Abstract: Provided is a method of coating at least an area of a surface by a Drop-on-Demand (DOD) method, comprising the steps of providing a DOD dispensing head (1) with at least two individually controllable nozzles (2) arranged in a row, which is moved by a robotic device, applying a movement to the DOD dispensing head parallel while maintaining a distance between the nozzles (2) and the surface, wherein the movement comprises a rotation of the dispensing head around an axis perpendicular to the surface, dispensing discrete amounts of a the liquid coating material through the at least one nozzle onto the surface, wherein firing of the at least 2 nozzles is triggered non-synchronously by a control unit.

Abstract: A coating of a coating medium, produced by means of a multichannel printhead (5) in a coating region (3) on a two- or three-dimensional surface (2) of an object (1), which is built up from coating points (8) along tracks (7) of one or more coating paths (6), characterized in that the starting coating point (HP) of at least one track (7) is aligned with a starting contour (AK) and an end coating point (EP) of the track (7) is aligned with an end contour (EK).

Abstract: A micro-pneumatic control unit comprising a plurality of control channels for generating the control pressures in a pneumatically actuated multi-channel coating head for coating components with a coating agent, a control channel being characterized by a valve element comprising a valve bore in a valve plate and a diaphragm layer which is below the valve plate and is configured as a diaphragm closing element in the region of the valve bore, the shape of which diaphragm closing element defined by recesses positioned laterally with respect to the valve bore, by a micro-actuator having a plunger that actuates the diaphragm closing element through the valve bore such that the valve element opens, by a second micro-pneumatic element connected in series with the valve element, the control pressure developing and a cavity located at the connection node thereof, which cavity is connected to at least one pneumatically operated coating agent ejector, and by a pneumatic pressurization of the micro-pneumatic control unit,

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating an application surface (11) of a component (10), in particular of a building, within an application area (12) with a coating agent, in particular with a building paint, comprising a step of edge application to the application area (12) and a step of surface application to the application area (12), which does not include the edge application, characterised in that a first application method on the basis of the drop-on-demand method is used in the edge application step, and a second application method, which has a higher surface coating output than the first application method, is used in the surface application step.

Abstract: A micro-pneumatic control unit comprising a plurality of control channels for generating the control pressures in a pneumatically actuated multi-channel coating head for coating components with a coating agent, a control channel being characterized by a valve element comprising a valve bore in a valve plate and a diaphragm layer which is below the valve plate and is configured as a diaphragm closing element in the region of the valve bore, the shape of which diaphragm closing element defined by recesses positioned laterally with respect to the valve bore, by a micro-actuator having a plunger that actuates the diaphragm closing element through the valve bore such that the valve element opens, by a second micro-pneumatic element connected in series with the valve element, the control pressure developing and a cavity located at the connection node thereof, which cavity is connected to at least one pneumatically operated coating agent ejector, and by a pneumatic pressurization of the micro-pneumatic control unit,

Abstract: A piezo actuator for carrying out an actuating movement is disclosed, with a piezo bending transducer made of a carrier layer which is at least partially covered on one or two sides with a piezo lamella, with a movable end and with a housing, with a reference stop connected to the housing for determining a reference position for the actuating movement, with a first bearing region which comprises regions of the piezo actuator and the housing and which allows for twists ?1 of the piezo bending transducer, with a second bearing region having a surface on the side of the bending transducer and a surface on the side of the housing, and an intermediate layer between the surfaces, which connects them and which can be liquefied, and with a pressure element for generating a bias torque on the piezo bending transducer around the first bearing region against the reference stop.

Abstract: Provided is a method of coating at least an area of a surface by a Drop-on-Demand (DOD) method, comprising the steps of providing a DOD dispensing head (1) with at least two individually controllable nozzles (2) arranged in a row, which is moved by a robotic device, applying a movement to the DOD dispensing head parallel while maintaining a distance between the nozzles (2) and the surface, wherein the movement comprises a rotation of the dispensing head around an axis perpendicular to the surface, dispensing discrete amounts of a the liquid coating material through the at least one nozzle onto the surface, wherein firing of the at least 2 nozzles is triggered non-synchronously by a control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a micro pilot valve 1, which is characterized by a micro cavity 2, which is connected with valve outlet 3, a first micro opening 4 between micro cavity 2 and a first pressure level 5, a second micro opening 6 between micro cavity 2 and a second pressure level 7, a sealing element 8 within micro cavity 2, which is movable between the micro openings, and which in a first end position closes micro opening 4 and in a second end position micro opening 6, whereas the control pressure in the first end position adopts the value of the second pressure level 7 and in the second end position the value of the first pressure level 5, and a micro actuator 10, which actuates sealing element 8 via a transfer element, which protrudes at least through one of the micro openings.

Abstract: A multichannel printhead for mixing purposes is presented, comprising a first set of fluid outlets each outlet discharging an amount of a first fluid, a second set of fluid outlets each outlet discharging an amount of a second fluid, whereby corresponding outlets of the first and second set are configured to internally or externally lead together and mix the fluids, and whereby at least the fluid discharge of the first set of fluid outlets is controlled by drop-on-demand fluid ejectors responsive to control signals.

Abstract: A multichannel printhead is proposed having an array of fluid ejectors for applying a liquid coating material to a surface, characterized in, that each fluid ejector includes a fluid valve with a closing element such as an actuated membrane 8 or an actuated valve seal 11, interacting with a valve seat 10 connected to the valve opening 9, the fluid valve controlling the flow of the liquid coating material through the valve opening 9, that the valve opening 9 enters into multiple fluid outlets 6, that the fluid outlets 6 of all of the fluid ejectors are arranged within a regular array of at least one row, that the fluid ejectors are actuated as to discharge discrete amounts of the liquid coating material through the fluid outlets 6 to the surface according to the drop-on-demand principle, whereas the valve seats 10 and valve openings 9 of at least one fluid ejector are part of a first plate and the fluid-outlets 6 of at least one fluid ejector are part of a second plate.

Abstract: It is proposed a free-jet device with at least one individually addressable channel for contact-free discharge of fluid through fluid discharge openings 10 and with a fluid supply 7, which applies a pressure on the fluid that is at least 0.2 bar higher with respect to the ambient pressure, wherein the at least one addressable channel comprises a valve unit including a fluid inlet channel 5 which has a valve opening 6 at the end thereof, the valve unit further including a closure element, which includes a membrane 2 and which is actuated by means of a pneumatic control pressure or by means of a steering force that corresponds to the respective addressable channel and which closes the valve opening 6 in a sealing position and releases the valve opening 6 in an opened position; a cavity 9 which is located behind the valve opening 6 in relation to the flow direction and which connects to one or more fluid discharge openings 10, wherein an outer part 3 of the membrane 2 is an integral part of the cavity 9.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a nozzle of a multi-nozzle Drop-on-Demand coating head from solidified coating material, which adheres at the surface of the nozzle, characterized in, that the nozzle is deformed up to an extent, that adhesion forces between solidified coating material and nozzle surface are overcome and thus the solidified coating material is detached from the surface of the nozzle, and, that the detached solidified coating material is flushed out of the nozzle by means of the liquid coating material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a micro pilot valve 1, which is characterized by a micro cavity 2, which is connected with valve outlet 3, a first micro opening 4 between micro cavity 2 and a first pressure level 5, a second micro opening 6 between micro cavity 2 and a second pressure level 7, a sealing element 8 within micro cavity 2, which is movable between the micro openings, and which in a first end position closes micro opening 4 and in a second end position micro opening 6, whereas the control pressure in the first end position adopts the value of the second pressure level 7 and in the second end position the value of the first pressure level 5, and a micro actuator 10, which actuates sealing element 8 via a transfer element, which protrudes at least through one of the micro openings.

Abstract: A method of applying a homogeneous layer of a coating material on a surface with a manually operated application device is presented, the device comprising a number of drop-on-demand printing nozzles perpendicularly to a main direction of movement, with means for measuring the movement with respect to the surface and with an electronic printing nozzle control, characterized by the steps, that an operator makes a selection of the printing nozzles, that the application device gives the operator feedback on the selection made, that the operator moves the application device over the surface, wherein the movement of the application device is measured continuously, that the selected print nozzles are driven with a clock rate that is based on their respective speed and which is configured that successive printing dots overlap, and that those nozzles of the selection, which have a negative velocity component with respect to the main direction of movement, are not be actuated.

Abstract: A multichannel printhead is proposed having an array of fluid ejectors for applying a liquid coating material to a surface, characterized in, that each fluid ejector includes a fluid valve with a closing element such as an actuated membrane 8 or an actuated valve seal 11, interacting with a valve seat 10 connected to the valve opening 9, the fluid valve controlling the flow of the liquid coating material through the valve opening 9, that the valve opening 9 enters into multiple fluid outlets 6, that the fluid outlets 6 of all of the fluid ejectors are arranged within a regular array of at least one row, that the fluid ejectors are actuated as to discharge discrete amounts of the liquid coating material through the fluid outlets 6 to the surface according to the drop-on-demand principle, whereas the valve seats 10 and valve openings 9 of at least one fluid ejector are part of a first plate and the fluid-outlets 6 of at least one fluid ejector are part of a second plate.

Abstract: A multichannel printhead for mixing purposes is presented, comprising a first set of fluid outlets each outlet discharging an amount of a first fluid, a second set of fluid outlets each outlet discharging an amount of a second fluid, whereby corresponding outlets of the first and second set are configured to internally or externally lead together and mix the fluids, and whereby at least the fluid discharge of the first set of fluid outlets is controlled by drop-on-demand fluid ejectors responsive to control signals.

Abstract: A Printhead, particularly suitable for viscous or particle-filled fluids, with multiple channels is proposed. A channel of the printhead is characterized by a micro-electro-pneumatic circuit 2 containing a series circuit between a first and second pressure level out of a micro-valve 18 and a pneumatic throttle 23, for generating a control pressure pc at the common pneumatic node 5 of micro-valve 18 and pneumatic throttle 23, further a drop-on-demand fluid ejector 4 with a diaphragm 8 actuated by the control pressure pc, the fluid ejector 4 controlling the fluid discharge through fluid outlet 6.

Abstract: It is introduced a miniaturizable actuation device based on piezoelectric flexural transducer element, which can be fabricated easily and cost effective, for use in a fluid valve or other devices, the actuation device being suited to perform reproducible actuation deflections fast and precisely, uneffected by disturbing influences due to temperature changes and mechanical deformations of the housing. The actuation device according to the invention includes a fluid bearing 5 with a first surface 7, which is associated with the flexural transducer element 2, a second surface 8, which is associated with the housing 15, and a flowable power transmitting fluid 6 between the surfaces, to transmit the reaction forces and—moments resulting from the actuatro deflection from the flexural transducer element 2 to the housing 15.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying paints or varnishes with the aid of an application device in order to apply a color design on surfaces of buildings or public or civil engineering works in accordance with a previously executed implementation of a digital image model in a previously recorded digital surface object that represents the surface of the object. According to the invention, the application device moves on the surface of the object while contacting the surface thereof, the position of the application device is continuously measured or calculated using motion sensors and paint is applied in accordance with said implementation depending on the position thus determined.

Abstract: It is introduced a miniaturizable actuation device based on piezoelectric flexural transducer element, which can be fabricated easily and cost effective, for use in a fluid valve or other devices, the actuation device being suited to perform reproducible actuation deflections fast and precisely, uneffected by disturbing influences due to temperature changes and mechanical deformations of the housing. The actuation device according to the invention includes a fluid bearing 5 with a first surface 7, which is associated with the flexural transducer element 2, a second surface 8, which is associated with the housing 15, and a flowable power transmitting fluid 6 between the surfaces, to transmit the reaction forces and—moments resulting from the actuatro deflection from the flexural transducer element 2 to the housing 15.