DEVICE AND METHOD FOR COATING WORKPIECES

Abstract

A device for coating workpieces preferably consisting at least in parts of wood, wood materials, plastic, aluminium or the like, comprises: a feed device for feeding a coating material; a pressing device for pressing the coating material onto a surface of a workpiece; a conveying device for inducing a relative movement between the pressing device and the respective workpiece; and an activation device for activating an adhesive on a coating material fed in the feed device and/or for activating an adhesive on a surface of a workpiece to be coated. The activation device comprises at least one supply line for supplying an activation medium as well as a nozzle body having an inlet duct and an outlet region. The activation device comprises at least one acoustic element that is configured to reduce the sound pressure resulting from the flow of the activation medium and/or to effect a frequency shift.

Claims

1. Device for coating workpieces comprising a feed device for feeding a coating material; a pressing device for pressing the coating material onto a surface of a workpiece; a conveying device for inducing a relative movement between the pressing device and the respective workpiece; and an activation device for activating an adhesive on a coating material fed in the feed device and/or for activating an adhesive on a surface of a workpiece to be coated, said activation device comprising at least one supply line for supplying an activation medium as well as a nozzle body having an inlet duct and an outlet region, wherein the activation device comprises at least one acoustic element that is configured to reduce the sound pressure resulting from the flow of the activation medium and/or to effect a frequency shift.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one acoustic element is configured as a sound-absorbing element and/or as a resonator.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element is arranged at at least one of the locations: supply line of the activation device; inlet duct of the nozzle body; or outlet region of the nozzle body.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the activation device comprises at least one activation medium heating device and/or at least one activation medium cooling device and/or an activation medium discharge duct, wherein the acoustic element is arranged in the activation medium heating device, the activation medium cooling device and/or the activation medium discharge duct.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element comprises a single-layer or multi-layer fabric.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element comprises a honeycomb structure.

7. The device according to one claim 1, wherein the acoustic element comprises a plurality of grid elements which together form a grid structure with openings, wherein a grid element is formed by parallel displacement of a planar cross-section perpendicular to the cross-sectional plane, and wherein a first plurality of grid elements forms an angle of between 20° and 90°, relative to a second plurality of grid elements.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the grid elements comprise notches which are configured such that grid elements that are each angled relative to each other can be inserted into each other.

9. The device according to one of claim 7, wherein the grid elements that are each angled relative to each other are connected to one another with a force fit, form fit and/or cohesive fit.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the planar cross-section comprises a round portion and a pointed portion substantially opposite thereto.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of grid structures are stacked such that the openings thereof are at least partially aligned with one another and/or at least partially offset from one another and/or rotated relative to each other.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element comprises a plurality of spatial substructures, which are arranged in a substantially primitive cubic, body-centred cubic, face-centred cubic or hexagonal close-packed packing.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element comprises a plurality of streamlined bodies, wherein a streamlined body comprises a substantially hemispherical end and a pointed end opposite thereto, wherein a streamlined body axis extends through said hemispherical end and said pointed end, and wherein said streamlined body axes of all streamlined bodies of the acoustic element are arranged such that they are substantially parallel.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element comprises a plurality, at least two, of the structures: grid structure with openings; honeycomb structure with openings; single-layer or multi-layer fabric with openings; sintered structure with openings; random fibre structure with openings; an array of spatial substructures, arranged in a substantially primitive cubic, body-centred cubic, face-centred cubic or hexagonal close packed packing, wherein the regions in the array of substructures in which no substructures are formed define openings; an array of streamlined bodies, wherein a streamlined body comprises a substantially hemispherical end and a pointed end opposite thereto, wherein a streamlined body axis extends through said hemispherical end and said pointed end, wherein the streamlined body axes of all streamlined bodies of the acoustic element are arranged such that they are substantially parallel, and wherein the regions in the array of streamlined bodies in which no substructures are formed define openings; wherein the structures are stacked such that the openings thereof are at least partially aligned with one another and/or at least partially offset from one another and/or rotated relative to each other.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element or parts of the acoustic element are made of a metal and/or a ceramic material that is suitable for continuous use at temperatures of up to 900° C.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element is formed by a casting process, a sintering process or an additive manufacturing process.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element comprises an inner conduit having an axis and an outer conduit arranged substantially concentric to said axis, said outer conduit having a larger cross-section than said inner conduit, said inner conduit and said outer conduit overlapping in a first length region, wherein the inner conduit is open at a first end and closed at an end substantially opposite thereto, and wherein the outer conduit is open at a second end and closed at an end substantially opposite thereto, wherein the inner conduit has through-holes in its lateral surface that are configured to bring the first end into fluidic connection with the second end, and wherein a sound-absorbing material is arranged in the first length region.

18. The device according to claim 13, wherein the sound-absorbing material is arranged on the inner surface of the outer conduit, wherein a plurality of structures tapering substantially in the direction of the conduit axis are formed on a side of the sound-absorbing material facing the conduit axis, and wherein the sound-absorbing material is porous.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element arranged in the inlet duct of the nozzle body and/or the acoustic element arranged at the outlet region of the nozzle body attached to the nozzle body with a force fit, a form fit and/or a cohesive fit.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element arranged in the inlet duct of the nozzle body and/or the acoustic element arranged at the outlet region of the nozzle body configured integrally with the nozzle body.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element arranged in the supply line of the activation device is connected to the supply line with a force fit, a form fit and/or a cohesive fit.

22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic element arranged at the outlet region of the nozzle body is recessed in the nozzle body in a flush-mounted manner.

23. The device according to claim 3, wherein the mesh size of the fabric and/or grid structure is less than the value 5000 μm.

24. Method for coating and/or activating workpieces using a device according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: inducing a relative movement between the pressing device and the respective workpiece by means of the conveying device; feeding the coating material by means of the feed device; and applying and/or activating an adhesive on a coating material fed in the feed device and/or a surface of a workpiece to be coated by means of the activation device.

25. Method for coating and/or activating workpieces using a device according to claim 1, said device comprising at least one sensor for measuring a measurement parameter, said method comprising the steps of: measuring a measurement parameter; and changing a working parameter of a processing machine based on the measured measurement parameter.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the measurement parameter is a temperature, an atmospheric pressure, a sound pressure, a sound frequency, a fluid viscosity or a Reynolds number, and wherein the working parameter is a feed rate, a flow rate, a heating/cooling power and/or an activation energy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device for coating workpieces as according to the prior art;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a device for coating workpieces as according to the invention;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a device for coating workpieces as according to the invention;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of a device for coating workpieces as according to the invention;

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a fabric structure for an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a grid structure for an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0049] FIG. 7a shows a first embodiment of a grid element for a grid structure for an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0050] FIG. 7b shows a second embodiment of a grid element for a grid structure for an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 8a shows an axial cross-section of a second advantageous embodiment of an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0052] FIG. 8b shows an axial cross-section of a third advantageous embodiment of an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0053] FIG. 9a shows components of a third advantageous embodiment of an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0054] FIG. 9b shows components of a fourth advantageous embodiment of an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0055] FIG. 10 shows a component of a fifth advantageous embodiment of an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0056] FIG. 11a shows a first arrangement according to the invention of the component of the fifth embodiment of an acoustic element according to the invention;

[0057] FIG. 11b shows a second arrangement according to the invention of the component of the fifth embodiment of an acoustic element according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0058] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device for coating a workpiece 1 as according to the prior art. The shown device comprises: a feed device 3 (not shown) for feeding a coating material 2; a pressing device 4 for pressing the coating material 2 onto a surface of a workpiece 1; a conveying device 5 (not shown) for inducing a relative movement between the pressing device 4 and the respective workpiece 1; as well as an activation device 6 for activating an adhesive on a coating material 2 fed in the feed device 3. The activation device comprises a supply line 7 as well as a nozzle body 8. An inlet duct 9 or a system of inlet ducts 9 was introduced into the nozzle body. The nozzle body 8 furthermore comprises an outlet region 10, which in the present case is configured as a plurality of nozzles 10.

[0059] The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 differs from the device of FIG. 1 in that an acoustic element 11, configured as a sound-absorbing element and/or resonator, is additionally arranged at the outlet region 10 of the nozzle body 8.

[0060] The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 differs from the device of FIG. 1 in that an acoustic element 11, configured as a sound-absorbing element and/or resonator, is additionally arranged in the supply line 7 of the nozzle body 8. An acoustic element 11, configured as a sound-absorbing element and/or resonator, is furthermore arranged in the inlet duct 9 of the nozzle body. Not shown, but also conceivable, is an embodiment in which an acoustic element, configured as a sound-absorbing element and/or as a resonator, is arranged only in the supply line 7 or only in the inlet duct 9 of the nozzle body 8.

[0061] The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 differs from the device of FIG. 1 in that an acoustic element 11, configured as a sound-absorbing element and/or resonator, is additionally arranged at the outlet region 10 of the nozzle body. The supply line 7 furthermore comprises an acoustic element 11, configured as a sound-absorbing element and/or as a resonator.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows an example of a fabric that can be used as a component of the acoustic element 11. The fabric preferably consists of high-temperature-resistant wire 12, which is processed into a two-dimensional or three-dimensional product and, according to the invention, can be arranged in one or more layers, completely or partially aligned or also stacked in an offset manner.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows an example of a grid structure 14 consisting of groups of grid elements 13 each inclined with respect to one another. In the present example, the groups of grid elements 13 form a 90° angle to each other. The shown arrangement of grid elements 13 results in the creation of openings 15, through which an activation medium can flow.

[0064] FIG. 7a shows an example of two grid elements 13, each of which comprises notches 17 so that the grid elements can be inserted into one another. An advantageous further development of the grid elements 13 of FIG. 7a, which also uses notches 17, is shown in FIG. 7b. In this figure, the grid elements 13 have a drop-shaped cross-section 16, as a result of which pressure losses during the flow of the activation medium can be reduced.

[0065] A further advantageous embodiment of an acoustic element 11 according to the invention is shown in an axial cross-section in FIG. 8a. The acoustic element 11 according to the further advantageous embodiment comprises an inner conduit 21 having an axis 22 and an outer conduit 23 arranged substantially concentric to this axis 22. The outer conduit 23 has a larger cross-section than the inner conduit 21. The inner conduit 21 and the outer conduit 23 overlap in a first length region 24. The inner conduit 21 is open at a first end 25 and closed at an end substantially opposite thereto. The outer conduit 23 is open at a second end 26 and closed at an end substantially opposite thereto. The inner conduit 21 has through-holes 28 in its lateral surface 27 that are configured to bring the first end 25 into fluidic connection with the second end 26. A sound-absorbing material 29 is arranged on the inner surface 30 of the outer conduit. When an activation medium flows into the first end, it passes through the through-holes 28 into the region between the inner conduit 21 and the outer conduit 23 and exits the outer conduit at a second end. The sound resulting from the flow of the activation medium is thereby absorbed at least in part by the sound-absorbing material 29.

[0066] The third embodiment of an acoustic element according to the invention which is shown in FIG. 8b differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 8a in that the sound-absorbing material 29 has pointed, for example conical or pyramid-shaped, structures on its surface facing the axis 22. This geometric shape can enhance the sound-absorbing effect beyond the sound-absorbing effect associated with the material.

[0067] FIGS. 9a and 9b show components of a third or respectively fourth advantageous embodiment of an acoustic element according to the invention. The acoustic element 11 may specifically comprise spheres 18 arranged in a primitive cubic (FIG. 9a) or body-centred cubic (FIG. 9b) packing.

[0068] An acoustic element 11 according to the invention may furthermore also comprise streamlined bodies 19, as shown by way of example in FIG. 10. Such streamlined bodies 19 could, for instance, be arranged such that they are offset (FIG. 11a) or stacked vertically (FIG. 11b). The arrangement has a direct effect on the free flow cross-section. A small flow cross-section associated with the offset stacking according to FIG. 11a may be advantageous as regards the sound-absorbing effect of the acoustic element. By contrast, a vertically stacked arrangement according to FIG. 11b may lead to a reduction in pressure and/or velocity losses in the flow of the activation medium as compared to the offset arrangement of FIG. 11a.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0069] 1 Workpiece [0070] 2 Coating material [0071] 3 Feed device [0072] 4 Pressing device [0073] 5 Conveying device [0074] 6 Activation device [0075] 7 Supply line [0076] 8 Nozzle body [0077] 9 Inlet duct [0078] 10 Outlet region [0079] 11 Acoustic element [0080] 12 Wire [0081] 13 Grid element [0082] 14 Grid structure [0083] 15 Opening [0084] 16 Planar cross-section [0085] 17 Notch [0086] 18 Sphere [0087] 19 Streamlined body [0088] 19a Hemispherical end of the streamlined body [0089] 19b Pointed end of streamlined body [0090] 20 Streamlined body axis [0091] 21 Inner conduit [0092] 22 Conduit axis [0093] 23 Outer conduit [0094] 24 First length region [0095] 25 First end [0096] 26 Second end [0097] 27 Lateral surface [0098] 28 Through-hole [0099] 29 Sound-absorbing material [0100] 30 Inner surface of the outer conduit [0101] 31 Arrangement of a plurality of streamlined bodies