Wanjiao Liu

US Patent:

20210339278, Nov 4, 2021

Filed:

Jan 22, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/155776

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Mark Nichols - Saline MI, US
Wanjiao Liu - Ann Arbor MI, US
Christopher Seubert - New Hudson MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B05B 17/00
B05B 13/04
B05B 17/06
B05B 3/14
B05B 3/02
B05B 15/628
B05B 12/36
B05B 15/625
B05B 12/16
B05B 7/14
B25J 11/00
B05B 12/00
B05B 15/68
B05B 1/26
B05D 1/02
B05B 15/00
B05D 1/12
B05D 3/06

Abstract:

A material applicator for controlling application of at least one material on a substrate includes a housing and an array plate with an applicator array positioned within the housing. The applicator array has a plurality of micro-applicators and each of the plurality of micro-applicators has an ultrasonic transducer, a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures. The applicator plate is in mechanical communication with the ultrasonic transducer such that at least one material is ejected through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets when the ultrasonic transducer vibrates the micro-applicator plate.

US Patent:

20210023581, Jan 28, 2021

Filed:

Oct 13, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/069260

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Mark Edward Nichols - Saline MI, US
Kevin Richard John Ellwood - Ann Arbor MI, US
Wanjiao Liu - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B05B 17/00
B05B 13/04
B05B 17/06
B05B 3/14
B05B 3/02
B05B 15/628
B05B 12/36
B05B 15/625
B05B 12/16
B05B 7/14
B25J 11/00
B05B 12/00
B05B 15/68
B05B 1/26
B05D 1/02
B05B 15/00
B05D 1/12
B05D 3/06

Abstract:

An ultrasonic atomization material applicator includes a material applicator with at least one transducer and an array plate with an array of micro-applicators. Each of the micro-applicators has a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures. At least one supply line is in communication with the micro-applicators and configured to supply at least one material to each of the micro-applicators. The at least one ultrasonic transducer is mechanically coupled to the at least one array of micro-applicators and configured to vibrate the at least one array of micro-applicators such that atomized droplets of the at least one material are ejected from each of the micro-applicators. A movement device configured to cyclically move the at least one array of micro-applicators back and forth about at least one axis of the at least one array of micro-applicators can be included.

US Patent:

20210001369, Jan 7, 2021

Filed:

Sep 14, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/020394

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Mark Edward Nichols - Saline MI, US
Kevin Richard John Ellwood - Ann Arbor MI, US
Wanjiao Liu - Ann Arbor MI, US
Aaron Fiala - Newport MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B05B 17/00
B05B 12/18

Abstract:

A method of controlling application of at least one material onto a substrate includes configuring a material applicator having an array plate with an applicator array. The applicator array has a plurality of micro-applicators with a first subset of micro-applicators and a second subset of micro-applicators. Each of the plurality of micro-applicators has a plurality of apertures through which fluid is ejected. The first subset of micro-applicators and the second subset of micro-applicators are individually addressable, and a liquid flows through the first subset of micro-applicators and a shaping gas, e.g., air, flows through the second subset of micro-applicators. The flow of shaping gas shapes the flow of the liquid from the first subset of micro-applicators to the substrate.

US Patent:

20200406286, Dec 31, 2020

Filed:

Sep 14, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/020381

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Mark Nichols - Saline MI, US
Kevin Ellwood - Ann Arbor MI, US
Wanjiao Liu - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B05B 17/00
B05B 13/04
B05B 17/06
B05B 3/14
B05B 3/02
B05B 15/628
B05B 12/36
B05B 15/625
B05B 12/16
B05B 7/14
B25J 11/00
B05B 12/00
B05B 15/68
B05B 1/26
B05D 1/02
B05B 15/00
B05D 1/12
B05D 3/06

Abstract:

A material applicator includes an array plate and at least one ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the array plate. The array plate includes a plurality of micro-applicators and each of the micro-applicators has a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate in mechanical communication with the at least one ultrasonic transducer. Each of the plurality of micro-applicator plates has a plurality of apertures and the at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate each of the plurality of micro-applicator plates such that at least one material is ejected through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets. At least one ultraviolet light source is positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators and the at least one UV light source is configured to irradiate the atomized droplets ejected through the plurality of apertures.

US Patent:

20190232317, Aug 1, 2019

Filed:

Dec 6, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/211547

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Mark Edward Nichols - Saline MI, US
Kevin Richard John Ellwood - Ann Arbor MI, US
Wanjiao Liu - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B05B 17/06
B05D 1/12
B05D 3/06
B05B 15/00

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.

US Patent:

20190232321, Aug 1, 2019

Filed:

Dec 6, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/211334

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Mark Edward Nichols - Saline MI, US
Kevin Richard John Ellwood - Ann Arbor MI, US
Wanjiao Liu - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B05B 17/00
B05B 13/04

Abstract:

A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate includes ejecting atomized droplets from an array of micro-applicators while the array of micro-applicators cyclically moves about at least one axis. The atomized droplets from each of the plurality of micro-applicators overlap with atomized droplets from adjacent micro-applicators and a diffuse overlap of deposited atomized droplets from adjacent micro-applicators is provided on a surface of the substrate. The array of micro-applicators cyclically rotates back and forth around the at least one axis and/or moves back and forth parallel to the at least one axis. For example, the at least one axis can be a central axis of the array of micro-applicators, a length axis of the array of micro-applicators, a width axis of the array of micro-applicators, and the like. Also, the array of micro-applicators can be part of an ultrasonic material applicator used to paint vehicles.

US Patent:

20190232322, Aug 1, 2019

Filed:

Dec 6, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/211554

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Mark Nichols - Saline MI, US
Wanjiao Liu - Ann Arbor MI, US
Christopher Seubert - New Hudson MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B05B 17/00
B05B 13/04
B05B 7/14
B05B 12/16
B25J 11/00

Abstract:

A method of controlling application of at least one material to a substrate is provided. The method includes configuring at least one array having a plurality of micro-applicators such that a subset of the micro-applicators is individually addressable to apply the at least one material to the substrate. Individually addressing the subset of micro-applicators provides control of a pattern width of a coating applied to a substrate, control of a flow rate of the material applied to the substrate, control of an angle of application of the material to the substrate, control of which and how many materials are applied to the substrate, and combinations thereof.

US Patent:

20190232323, Aug 1, 2019

Filed:

Dec 6, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/211316

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Kevin Richard John Ellwood - Ann Arbor MI, US
Wanjiao Liu - Ann Arbor MI, US
Christopher Michael Seubert - New Hudson MI, US
Mark Edward Nichols - Saline MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B05B 17/06
B05B 12/00

Abstract:

An apparatus for applying a coating to a substrate includes a base, an applicator, and a quick-connect connector. The base includes a fluid conduit. The applicator includes at least one actuator and an array of nozzle plates. Each nozzle plate defines at least one aperture. The at least one actuator is configured to oscillate the nozzle plates to eject fluid from the apertures. The quick-connect connector couples the fluid conduit to the applicator for fluid communication therebetween.