US 12,005,463 B2
Composite ultrasonic material applicators with individually addressable micro-applicators and methods of use thereof
Kevin Ellwood, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Mark Nichols, Saline, MI (US); Wanjiao Liu, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Christopher Seubert, New Hudson, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/155,776.
Application 17/155,776 is a division of application No. 16/211,554, filed on Dec. 6, 2018, granted, now 10,940,501.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/624,013, filed on Jan. 30, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0339278 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. B05B 17/06 (2006.01); B05B 1/26 (2006.01); B05B 3/02 (2006.01); B05B 3/14 (2006.01); B05B 7/14 (2006.01); B05B 12/00 (2018.01); B05B 12/16 (2018.01); B05B 12/36 (2018.01); B05B 13/04 (2006.01); B05B 15/00 (2018.01); B05B 15/625 (2018.01); B05B 15/628 (2018.01); B05B 15/68 (2018.01); B05B 17/00 (2006.01); B05D 1/02 (2006.01); B05D 1/12 (2006.01); B05D 3/06 (2006.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 17/0646 (2013.01) [B05B 1/262 (2013.01); B05B 3/02 (2013.01); B05B 3/14 (2013.01); B05B 7/1481 (2013.01); B05B 12/00 (2013.01); B05B 12/16 (2018.02); B05B 12/36 (2018.02); B05B 13/0431 (2013.01); B05B 13/0452 (2013.01); B05B 15/00 (2013.01); B05B 15/625 (2018.02); B05B 15/628 (2018.02); B05B 15/68 (2018.02); B05B 17/06 (2013.01); B05B 17/063 (2013.01); B05B 17/0653 (2013.01); B05B 17/0669 (2013.01); B05D 1/02 (2013.01); B05D 1/12 (2013.01); B05D 3/067 (2013.01); B25J 11/0075 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A material applicator for controlling application of at least one material on a substrate, the material applicator comprising:
a housing; and
an array plate with an applicator array positioned within the housing, the applicator array comprising a plurality of micro-applicators, each of the plurality of micro-applicators comprising an ultrasonic transducer, a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures, wherein the micro-applicator plate is in mechanical communication with the ultrasonic transducer such that at least one material is ejected in an election direction through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets when the ultrasonic transducer vibrates the micro-applicator plate,
wherein the material inlet of a first micro-applicator of the plurality of micro-applicators is coupled to a material source to receive a first material from the material source and the material inlet of a second micro-applicator of the plurality of micro-applicators is coupled to the material source to receive a second material from the material source, the second material being different from the first material,
wherein the plurality of micro-applicators comprises a first subset of micro-applicators and a second subset of micro-applicators, wherein the micro-applicator plates of the first subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a first plane that is perpendicular to the ejection direction and the micro-applicator plates of the second subset of micro-applicators are arranged on a second plane that is parallel to and offset in the ejection direction from the first plane.