiece comprises a frame, a cam assembly mounted to the frame, a sealant reservoir, a sealant application unit connected to the sealant reservoir, and a control module for coordinating operation of the cam assembly and the sealant reservoir, wherein the control module comprises a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the sealant, an integrated heating system for heating the sealant and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the integrated heating system.

A liquid material is discharged in a constant amount per unit time regardless of a relative moving speed. The liquid material application apparatus includes a discharge head, a robot moving the discharge head relative to a workpiece, a movement control unit controlling relative movement of the discharge head and the workpiece, and a discharge control unit controlling an operation of discharging a liquid material from a discharge head, wherein the discharge control unit executes, in a switchable manner in accordance with an application program, first mode discharge control of changing a discharge amount of the liquid material, which is discharged from the discharge head per unit time, depending on a relative moving speed between the discharge head and the workpiece, and second mode discharge control of operating the discharge head to discharge the liquid material in a predetermined discharge amount per unit time regardless of the relative moving speed.

A continuous coating device for continuously conveying a long film includes a coating roll, an imaging device and a coating head. The long film is wound onto the coating roll. The imaging device is configured to capture an image of a mark or a pattern on the long film wound onto the coating roll. The coating head is configured to coat the long film wound onto the coating roll with a specific pattern. The coating head is disposed downstream from the imaging device in a conveyance direction of the long film.

A dispensing nozzle assembly for dispensing a flowable liquid through a nozzle, incorporating a rotating tube assembly. The dispensing nozzle assembly includes a nozzle coupling for supplying the flowable liquid, and a cylindrical nozzle tube having an inlet end connected to the nozzle coupling, and an outlet end attached to a dispensing nozzle. A union housing is secured to the nozzle coupling, and has a top opening through which the nozzle coupling extends, and an interior space that accepts and surrounds the nozzle coupling. The rotating tube assembly also includes a rotatable, cylindrical outer tube that surrounds the nozzle tube, which has an inlet end that extends into union housing, and an outlet end that extends proximate the outlet end of the nozzle tube. The inlet end of the rotatable outer tube that extends into union housing and is secured rotatably by a pair of spaced-apart, axially-aligned shaft bearings.

A system for producing three-dimensional objects forms fluid paths within the support structure to facilitate the removal of the support structure following manufacture of the object. The system includes a first ejector configured to eject a first material towards a platen to form an object, a second ejector configured to eject a second material towards the platen to form support for portions of the object, at least one portion of the support having a body with at least one fluid path that connects at least one opening in the body to at least one other opening in the body, and a fluid source that connects to the at least one fluid path of the support to enable fluid to flow through the at least one fluid path to remove at least an inner portion of the support from the object.

A controller controls a plunger to operate at a measurement speed and discharge the viscous material from the nozzle before applying the viscous material to the workpiece. The controller measures a period of time, from when the plunger starts operating at the measurement speed until a discharge amount of the viscous material reaches a predetermined value, as a time delay amount. The controller further determines an operation speed of the plunger and/or a moving speed of the nozzle during application of the viscous material to the workpiece according to the measured time delay amount.

A sealing system for applying resin to a cut edge of a composite structure, the cut edge having exposed carbon fibers. The system includes: a tool that comprises a nozzle and a resin source; a controller configured to control: a movement of the tool, and flow of resin from the resin source to the nozzle; and an application tip connected to the nozzle of the tool and configured to apply the resin to the cut edge of the composite structure. The application tip may have an exterior surface with a circular cross section and an indentation for a first length along a longitudinal axis of the application tip and a first end and a second end configured such that a resin flows from the first end to the second end.

A sealant discharging apparatus includes a sealing gun, a movement controller, and a discharge controller. The sealing gun discharges sealant to an object. The movement controller causes the sealing gun and the object to move relatively. The discharge controller controls a discharge amount of the sealant discharged from the sealing gun. The movement controller controls a movement velocity of the sealing gun based on a volume of post-sealing sealant that has been discharged from the sealing gun and used to seal the object, and an amount of volume change in a sealant pool that has been discharged from the sealing gun and is yet to be used to seal the object.