Ultrasonic Systems Gmbh

Stuart J Erickson

Drew D Erickson

Wesley O Davis

Norman R Faucher

Christopher J Cote

Disclosed is a coating system for the selective application of coatings to substrates to apply a uniform coating to selected areas of the substrate without the need for masking. The system comprises a first coating applicator for coating large areas of the substrate, a second coating applicator for coating small areas of the substrate, a motion and positioning system for both coating applicators and a system controller. Also disclosed is an ultrasonic spray coating system comprising an ultrasonic transducer with spray forming head, integrated fluid delivery device with air and liquid supply passage ways, support brackets and an ultrasonic power generator.

Coating system

Disclosed is an ultrasonic spray coating system comprising an ultrasonic spray head with integrated fluid delivery system (IFDS), which consists of an ultrasonic transducer with a spray forming tip, an ultrasonic generator, an external liquid applicator, a precision liquid delivery system and air directors. The coating liquid is delivered to the spray forming tip on the ultrasonic transducer from an external liquid applicator. The liquid is stored in a pressurized reservoir and fed to the liquid applicator by a precision liquid delivery system. The ultrasonic vibrations of the spray forming tip break up the liquid into small droplets and propel them from the tip in the form of a spray. The spray produced with ultrasonic energy alone is a very narrow 'sheet-like' pattern. The width of the spray pattern produced is equal to the width of the spray forming tip (2 mm to 4 mm). Air directors are used to produce air streams to further shape and accelerate the ultrasonically produced spray. Air directors can be used to produce three distinct spray patterns, based upon the nature and placement of the air stream&#x2014;narrow mode spray pattern; wide mode spray pattern; or side mode spray pattern.

Ultrasonic spray coating system

A printed circuit board ('PCB') is moved on a conveyor towards an ultrasonic spray head ('head') that is mounted below the PCB on a guide rail. The guide rail and the direction of motion of the PCB define an acute angle. When the PCB reaches a predetermined position, the head begins a motion across the PCB, spraying a rectangular swatch of soldering flux. The velocity of the head is controlled such that the swatch of flux is substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the PCB. After spraying, the head deactivates and reciprocates back across the PCB such that no flux is sprayed. The cycle repeats after a predetermined delay whereby adjacent swatches of flux do not substantially overlap.

Methods and system for applying a uniform coating to a moving workpiece

An ultrasonic spray coating system includes a converter which converts high frequency electrical energy into high frequency mechanical energy thereby producing vibrations. The converter has a resonant frequency. A spray forming head is coupled to the converter and is resonant at the resonant frequency of the converter. The spray forming head has a spray forming tip and concentrates the vibrations of the converter at the spray forming tip. A source of high frequency alternating voltage is electrically connected to the converter and produces a controlled level of electrical energy at an operating frequency of the spray forming head and converter whereby the atomizing surface is vibrated ultrasonically. A liquid supply applicator is in close proximity with the spray forming tip and spaced therefrom. The liquid supply applicator has an output surface having an orifice therein and the output surface is in close proximity with the spray forming tip and spaced therefrom. The output surface of the liquid supply applicator and the spray forming tip are at right angles to each other, whereby liquid supplied by the applicator is applied to the spray forming tip where the liquid is atomized by the ultrasonic vibrations of the spray forming tip and thereby changed to a spray. An air entrainment mechanism is associated with the spray for affecting and controlling the spray.

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Marblehead, MA, United States of America

Stuart J Erickson