U.S. patent number 10,792,693 [Application Number 16/211,547] was granted by the patent office on 2020-10-06 for ultrasonic applicators with uv light sources and methods of use thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ford Motor Company. The grantee listed for this patent is Ford Motor Company. Invention is credited to Kevin Richard John Ellwood, Wanjiao Liu, Mark Edward Nichols, Christopher Michael Seubert.
United States Patent |
10,792,693 |
Seubert , et al. |
October 6, 2020 |
Ultrasonic applicators with UV light sources and methods of use
thereof
Abstract
A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate
is provided. The method includes ejecting an ultraviolet (UV)
curable material through a plurality of micro-applicators in the
form of atomized droplets. At least one UV light source is
positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators and the
atomized droplets are irradiated with UV light by the at least one
UV light source and curing of the atomized droplets is initiated.
The atomized droplets are deposited onto a surface of the substrate
and a UV cured coating on the surface is formed thereon. The UV
curable material may include a photolatent base catalyst such that
the atomized droplets deposited onto the surface continue to cure
after being irradiated with the at least one UV light source. The
at least one UV light source can include a UV light ring, a UV
light emitting diode, and the like.
Inventors: |
Seubert; Christopher Michael
(New Hudson, MI), Nichols; Mark Edward (Saline, MI),
Ellwood; Kevin Richard John (Ann Arbor, MI), Liu;
Wanjiao (Ann Arbor, MI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ford Motor Company |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ford Motor Company (Dearborn,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005094952 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/211,547 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20190232317 A1 |
Aug 1, 2019 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
62624013 |
Jan 30, 2018 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B
13/0431 (20130101); B05B 1/262 (20130101); B05B
12/00 (20130101); B05B 15/00 (20130101); B05B
15/68 (20180201); B05B 13/0452 (20130101); B05D
1/02 (20130101); B05B 7/1481 (20130101); B05B
17/06 (20130101); B05B 15/628 (20180201); B05B
15/625 (20180201); B05B 17/0646 (20130101); B05B
12/16 (20180201); B05B 17/0669 (20130101); B25J
11/0075 (20130101); B05B 12/36 (20180201); B05D
3/067 (20130101); B05D 1/12 (20130101); B05B
3/02 (20130101); B05B 3/14 (20130101); B05B
17/063 (20130101); B05B 17/0653 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
17/00 (20060101); B05B 3/02 (20060101); B05B
15/628 (20180101); B05B 12/36 (20180101); B05B
15/625 (20180101); B05B 12/16 (20180101); B05B
3/14 (20060101); B05B 13/04 (20060101); B05D
3/06 (20060101); B05B 17/06 (20060101); B05D
1/02 (20060101); B05B 7/14 (20060101); B05D
1/12 (20060101); B05B 15/00 (20180101); B05B
1/26 (20060101); B05B 15/68 (20180101); B05B
12/00 (20180101); B25J 11/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
103736620 |
|
Apr 2014 |
|
CN |
|
104689946 |
|
Jun 2015 |
|
CN |
|
104841592 |
|
Aug 2015 |
|
CN |
|
19631811 |
|
Feb 1998 |
|
DE |
|
20023848 |
|
Dec 2006 |
|
DE |
|
102011088373 |
|
Jun 2013 |
|
DE |
|
102013205171 |
|
Sep 2014 |
|
DE |
|
1884365 |
|
Feb 2008 |
|
EP |
|
2215240 |
|
Sep 1989 |
|
GB |
|
H10538809 |
|
Feb 1993 |
|
JP |
|
H108215616 |
|
Aug 1996 |
|
JP |
|
2003091010 |
|
Mar 2003 |
|
JP |
|
20180080977 |
|
Jul 2018 |
|
KR |
|
2018108572 |
|
Jun 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018162872 |
|
Sep 2018 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Hielscher--Ultrasound Technology, Ultrasonic Spraying, Nebulizing,
and Atomizing, Sep. 17, 2018. cited by applicant .
Ransburg, Evolver 303 Dual Purge Solventbome Robotic Atomizers,
Model: A12374-XXX, Service Manual AA-08-01.5, May 2015. cited by
applicant .
Regan, Michael, UV Coatings: Curing at Light-Speed, BodyShop
Business, May 1, 2005. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Wieczorek; Michael P
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Burris Law, PLLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to provisional application
62/624,013 filed on Jan. 30, 2018. The disclosures of the above
applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate
comprising: ejecting at least one material through a material
applicator comprising at least one transducer and an array plate
with a plurality of micro-applicators, wherein: each of the
micro-applicators has a material inlet, a reservoir, and a
micro-applicator plate in mechanical communication with the at
least one transducer, and the micro-applicator plate has a
plurality of apertures through which the at least one material is
elected as atomized droplets when the transducer vibrates the
micro-applicator plate; and at least one ultraviolet (UV) light
source is positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators
such that the at least one material ejected through the plurality
of apertures moves past and is irradiated by the at least one UV
light source.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the
micro-applicators has a transducer directly coupled to the
micro-applicator plate.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one UV
light source is a UV light ring.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one UV
light source is a UV light emitting diode (LED).
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one UV
light source comprises a plurality of UV light rings positioned
adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators such that each UV
light ring is positioned adjacent to a micro-applicator and the at
least one material ejected from a given micro-applicator is
irradiated by the UV light ring positioned adjacent to the given
micro-applicator.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one UV
light source comprises a plurality of UV LEDs positioned adjacent
to the plurality of micro-applicators such that each UV LED is
positioned adjacent to a micro-applicator and the at least one
material ejected from a given micro-applicator is irradiated by the
UV LED positioned adjacent to the given micro-applicator.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
material is a UV curable coating material.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
material is a UV curable coating material comprising a curing
catalyst that is activated with UV light.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the curing catalyst is
a photolatent base catalyst.
10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising curing of
the UV curable coating material after the UV curable coating
material is applied to the substrate.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the UV curable
coating material is cured without a heat source.
12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising flowing the
at least one material into the reservoir of each of the
micro-applicators, wherein the at least one material is a paint and
the elected at least one material is atomized droplets of the
paint.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein a surface tension of
the at least one material results in the at least one material not
flowing through the plurality of apertures unless the transducer is
activated and vibrates the micro-applicator plate.
14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising painting a
vehicle using the at least one material ejected through the
plurality of apertures of each of the plurality of
micro-applicators and the least one UV light source.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one
material is a UV curable clear coat material.
16. A method of controlling application of coating material onto a
vehicle comprising: flowing paint into an ultrasonic atomization
material applicator comprising at least one array with an array
plate having a plurality of micro-applicators and a plurality of
ultraviolet (UV) light sources positioned adjacent the plurality of
micro-applicators, wherein each of the micro-applicators has a
material inlet, a reservoir containing the paint, and a
micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures in mechanical
communication with at least one transducer; ejecting paint from
each of the plurality of micro-applicators by ultrasonically
vibrating each of the micro-applicator plates with the at least one
transducer such that the paint in each of the reservoirs is elected
through each of the plurality of apertures and forms atomized
droplets; and irradiating the atomized droplets with UV light from
the plurality of UV light sources.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of UV
light sources comprises a plurality of UV light rings, a plurality
of UV light emitting diodes, or a combination thereof.
Description
FIELD
The present disclosure 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.
BACKGROUND
The statements in this section merely provide background
information related to the present disclosure and may not
constitute prior art.
Painting 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
.about.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.
Moreover, ultraviolet (UV) curable coatings are ubiquitously used
in various industries. Applications of UV curable coatings range
from flooring to fiber optic cables and beyond. UV curable coatings
are currently used in the vehicle industry on polycarbonate
headlamps. However, UV curable coatings have the potential to be
used on the vehicle exterior if a durable and robust material
system can be formulated. An additional challenge to using UV
curable coatings on the exterior of vehicles is the difficulty of
delivering sufficient UV light to cure the coating to all regions,
particularly regions that are "shadowed" from that light.
This issue of UV curable coatings, among other issues related to
the painting of automotive vehicles or other objects in a high
volume production environment, are addressed by the present
disclosure.
SUMMARY
In one form of the present disclosure, a method of controlling
application of material onto a substrate includes ejecting at least
one material (also referred to herein as "material(s)") through at
least one array comprising a plurality of micro-applicators. At
least one ultraviolet (UV) light source is positioned adjacent to
the at least one array such that the material(s) moves past and is
irradiated by the at least one UV light source. In some aspects of
the present disclosure, the material(s) is ejected from each of the
plurality of micro-applicators and is irradiated by the at least
one UV light source. The at least one UV light source includes a UV
light ring. In the alternative, or in addition to, the at least one
UV light source includes a UV light emitting diode (LED). Also, the
at least one UV light source may comprise a plurality of UV light
rings positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators
such that each UV light ring is positioned adjacent to a
micro-applicator and the material(s) ejected from a given
micro-applicator is irradiated by the UV light ring positioned
adjacent to the given micro-applicator. In the alternative, or in
addition to, the at least one UV light source may comprise a
plurality of UV LEDs positioned adjacent to the plurality of
micro-applicators such that each UV LED is positioned adjacent to a
micro-applicator and the material(s) ejected from a given
micro-applicator is irradiated by the UV LED positioned adjacent to
the given micro-applicator.
The at least one material(s) is a UV curable coating material. In
some aspects of the present disclosure, the UV curable coating
material includes a curing catalyst that is activated with UV
light. For example, the curing catalyst may be a photolatent base
catalyst.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, an ultrasonic transducer
is mechanically coupled to the at least one array and the
material(s) is ejected as atomized droplets. In such aspects the
material(s) ejected through the at least one array with the
plurality of micro-applicators and the least one UV light source is
used to paint a vehicle with a UV curable clear coat material.
In another form of the present disclosure, a method of controlling
application of coating material onto a vehicle includes flowing
material(s) through an ultrasonic atomization material applicator
with at least one array comprising a plurality of micro-applicators
and a plurality of UV light sources positioned adjacent the
plurality of micro-applicators. The material(s) is ejected from the
plurality of micro-applicators thereby forming atomized droplets
and the atomized droplets are irradiated with UV light from the
plurality of UV light sources. In some aspects of the present
disclosure, the plurality of UV light sources comprises a plurality
of UV light rings, a plurality of UV light emitting diodes, or a
combination thereof.
In still another form of the present disclosure, an ultrasonic
atomization material applicator is provided. The ultrasonic
atomization material applicator includes a nozzle comprising an
array plate and an ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to
the array plate. The array plate has a plurality of
micro-applicators and the nozzle is configured to eject material(s)
from the plurality of micro-applicators in the form of atomized
droplets. A plurality of UV light sources are positioned adjacent
the plurality of micro-applicators and the plurality of UV light
sources is configured to irradiate atomized droplets ejected from
the plurality of micro-applicators.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of UV
light sources comprises a plurality of UV light rings positioned
adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators such that each UV
light ring is positioned adjacent to a micro-applicator and the
material(s) ejected from a given micro-applicator is irradiated by
the UV light ring positioned adjacent to the given
micro-applicator. In the alternative, or in addition to, the
plurality of UV light sources comprises a plurality of UV LEDs
positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators such that
each UV LED is positioned adjacent to a micro-applicator and the
material(s) ejected from a given micro-applicator is irradiated by
a UV LED positioned adjacent to the given micro-applicator.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. It should be understood that the
description and specific examples are intended for purposes of
illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the
present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now
be described various forms thereof, given by way of example,
reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a planar view of an exemplary paint spray system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2A schematically depicts a planar view of an exemplary array
of micro-applicators according to the teachings of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 2B schematically depicts a side cross-sectional view of
section 2B-2B in FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2C is a magnified view of section 2C in FIG. 2B;
FIG. 3 a flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling
application of material onto a substrate according to the teachings
of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 4 is another flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling
application of material onto a substrate according to the teachings
of the present disclosure
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only
and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure
in any way.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not
intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It
should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding
reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and
features. Examples are provided to fully convey the scope of the
disclosure to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific
details are set forth such as types of specific components,
devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of
variations of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed and
that the examples provided herein, may include alternative
embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the
disclosure. In some examples, well-known processes, well-known
device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in
detail.
The present disclosure provides a variety of devices, methods, and
systems for controlling the application of paint to automotive
vehicles in a high production environment, which reduce overspray
and increase transfer efficiency of the paint. It should be
understood that the reference to automotive vehicles is merely
exemplary and that other objects that are painted, such as
industrial equipment and appliances, among others, may also be
painted in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.
Further, the use of "paint" or "painting" should not be construed
as limiting the present disclosure, and thus other materials such
as coatings, primers, sealants, cleaning solvents, among others,
are to be understood as falling within the scope of the present
disclosure.
Generally, the teachings of the present disclosure are based on a
droplet spray generation device in which a perforate membrane is
driven by a piezoelectric transducer. This device and variations
thereof are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,394,363, 7,550,897,
7,977,849, 8,317,299, 8,191,982, 9,156,049, 7,976,135, 9,452,442,
and U.S. Published Application Nos. 2014/0110500, 2016/0228902, and
2016/0158789, which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a paint spray system 2 for painting a part
P using a robotic arm 4 is schematically depicted. The robotic arm
4 is coupled to at least one material applicator 10 and a rack 5. A
material source 8 (e.g., a paint source) is included and includes
at least one material M (materials M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3, . . .
M.sub.n shown in FIG. 1; referred to herein simply as "material M"
and "material(s)"). In some aspects of the present disclosure the
material M includes paint materials, adhesive materials, sealant
materials, and the like. The arm 4 moves according to xyz
coordinates with respect to rack 5 such that the material
applicator 10 moves across a surface (not labeled) of the part P.
Also, a power source 6 is configured to supply power to arm 4 and
rack 5. The arm 4, rack 5, and the power source 6 are configured to
supply material M from the material source 8 to the material
applicator 10 such that a coating is produced on the surface of the
part P. While FIG. 1 schematically depicts a paint system 2 with
one robotic arm 4, it should be understood that paint spray systems
2 with more than one robotic arm 2 are included in the teachings of
the present disclosure.
Referring now to FIGS. 2A through 2C, the material applicator 10
according to the teachings of the present disclosure is
schematically shown. In one form of the present disclosure, the
material applicator 10 includes an array plate 100 with an
applicator array 102 comprising a plurality of micro-applicators
110. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the array plate 100
with the applicator array 102 is positioned within a housing 140.
Each of the micro-applicators 110 comprises a plurality of
apertures 112 through which a material M is ejected such that
atomized droplets 3 are formed and propagate generally normal to
the array plate 100 as schematically depicted in FIG. 2B.
Particularly, each of the micro-applicators 110 has a
micro-applicator plate 114 and the plurality of apertures 112
extend through the micro-applicator plate 114. Also, each of the
micro-applicators 110 may include a transducer 120, a frame 130 and
a material inlet 138. The transducer 120 is in mechanical
communication with the micro-applicator plate 114 such that
activation of the transducer 120 ultrasonically vibrates the
micro-applicator plate 114 as schematically depicted by the
horizontal (z-direction) double-headed arrows in FIG. 2B. The frame
130 includes a back wall 134 and at least one sidewall 132 and a
reservoir 136 for containing the material M is provided between the
back wall 134 and the micro-applicator plate 114. The inlet 138 is
in fluid communication with the reservoir 136 and the material
source 8 (FIG. 1) such that the material M flows from the material
source 8, through inlet 138 and into reservoir 136. The material
applicator 10 also includes a UV light source 142 positioned
adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators 110.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the UV light source 142
is a UV light ring as schematically depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In
other aspects of the present disclosure the UV light source 142 is
not a UV light ring. For example, the plurality of UV light sources
142 in FIG. 2A can be a plurality of LED UV light sources
positioned on the array plate 100 between the plurality of
micro-applicators 110, a plurality of LED UV light sources
positioned on the micro-applicator plates 114 between the plurality
of apertures 112, a UV light ring positioned on the housing 140 or
on a perimeter of the array plate 100, and the like.
In operation, material M flows through the inlet 138 into the
reservoir 136. Surface tension of material M results in the
material M not flowing through the apertures 112 of the
micro-applicator plate 114 unless the transducer 120 is activated
and vibrates as schematically depicted in FIG. 2B. That is, when
transducer 120 is activated and vibrates, material M is ejected
through and/or from the plurality of apertures 112 as atomized
droplets 3. Also, UV irradiated atomized droplets 3' are formed as
the atomized droplets 3 propagate generally normal to the
micro-applicator plate 114 and are irradiated with UV light from
the UV light source 142. In some aspects of the present disclosure
the atomized droplets 3 and UV irradiated droplets 3' have an
average droplet diameter between 5 micrometers (.mu.m) and 100
.mu.m, for example between 10 .mu.m and 75 .mu.m, between 10 .mu.m
and 50 .mu.m, or between 20 .mu.m and 40 .mu.m.
The material M is a UV curable material and irradiation of the
atomized droplets 3 with UV light initiates curing of the material
M. For example, the material M may include a UV-activated catalyst
(e.g. a photolatent base catalyst) such that UV irradiated atomized
droplets 3' deposited onto a surface s' of a substrate S form a
UV-cured coating. Non-limiting examples of UV curable materials and
UV-activated catalysts include acrylates and epoxies that are
initiated by anionic, cationic, photolatent base, and oftentimes,
free radical photoinitiators. Urethanes can also be used to create
"dual cure" formulations that utilize both a UV and thermal curing
step.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, a controller 122 is
included (FIG. 2A) and configured to switch the UV light source 142
on and off at desired times. The controller 122 may also be in
communication with the material source 8 such that one or more
materials M.sub.n is ejected through the plurality of
micro-applicators 110. In some aspects of the present disclosure, a
cleaning material M is ejected through the plurality of
micro-applicators 110 such that material M (e.g., paint material,
sealant material, adhesive material, etc.) attached or deposited
onto the UV light source 142 is removed.
As schematically depicted in FIG. 2B, the atomized droplets 3 and
UV irradiated atomized droplets 3' travel in a direction generally
normal to the micro-applicator plate 114 and generally parallel to
an axis 1 of the micro-applicator 110. However, it should be
understood that the atomized droplets 3 may be diffracted from the
plurality of apertures 112 and the stream 5 may be angled relative
to the axis 1. It should also be understood that while FIG. 2B
schematically depicts material M entering reservoir 136 through
inlet 138 and exiting reservoir 136 through apertures 112, other
flow configurations of the material M into and out of the reservoir
136 are included in the teachings of the present disclosure.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a method 200 of controlling application of
material onto a substrate is illustrated. The method 200 includes
flowing a material into an ultrasonic spray nozzle comprising a
plurality of micro-applicators at step 202 and ejecting the
material from the plurality of micro-applicators at step 204. The
ejected material is irradiated with a UV light source positioned
adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators at step 206 such
that a plurality of UV irradiated atomized droplets are provided.
It should be understood that the plurality of UV irradiated
atomized droplets can be deposited onto a surface of a substrate to
form a UV cured coating on the substrate.
Referring now to FIG. 4, another method 220 of controlling
application of material onto a substrate is illustrated. The method
220 includes ejecting a coating material from an ultrasonic spray
nozzle comprising a plurality of micro-applicators at step 222. At
step 224, the ejected coating material is irradiated with a
plurality of UV light sources positioned adjacent to the plurality
of micro-applicators such that curing of the coating material is
initiated. A substrate is coated with the irradiated coating
material at step 226 and allowed to cure at step 228. In some
aspects of the present disclosure, the irradiated coating material
is allowed to cure without application of heat 230.
The material applicator 10 may be formed from known materials used
in the application of materials onto a surface of an object. For
example, the array plate 100, the micro-applicator plate 114, the
frame 130 and the housing 140 may be formed from metallic
materials, polymer materials, ceramic materials, and/or composites
materials. Non-limiting examples of metallic materials include
steels, stainless steels, nickel-base alloys, cobalt-base alloys,
and the like. Non-limiting examples of polymer materials include
\nylon, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene
(HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the like.
Non-limiting examples of ceramic materials include alumina (Al2O3),
silica (SiO2), mullite (e.g., 3Al.sub.2O.sub.3.2SiO.sub.2),
titanium nitride (TiN), and the like. Non-limiting examples of
composite materials include fiber reinforced polymers, ceramic
matrix composites, metal matrix composites, and the like. The
transducer 120 may be formed from piezoelectric materials such as
barium titanate (BaTiO.sub.3), lead zirconate titanate (PZT),
potassium niobite (KNbO.sub.3), sodium tungstate (Na.sub.2WO.sub.3)
and the like. The UV light source may be formed from fluorescent UV
light sources, LED UV light sources, and the like. The material M
may be a material(s) used to form a coating or layer on a surface
of a substrate.
It should be understood from the teachings of the present
disclosure that a UV light source is coupled to a micro-applicator
for in-situ catalyzing of atomized droplets containing a UV
catalyst material (e.g., a photolatent base catalyst). For example,
some clearcoats can be cured using a process where a catalyst is
activated via UV light. Unlike free radical curing, such UV curable
coatings continue to cure after the UV light is removed. In some
aspects of the present disclosure, curing of the atomized droplets
is delayed and the atomized droplets impact the body surface
(substrate) and then start to crosslink and cure without additional
UV exposure or heating. In other aspects of the present disclosure,
curing of the atomized droplets is not delayed. However, in such
aspects the positioning of the micro-applicators relative to the
surface of the substrate results in curing of the atomized droplets
after being deposited onto the surface without additional UV
exposure or heating.
As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be
construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive
logical OR, and should not be construed to mean "at least one of A,
at least one of B, and at least one of C.
When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," or "coupled
to," another element or layer, it may be directly on, connected, or
coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or
layers may be present. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes
any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed
items.
Unless otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical values
indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional
percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics
are to be understood as modified by the word "about" or
"approximately" in describing the scope of the present disclosure.
This modification is desired for various reasons including
industrial practice, manufacturing technology, and testing
capability.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular example forms only and is not intended to be limiting.
The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" may be intended to include
the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise. The terms "including," and "having," are inclusive and
therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The
method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to
be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the
particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically
identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood
that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature
and, thus, examples that do not depart from the substance of the
disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure.
Such examples are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit
and scope of the disclosure. The broad teachings of the disclosure
can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this
disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the
disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will
become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification,
and the following claims.
* * * * *